Applying for an Area of Need (AoN) Determination
AoN Criteria
Specific criteria must be addressed in the application. Please refer to:
- Assessment Criteria – AoN (Attachment 1) (PDF 80KB)
- Guiding Principles for Assessment of AoN Submissions (PDF 80KB)
The submission must be for a vacant position which cannot be filled through standard recruitment processes within Australia. In the public health sector, a vacancy exists if there is a funded position which would immediately be filled if a suitable applicant could be found.
If your location/organisation is not currently recognised as an AoN by WA Health, an application requesting a determination must be submitted to WA Health.
Position Description
A position description for the vacant position should be included with your application. The position description should outline the key duties that the incumbent is required to undertake, including information on the nature and scope of the position. The essential skills, knowledge and experience essential to the position must be included. To assist you in developing a position description to support your application refer to the above template.
Labour Market Testing
The employer must demonstrate that labour market testing has been undertaken and that the vacancy could not be filled by a medical practitioner with general registration in Australia (i.e. previous advertising of the position has been unsuccessful). Australian-registered medical practitioners must not be disadvantaged by the recruitment of medical practitioners from overseas.
Expired Determination for AoN
Determinations for an AoN are granted for one to five years depending on the circumstances on which the determination is based.
Once this time has elapsed it is the responsibility of the applicant to submit a new application to WA Health if the AoN is to continue to enable the ongoing employment of international medical graduates (IMGs) in that location.
Unsuccessful applications
An applicant can appeal in writing to WA Health if their application for AoN is unsuccessful.
More information for employers:
- Employing an international medical graduate
- What is an Area of Need?
- What is a District of Workforce Shortage?
- Recruiting an international medical graduate
- Forms and templates
File Formats
Some documents for download on this website are in a Portable Document Format (PDF). To read these files you might need to download Adobe® Acrobat Reader.