­­2023 Queensland Intern Campaign FAQs

General questions

Is the Queensland intern application process centralised or do we have to apply to each hospital individually?

The 2023 Queensland Intern campaign is centralised for all groups. No, you don't have to apply individually to each hospital.

Are there any application costs?

There is no cost to apply for an intern position.

Should we be contacting hospitals directly ahead of time?

Yes, candidates should contact their top five hospitals to express an interest in working at their hospital and find out about what they are looking for in an intern. Contact details for the hospitals can be found on the intern recruitment campaign website.

Is it best to use a personal or university email address?

Please use your personal email address, but you can also use your university email address if you wish.

Have there been any changes in the application process due to COVID-19?

No, there have been no changes to the intern application process.

When does the live position status report begin?

When applications open (9 May 2022). The current positions available are published on our website now.

Will receiving an offer from Queensland Health make me ineligible to receive other offers from interstate?

No. You can accept a position in multiple states; however, if you do, you will be picked up in the national audit and asked to decide which offer you wish to take.

Can you accept offers from two different states?

Yes, you can. If you do, you will be picked up in the national audit and asked to advise which offer you will be taking.

If we accept a QLD offer first but then get offered an interstate offer later, can we just retract the QLD offer?

Yes you can decline the QLD offer but please note that once you decline your offer you will not be made another offer.

Is there a notice period prior to the start of work for declining an offer?

If you wish to decline an offer it's best to give the hospital as much notice as possible so they can recruit to that position. Once an offer is declined no other offers will be made.

When is the national audit for offers?

There are four national audits.

• First – Friday 5 August – Thursday 18 August
• Second – Friday 9 September – Thursday 22 September
• Third – Friday 14 October – Thursday 27 October
• Fourth – Friday 18 November – Monday 5 December

No offers are made during the audit periods.

Who is eligible to be a witness for the criminal history check form?

The witness must be able to verify the identity of the applicant and be aged 18 or over.

What does the verification of the identity of the applicant mean?

All identification documentation must be certified by either a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, barrister, solicitor or notary of the public.

Would you recommend providing more than two referees?

The intern application form allows for only two referees.

Do referees need to complete multiple forms for each state?

Queensland requires referees to complete the referee form sent to them via email and complete the form via the email link. No verbal referees can be provided.

In regards to the referees, who do they have to be ?

Referees do not have to be in a particular position. They must be able to comment on the dot points in the application guide, under the referee reports section.

Is it fine to get references from a Consultant and PHO from the same team?

Yes as long as they can comment on the dot points in the intern application guide on page 25, under the referee reports section.

Is there a requirement that at least one of the referees is non-clinical?

It's recommended to have two clinical referees. If this cannot be obtained, then one non-clinical referee should be fine as long as they can comment on the application guide's dot points.

Can your referee be a doctor in an overseas hospital?

Yes, you can provide an overseas doctor as your referee.

When is the earliest that we can start applying for Ahpra registration? What documents do we need to obtain to apply for Ahpra registration?

Please contact Ahpra regarding the documentation required and when you can start applying. Usually you can start applying around late Nov/early Dec.

For more information visit the AHPRA website.

If we are currently registered with Ahpra as another health practitioner- when will we be no longer able to practice under that role ?

Please contact Ahpra to discuss this.

What is the vaccination requirement?

All candidates will have to complete either the VPD evidence certification (to be completed by the applicant’s treating medical practitioner) or the VPD evidence form and attach it to your evidence.

For COVID 19 vaccination evidence, does this need to be signed by a GP? Or can I use the form downloaded from My Health Record?

You can provide this from your My Health Record.

Is the Queensland Health CV template preferred?

No. You can use your own template if you wish and will not be disadvantaged.

For completing the CV is it best to use the template i.e do you use a computer generated program or is a more individualised CV better to stand out?

You can use the QLD Health template but it's not mandatory.

Will providing a photo in the CV increase the chances of getting an offer (as in it looks more friendly) or will it more likely induce bias and decrease the chances of getting an offer?

No, it is not necessary to provide a photo.

Is there any specific information that is required in the CV?

You can use the QLD Health CV template as a guide to assist with this.

Is there a page limit for the CV?

There is no page limit however it should not be a book.

Do we need to submit a cover letter to individual hospitals?

No.

Is there a list that shows which hospitals are categorised as metro, regional or rural?

Please refer to the intern application guide which is published on the intern recruitment campaign website.

Is the private hospital stream still funded this year?

Yes, please refer to the federal Government's website for info or the individual private hospital website information for interns. Note that the websites may not have updated information for 2023 yet as applications do not open till later in the year. Please keep checking for updates.

When will the application for the private hospital stream will be open? Will there be more info about that stream in this presentation?

The private stream will not be covered in this presentation. The private stream application process commences later in the year and and more information can be found here.

Is there anyway to specify a preferred form of contact? I will be on an overseas elective at the time of offers so won’t be contactable by phone.

If you are unable to be contacted by phone, the hospital will email you.

For the JP certification of documents, do we need to provide any details for them e.g contact number?

The JP will stamp the document copy with their details.

Are we able to create an account for the online portal prior to intern applications opening in May?

As soon as the online portal opens you can start an application.

Are you also going to have a recruitment campaign for RMO positions in Queensland?

Yes, Episode 5 of the NQRTH Medical Recruitment webinar series will cover the QLD RMO campaign.

Are interns at a particular hospital preferenced over other candidates (from a different hospital) in the RMO campaign for a JHO position?

It is best to check with the hospital directly. Also note that RMO positions are less subscribed to than intern positions as there is usually a shortage of RMOs to fill available places.

If an intern takes a 2 year contract are the agreements with every hospital flexible? Are there any health services where an intern would be penalised if they want to move on for their RMO year?

