Australia Fast-Tracks Foreign Doctors to Address Workforce Shortages

Doctors from the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand will bypass traditional assessments to practice in Australia under new regulations.

Starting October 21, doctors from the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand can apply for registration in Australia without assessment by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
The new pathway is part of reforms to tackle critical shortages in Australia's healthcare workforce, highlighted by the 2023 Kruk Review.
Health Minister Mark Butler assures that Australia's high safety standards will not be compromised, with mandatory supervision and training for new registrants.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners raises concerns over potential risks, citing that one in five foreign doctors require additional support.
The program will expand in December to include other specialists such as anaesthetists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, and psychiatrists from the same countries.