Resident Medical Officers diagnose, treat, and prevent human physical and mental disorders and injuries under the supervision of medical specialists or senior general practitioners.

Skill Level

1

Specialisations

• Medical Intern

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Resident Medical Officer is Medical Board of Australia (MedBA). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Three pathways for skills assessment
  • Competent Authority Pathway – for overseas trained non-specialists AND specialists including general practitioners
    • International Medical Graduates (IMGs) must have completed both the assessment and experience components of the medical course
    • IMGs must have secured an offer of employment prior to applying for this pathway
    • IMGs must have either an approved qualification or undergo an assessment of competency conducted by an approved body
    • Must successfully completed 12 months of supervised practice in an approved position
  • Standard Pathway – for IMGs seeking general registration
    • Must have a primary qualification in medicine recognised by the Australian Medical Council and World Directory of Medical Schools
    • Two types of Standard Pathway
      • AMC Examination – assessment of competency and skill by examination
      • Workplace-based Assessment – assessment by examination and workplace-based assessment of clinical skills and knowledge by an AMC credited authority
    • Must successfully completed 12 months of supervised practice in an approved position
  • Specialist Pathway – for Overseas-trained specialists applying for assessment that is comparable to a trained speciality in Australia (specialist registration) OR overseas-trained specialists applying for an area of need specialist level position in Australia (area of need)
    • Must have a primary qualification in medicine recognised by the Australian Medical Council and World Directory of Medical Schools AND must have satisfied all training and examination requirement to practice in their field of speciality
    • Please note if you currently hold or have previously held general registration you are not eligible for the specialist pathway. You can complete specialist registration while holding general registration through a different process.
    • Two types of Specialist Pathway
      • Specialist Recognition
        • IMG applies directly to specialist medical college for the assessment of competency in the area of specialty
        • Outcome of the specialist medical college assessment determines the registration type
        • Required to undertake a period of supervised practice
      • Area of Need
        • IMG applies directly to specialist medical college for the assessment of skills against a position in an area of need
        • Area of need is determined by the health authority of a particular state or territory
        • This pathway does not result in specialist registration

Diagnose and treat physical and mental illnesses, disorders and injuries, recommend preventative action and refer patients to specialist Medical Practitioners, other health care workers, and social, welfare and support workers.

Tasks

• Conducting examinations and questioning patients to determine the nature of disorders and illnesses, and recording patients’ medical information
• Ordering laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures, and interpreting findings to assist in diagnosis
• Providing overall care for patients, and prescribing and administering treatments, medications and other remedial measures
• Monitoring patients’ progress and response to treatment
• Advising on diet, exercise and other habits which aid prevention and treatment of disease and disorders
• Referring patients to, and exchanging medical information with, specialist Medical Practitioners
• Reporting births, deaths and notifiable diseases to government authorities
• Arranging the admission of patients to hospitals

Skill Level

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification and at least one year of hospital-based training (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Occupations in this Group

• 253111 General Practitioner
• 253112 Resident Medical Officer