457 Visa Requirements Must Be Strengthened for OTDs

The AMA call comes on the back of recent announcements that the health sector is now the biggest user of temporary skilled migrants with 457 visas.

Dr Haikerwal said if the States and Territories can't get their act together and adopt consistent OTD assessment and support standards, then the Commonwealth should strengthen the 457 visa requirements for OTDs to ensure that the Australian health system gains maximum benefit from the contribution being made by OTDs.

The AMA believes that stronger 457 visas would assist moves, led by the AMA, to adopt consistent national standards and processes for assessing OTDs - a development that would ultimately result in OTDs staying and working for the long term.

"It's a two-way street," Dr Haikerwal said.

"We have to ensure that OTDs working in Australia have the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to work in our health system and to maintain patient confidence.

"But we also have to ensure that these doctors are properly educated and mentored in the medical practice, language, and social and cultural facets of being a doctor in Australia.

"Unless we urgently implement consistent national standards, the Federal Government's efforts to implement standardised assessment, training, supervision and support processes for OTDs will fail.

"The States and Territories would continue to do their own thing based on short term political expediency rather than long term benefits for patients and the health system.

"The Federal Government, though, can send a strong message to the States by strengthening the 457 visa requirements for doctors," Dr Haikerwal said.

The AMA is calling on the Government to implement the following new requirements for a 457 visa for OTDs:

• OTDs' skills and qualifications must be assessed by the relevant Medical College
• employers sponsoring OTDs must provide the OTD with access to a formal orientation program about the Australian health system
• the employer must ensure that the OTD is provided with any supervision and training as determined by the College assessment
• the employer must provide the OTD with a mentor who holds qualifications recognised in Australia and who is established in Australian medical practice