What we manage
International Healthcare Recruitment
Widen your talent pool beyond Australia’s borders.
When the local market can’t meet demand, Healthcare Australia recruits internationally qualified nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health professionals for hospitals, aged care and health services across Australia. We manage the pathway from attraction and assessment through to registration, relocation and first shift.
Why international recruitment
16,622
Internationally qualified nurses registered to practise in Australia in a single year, three times the 2018/19 intake
1 to 6 months
Registration time for eligible nurses on the NMBA’s streamlined pathway, compared with 9 to 12 months previously
26,000+
First-time registrants from overseas across all health professions in 2024/25
70,000+
Full-time equivalent nurses projected to be undersupplied by 2035
Source markets
Recruiting from the markets that register fastest
Our international teams are based in the markets with the most direct routes to Australian registration. Registered nurses from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario may be eligible for the NMBA’s streamlined pathway, with no NMBA examinations required. Nurses registered in New Zealand can register under trans-Tasman mutual recognition.
For you, that means shorter lead times, fewer surprises between offer and first shift, and clinicians who have worked in health systems like ours.
Attraction
Targeted campaigns in international source markets, including co-branded campaigns for your organisation
Screening and assessment
Interviews, clinical experience review and reference checks against your role requirements
Registration
Guidance through Ahpra and National Board requirements, including the streamlined pathway where eligible
Visa pathways
Coordination with registered migration agents to identify the right visa option
Compliance
Australian and overseas police checks, immunisation evidence, mandatory training and credentialling
Relocation and arrival
Relocation guidance and a dedicated local consultant when clinicians land
Professions we recruit
Professions we recruit internationally
Registered nurses and midwives
Including critical care, emergency, theatre, mental health and aged care
Doctors and specialists
Including surgical and specialist roles
Allied health professionals
Including podiatrists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists
Areas We Support
For more than 50 years, Healthcare Australia has worked alongside the organisations that deliver care across the country. We know that every setting operates differently, with its own clinical requirements, regulatory obligations, funding models and workforce pressures. Our specialist teams bring that knowledge to every engagement, whether you need to cover a critical shift, build a permanent team, upskill your staff or plan your future workforce. From metropolitan health services to remote communities, we shape our solutions around the setting you operate in.
Public Hospitals
Qualified clinicians and support staff who help public health services maintain safe staffing, manage demand and keep wards and departments running.
Private Hospitals
Flexible and permanent workforce solutions that help private hospitals and day surgeries meet patient volumes, theatre schedules and quality standards.
Aged Care
Nurses and care workers who help residential aged care providers deliver person-centred care and meet their care minute and registered nurse obligations.
Home Care
Skilled nurses and care workers who support older Australians and people with care needs to live safely and independently at home.
NDIS & Disability
Disability support workers and allied health professionals who help NDIS providers deliver safe, high-quality supports.
Community Health
Healthcare professionals for community health centres, outreach programs and primary care services that keep people well in their communities.
Government & Public Sector
Compliant, scalable workforce solutions for federal, state and local government health programs and services.
Mental Health
Mental health nurses, allied health professionals and support workers for inpatient, community and crisis services.
Corporate Sector
Health professionals and services that support employee wellbeing, workplace health and injury management for Australian businesses.
Not-for-Profit
Workforce solutions that help not-for-profit providers deliver on their mission and make every dollar count.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Culturally safe workforce solutions for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and the communities they serve.
Rural & Remote
Targeted recruitment, relocation support and travel workforces that bring essential care to regional and remote communities.
Flexible ways to bring international talent into your workforce
Permanent Placement
International clinicians recruited directly into your permanent roles
Agency and travel supply
HCA-employed international clinicians available for shifts and contracts, including rural and remote placements
Volume Programs
Dedicated international campaigns for multi-site hiring, new services or hard-to-fill specialties, with regular pipeline reporting
How it works
You receive regular pipeline reporting at every stage, so you can plan rosters and onboarding around confirmed start dates.
1. Workforce Brief
We agree roles, numbers, specialties, locations and start dates
2. Attract and source
Campaigns and database activation in the right source markets
3. Screen and shortlist
Candidates assessed against your requirements and registration eligibility
4. Interview and offer
You meet shortlisted candidates and make the final decision
5. Registration, visa and compliance
Managed through to readiness to start
6. Arrival and settlement
Local consultant support through the first months
Ethical Recruitment
Ethical, compliant international recruitment
International recruitment carries reputational as well as regulatory responsibilities. Our approach is designed to protect your organisation and the clinicians we recruit.
- No recruitment fees charged to candidates
- Recruitment aligned with the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel
- Supply chain obligations addressed through our Modern Slavery Statement
- Clear information for candidates on costs, conditions and registration before they commit
Support that helps new arrivals stay
Relocating to a new country is a major change, and early departures are costly. Every clinician we place is connected with a dedicated local consultant who supports them through their first months: settling in, understanding the Australian health system and building confidence in their new role.
Many of our team have lived and worked overseas themselves, so they understand the transition first-hand.
Frequently Asked Questions from Employers
How long does international recruitment take?
It depends on the profession, source country and visa. Registration for nurses eligible for the NMBA’s streamlined pathway can take 1 to 6 months, compared with 9 to 12 months on the standard pathway. We give you a realistic timeline at the brief stage and keep you updated throughout.
Who sponsors the visa?
It depends on the engagement model and the visa. We coordinate with registered migration agents so the right option is identified from the start.
Is overseas clinical experience recognised in Australia?
National Boards set the standards for qualifications and experience. Nurses with at least 1,800 hours of practice since 2017 in a comparable jurisdiction may be eligible for the streamlined pathway without NMBA examinations. We check eligibility before shortlisting.
What compliance checks are completed?
Ahpra registration, Australian and overseas police checks, immunisation evidence, Working with Children Checks where required, mandatory training and professional indemnity, plus any facility or state-specific credentialling.
Do candidates pay fees to HCA?
No. Candidates pay no fees to HCA for recruitment or relocation support.
How do you support retention?
Every placement is connected with a dedicated local consultant through their first months in Australia, helping them settle into the role, the health system and the wider community.
Extend your search beyond Australia
Whether you need to fill a handful of specialist roles or build a sustained international pipeline across multiple sites, our international recruitment team will design a program around your workforce plan. Healthcare Australia is where care begins.
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