Improved onboarding guidelines and support reforms are the focus of the AMA’s latest position statement.
With international medical graduates accounting for 53% of the rural medical workforce and 43% of all GPs in Australia, a new AMA position statement calls for reforms to improve the IMG workforce.
Clearer pathways and properly funded supervision were at the top of the list.
“International Medical Graduates are far from a temporary fix — they’re a permanent and important part of Australia’s medical workforce, as well as valued members of the communities they live and work in,” AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen said.
“IMGs are providing an invaluable service in some of Australia’s most remote communities but if we want them to feel at home and stay, we must support them and their families to settle, belong and thrive.
“That means addressing some of the challenges they face, such as red tape, isolation, racism, and insufficient support and supervision.”
Transparent recruitment and improved registration pathways were a key recommendation from the position statement with the AMA pushing to adopt proven reforms based on international comparators.
Decoupling visa sponsorship from individual employers has also been recommended to allow for IMG mobility, autonomy and job security.
“We want visa sponsorship to be decoupled from individual employers, providing IMGs with greater mobility, autonomy, and job security,” Dr McMullen said.
The AMA has also put forward its support for the progressive reduction of the 10-year moratorium on Medicare provider numbers for IMGs.
“The moratorium’s original objectives — limiting immediate access to Medicare-funded private general practice and retaining IMGs in public sector roles — no longer reflect current workforce needs,” the statement reads.
Per the AMA, the moratorium allows for IMGs to be placed in demanding settings with limited preparation, which has been attributed to skill degradation and weaker rural workforces.
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The association recommended stronger incentives and support for more locally trained doctors in rural and remote areas.
The AMA also reiterated its position on providing safer supported entry into practice via localised programs to better prepare candidates.
In addition to direct IMG support, greater funding for cultural safety training for all healthcare professionals has been supported to prevent discrimination and promote inclusive workplaces.
As part of cultural safety recommendations, the AMA is calling to maintain safe reporting pathways without potential visa or employment repercussions.
“Moving to a new community is hard enough, let alone moving to a new country, so we would like to see more comprehensive onboarding of IMGs in communities, includes housing support, and support for the families of IMGS,” the position statement reads.
