International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are doctors who have gained their medical qualifications outside Australia and play a vital role in supporting healthcare services across regional, rural, and remote Western Australia.
The Five Year International Medical Graduates Recruitment Scheme provides opportunities for IMGs to live and work in rural WA communities, helping address workforce shortages while building rewarding medical careers in diverse and supportive settings across the state.
What is The Five Year International Medical Graduates Recruitment Scheme?
The Five Year International Medical Graduates Recruitment Scheme (the Scheme), previously the Five Year Overseas Trained Doctors Scheme, improves access to doctors in rural and remote areas. The incentive is designed to attract and retain appropriately qualified and experienced International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have completed their medical training overseas. It aims to increase the supply of doctors to work in these rural areas where their services are needed the most.
Scheme Objectives
The objectives of the Scheme are to:
- Provide incentives that attract appropriately qualified and experienced IMG doctors working in general practice. This helps Australia meet the current and future community needs for general practice medical services in rural and remote areas.
- Increase the supply of appropriately qualified IMG doctors in rural and remote Australia.
- Enhance the professional development, skills and knowledge of IMG doctors in Australia.
- Bring a degree of stability to the provision of general practitioner (GP) services in rural and remote communities.
The Scheme offers a reduction in the ten-year moratorium on Medicare provider number restrictions under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act). The Delegate to the Minister for Health will grant an exemption without geographical restrictions to participating doctors who have satisfied the following requirements:
- completed the required term of service in a location deemed eligible for the Scheme.
- attained Fellowship with either the RACGP or ACRRM.
- attained permanent residency and/or Australian citizenship.
Eligibility Criteria for Locations and Medical Practices
Locations and medical practices must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the services of an IMG doctor participating on the Scheme:
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Medical Graduates
This Scheme applies to IMG doctors who are restricted under section 19AB of the Act in accessing Medicare benefits arrangements. IMGs wishing to participate in the Scheme must meet the following criteria:
- Have recognised general practice training and qualifications; or
- Provide evidence they are eligible to be assessed for Fellowship of RACGP (FRACGP) or Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM) within two years of commencing on the Scheme;
- Hold or obtain appropriate registration with the Medical Board of Australia;
- Hold or intend to gain permanent residency or Australian citizenship; and
- Provide at least seven sessions a week as part of their placement.
What Does This Mean for IMG
For international medical graduates navigating the Australian system, the 10-year moratorium is one of the most significant hurdles. Under Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973, IMGs are required to practice in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) for up to 10 years before gaining unrestricted Medicare access. The Five Year IMG Recruitment Scheme is designed to cut that timeline down considerably.
By committing to an eligible rural or remote location in WA, participating International Medical Graduates can reduce their moratorium to as little as three years. The greater the workforce need in your location, the greater the reduction.
What the Scheme offers:
- A Shorter Path to Full Practice Rights: Depending on your location category, your 10-year moratorium can be reduced by five, six or seven years.
- Medicare Access: Participating doctors can access the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), allowing you to provide Medicare-funded services to patients from day one.
- A Clear Pathway to Fellowship: The Scheme supports your progression toward RACGP or ACRRM Fellowship, a key step toward specialist registration in general practice.
- A Route to Permanent Residency: Completing the Scheme requirements supports your application for Australian permanent residency and citizenship.
- Professional Development: Rural practice in WA offers a broader clinical scope than most city-based settings. That experience builds a career.
In short, the Scheme rewards IMGs who are ready to commit to rural WA with a faster, clearer pathway into Australian general practice. Rural Health West administers the Scheme in WA and works alongside you through every requirement.
How Do International Medical Graduates Get Started with The Scheme?
The process is straightforward when you know what’s involved. Here’s what to expect:
- Check Your Eligibility: You must hold or be working toward specialist registration in general practice with Ahpra and intend to obtain Australian permanent residency or citizenship. Your chosen practice must also be in a rural or remote DPA deemed eligible under the current Scheme guidelines. Check IMG registration pathways via the Medical Board of Australia.
- Choose Your Fellowship Pathway: You’ll need to be enrolled in or working toward Fellowship with either the RACGP or ACRRM. We can talk you through which pathway suits your qualifications and experience.
- Get in Touch With Rural Health West: As the Scheme administrator for WA, we match eligible IMGs with appropriate practices and locations. We’ll assess your experience, explain your options and help you find the right fit.
- Commit to Your Location: Once placed, you’ll need to provide at least seven sessions per week at your approved practice for the duration of your Scheme agreement. Location categories are reviewed regularly, so we’ll keep you informed of anything that affects your placement.
- We Handle the Rest: From your Ahpra and Medicare applications to orientation on arrival, Rural Health West stays in your corner throughout the process. The paperwork is complex. That’s exactly why we’re here.
Our team can help you find out if you’re eligible. However, if you would like to see our recent vacancies, learn more here.
Applicant Guidelines
For more information on the Scheme applicant guidelines, please view the Australian Government Department of Health website.
