VISAS 

New Zealand

Accredited Employer Work Visa/AEWV

• Visa length increased to up to 5 years (this used to be 3 years)

Working Holiday Visa/WHV

• UK passports – capped at 15k places, more information on this link: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/2024-opening-dates-for-capped-working-holiday-schemes

Australia – Sponsorship – Permanent Residency

• Sponsorship/482 visa – pathway to Permanent Residency through the 186 Transition Stream can now be applied for after working for the same  employer on a sponsorship visa for 2 years (reduced from 3 years)
• More information about the 186 Tranistion visa on this link: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/temporary-residence-transition-stream 

Australia – Pre-employment checks 

NDIS delays – only affecting those looking to live in Victoria/Melbourne 

• Cost – $128 
• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) applications are currently delayed in Melbourne
• NDIS checks are required for most OT/SLT roles and also for PT’s who are working in disability/paeds
• You can apply for NDIS checks online or manually
• The online applications are faster to process (approx. 8 weeks) but you need Australian ID documents to be able to complete the online application e.g. Australian driving licence which you need to be in Australia to apply for & has a wait time for an appointment
  • If you are applying once you have arrived in Australia, you need to be prepared that if your role requires you to have an NDIS check approved before you start work, you may have a gap of 2-3 months while you wait for your check to come through 
  • Book in for appointments ASAP when you arrive so that you can arrange Australian ID documents:
    • Medicare – sign up ASAP: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enrolling-medicare?context=60092, you can also call them to let them know you need the Medicare card ASAP for your employment to hopefully speed this up 
    • Australian driving licence – book in for appointments ASAP: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences/new-to-victoria/overseas-licence-conversion-result
      • As there is a wait time for appointments, you could also consider driving to a centre outside of Melbourne
    • If you are travelling Australia before starting work & already have a gap, it would be better to sort this ASAP (e.g. by flying to Melbournne and arranging your ID documents) rather than waiting until nearer to your start date

Offline/manual applications do not require Australian documents but take a long time to process (3 months) – if you do not want to have a gap when you arrive, it could work out better to apply for an offline application with plenty of time before your arrival/start date – you can request the up to date manual form from this link: https://www.service.vic.gov.au/services/national-disability-insurance-scheme?utm_source=vic_gov_au_website&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ndis_worker_screening_check&utm_content=manual_application

PRODA (Provider Digital Assist) – mainly affects MSK Physios 

Private practice checks/requirements will depend on what funding/contracts your employer has (once you have secured a position, you can ask your employer which checks they require). 

PRODA requires you to have Australian documents – arrange your Medicare/Australian driving licence ASAP when you arrive so that you can apply for this: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/identity-documents-you-need-before-you-start-your-proda-registration?context=33786

Registration

New Zealand

• SLT – If you do not meet the dysphagia competency in NZ, you cannot apply for MRA but you can apply for Qualification Assessment
• Your scope of practice will have a condition, not-dysphagia trained which will limit some job opportunities 

Australia – OT & PT’s – Certifying documents – all applicants 

• Additional persons outside Australia added to list of people who can certify documents including legal practitioners and Australian registered healthcare professionals 
• Previously it was only Notary Public/Justice of the Peace which is a lot more expensive 
• More information on this link: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Certifying-Documents.aspx

Australia AHPRA – OT/PT’s – ID check requirement removed 

Relevant for those applying from OTC/Express FLYR (NOT NZ transferring to AUS applications). 

Overseas applicants no longer need to complete in-person ID checks in Australia and registration can be fully completed online 😀

Additional Certified ID documents now need to be provided for overseas based applicants:

• NEW – X2 Category C documents 
• Still required – Passport and evidence of change of name (if applicable)
• Please check Proof of Identity on this link for more information: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Proof-of-Identity.aspx 

If you meet the new ID requirements, it is really helpful as you will be granted AHPRA (before this change, you would have had to present in person within 3 months).

Please make sure you certify your ID documents exactly to AHPRA requirements, they are very strict with the wording/who can complete this:

If you applied before December 2023, you have the option to present in person before March 15th or to submit the new ID documents. 

To maintain AHPRA registration, you must make sure you renew your registration every November (just as you would do with HCPC/CORU).