Area of Need declarations

The NT Area of Need Policy is subject to review.

In the Northern Territory (NT), Area of Need is a process used to address shortages of doctors by allowing health services to temporarily employ overseas-trained doctors. Priority remains on continued efforts to attract medical practitioners with general and/or specialist registration to vacancies in the NT.

Public and private health services can apply to the NT Chief Medical Officer to be declared an Area of Need if medical practitioner positions have remained unfilled, despite recruitment attempts.

Once declared an Area of Need, a health service can temporarily employ an overseas-trained doctor, also known as an international medical graduate, on the registration type 'limited registration for area of need'. Registration is subject to approval by the Medical Board of Australia via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

The NT Chief Medical Officer does not provide assistance with employment or with employment in an Area of Need. To find a position you will need to apply for an advertised vacancy and be offered a job by a medical practice or health service.

Area of Need review

A review is being undertaken to ensure the NT Area of Need (AON) Policy is effective in providing the NT population timely access to a professional and qualified medical workforce, including overseas practitioners that can provide safe medical services to the NT community, and to address medical workforce shortages.

The current policy will continue to apply until the review has been completed and any approved changes implemented.

The review is expected to be completed by June 2023.

Apply to be an Area of Need

A health service can apply to be declared an Area of Need by addressing the assessment criteria in the Department of Health's Area of Need NT Framework DOCX (680.1 KB).

Submit an application to the Chief Medical Officer by emailing chiefmedicalofficer.doh@nt.gov.au.

International medical graduates

International medical graduates who do not have Australian general or specialist registration may be able to work at a declared Area of Need location if limited registration is approved by the Medical Board of Australia.

For more information about this type of registration see the Medical Board of Australia website.

International medical graduates on limited registration for area of need can only work in a health service location that has been declared an Area of Need by the Minister for Health, or authorised delegate.

Regulation

Area of Need regulation is covered under section 67 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

Under the law, the minister has the authority to decide if there is an insufficient number of medical practitioners to meet the needs of Territorians, and declare an Area of Need. The NT minister has delegated this power to the Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health.

Contact

Office of the Chief Medical Officer
Phone: 08 8999 2995
chiefmedicalofficer.doh@nt.gov.au

Employment matters

• The NT Chief Medical Officer does not provide assistance with employment or with employment in an AON. To find a position you will need to apply for an advertised vacancy and be offered a job by a medical practice or health service.
• Please peruse the Careers in Health and NT Government Jobs sites for assistance with employment.