Provides direct medical care to patients requiring general or local anaesthesia for surgical, diagnostic and other procedures such as prevention of pain and maintenance of body function. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level

1

Specialisations

• Intensive Care Anaesthetist
• Obstetric Anaesthetist
• Pain Management Specialist

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 Anaesthetist 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 international medical graduates 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.

provide direct medical care to patients requiring general or local anaesthesia for surgical, diagnostic and other procedures such as prevention of pain and maintenance of body function. Anaesthetic Registrars training as Anaesthetists are included in this unit group.

Tasks

• performing pre-operative examinations of patients to determine appropriate anaesthetic and sedation in concurrence with Specialist Physicians and Surgeons
• discussing the anaesthetic process with patients and obtaining their informed consent prior to surgery
• administering local, regional and general anaesthetics using a variety of methods such as inhalational and intravenous administration
• supervising the transfer of patients to operating theatres, positioning on operating tables, keeping patients warm, and responding quickly and accurately if any problems arise
• monitoring patients throughout surgical procedures and in immediate post-operative procedures
• recording details of anaesthetic and sedation administered, and the condition of patients before, during and after anaesthesia
• liaising with other health care workers to provide diagnosis and treatment for patients with chronic pain, and to diagnose and treat patients requiring intensive care or resuscitation
• may instruct medical, nursing, student and ancillary staff on the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of allergic and anaphylactic reactions to anaesthetic agents, and supervision and treatment of life threatening emergencies

Skill Level

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification, two years hospital-based training, and at least five years specialist study and training (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Occupations in this Group

• 253211 Anaesthetist