Typically your contract will state the notice period. You’ll be fine to leave after a year.

If I decline an internship position this year for personal family reasons, will it affect my application in any way next year?

It depends what applicant group you are as group A's are only made one offer and will not be guaranteed another offer. Group A's can apply for a deferral to their internship year. Please refer to the intern application guide for further information. For applicant groups B-D if you decline an intern offer one year you can still apply the following year. Note: groups B-D are not guaranteed an offer of internship.

Can hospitals see which spot we preferenced them?

Yes, all hospitals will have access to your application and preferences.

Is there a contact email address for any questions surrounding the QLD Intern campaign?

Please refer to the intern campaign website and applicant guide for information. If an answer can not be found there please email intern-recruitment@health.qld.gov.au.

Is Medinav the best website to check the training sites of specialties we're interested in?

Yes- it is a fantastic site. You can also find details of specialty training sites for north QLD hospitals on the NQRTH website.

What's the average salary of a Queensland intern?

Please visit the wage rates page at the Queensland Health website.

Are there any differences in salary across all the QLD hospitals? I've heard some rural/regional hospitals have a different pay structure.

Some rural/regional areas have additional allowances. There is one award however so the salary is the same.

Group A

What is the ballot process?

Applicant group A candidates who nominate an oversubscribed hospital as their first preference will participate in the ballot process and will be allocated according to the rules.

If you have 3 oversubscribed hospitals for your top 3 preferences and you get balloted out of the first preference hospital will you be moved to:
Preference 2 ( another oversubscribed facility) to be balloted through it again or preference 4 ( next undersubscribed hospital)?

If you have first preferenced an oversubscribed hospital you will participate in the ballot process. if you are randomly selected via the ballot you will then be moved to your next available undersubscribed preference.

If you are a group A candidate in Queensland, would you get your offer earlier than an interstate offer?

Yes, all group A candidates in each state will receive an offer on Monday 18 July (rural generalist applicants) or Wednesday 20 July (general intern applicants), which is the nationally aligned date.

Who can apply for "Term 2" commencement?

Only group A candidates can apply for Term 2 commencement (formerly known as late start). However, if you cannot commence in January, please note this on your application and note the month you can commence.

What does tentatively accept an offer mean?

This applies to group A candidates only. If they do not receive their first preference, they can tentatively accept their offer and participate in the rollback process. For further details about the rollback process, please consult the application guide.

What if oversubscribed hospitals become undersubscribed after interstate offers come out and interstate students leave? Will a second offer be available?

For group A candidates once offers have been finalised (after roll back) then there are no more offers made. The remaining vacancies will be recruited via the B-D candidates.

Who can apply for a joint ticket?

Joint tickets are for group A candidates only.

Are there disadvantages of joint ticket applications?

Yes, there is a higher chance of being balloted.

Can you apply for a joint ticket if one applicant has been accepted for the rural generalist pathway and the other is going into the general campaign?

You will both have to apply to the general intern campaign. You can't apply for a joint ticket when one applicant has applied to the rural campaign and one for the general.

Is there any option to swap or transfer with other interns?

Swaps and transfers are available only to group A candidates. Approval of swaps and transfers is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the hospitals. The individual hospitals make the deadline for swaps and transfers.

Who do we contact in order to enquire about swaps if we do not recieve our first preference?

The swap process can be found in the intern application guide.

Can you defer your intern year?

Defer of intern year is available for applicant group A only. Deferral approvals are not guaranteed, and documentary evidence of satisfactory grounds is required.  For further details, please consult the application guide.

Do we have to upload a CV if we are a group A candidate?

Yes, CV is mandatory for all candidates.

For group A - if positions are filled based on a random ballot, what part of the CV is actually looked at and when?

Your employing hospitals may review as required.

Does the position status report list the number of group A candidates that applied for the particular hospital?

Yes, the position status report will show how many positions are available and how many group A candidates have first preferenced each hospital.

How is the order of rollback applicants decided?

The last person who was balloted out of their position will be the first person to receive a rollback if one is available. Information can be found in the intern application guide.

If we apply for special consideration but don't recieve it, do we just go into the normal ballot process?

Yes.

Groups B to D

Is group B preferred over group C and D for intern applications?

No,for group B - Ds, hospitals can select in any order.

If applicants from groups B to D accept a Queensland Intern offer, can you defer or withdraw the offer?

Defer of intern year is available for applicant group A only. Applicants in groups B to D can withdraw the offer at any time. Queensland will not make another offer.

If we accept an offer from a hospital that was not our first preference, will that mean we will not be considered for hospitals higher in our preference list as people decline their offers and positions open up?

If you are made an offer and decline you will not be made another offer. If B-D candidates are unsuccessful in this round of recruitment there is an open round of recruitment whereby hospitals can fill their vacancies with a candidate who has not first preferenced their hospital.

Is it possible to find out what each hospital's specific criteria for meritorious selection of Groups B to D are?

Each hospital and health service has its own meritorious selection process which typically involves an interview and referee checks. Please contact the hospitals directly to enquire about their methods. Hospital contact details can be found on the intern recruitment campaign website and in the intern application guide.

Are there any additional site specific applications that need to be made for group B-D applicants?

No, there is only one application required to submit via the application portal.

Is there anything that a group B-D candidate can do to increase the chances of getting their first preference?

We do suggest you contact your first 3 preferenced hospitals to express your interest in working in QLD. Contact details can be found on the intern recruitment campaign website and intern application guide.

How can you prepare for the interview?

Make sure that you have researched the hospital and the town. Be able to articulate why you are interested in working for that hospital and what you will be able to offer as an intern. Make a note of any research, teaching or any other activities you've been involved in. Also, note if you have completed any of your medical school placements in a rural location. Just be honest and be yourself!

Do the hospitals take into consideration the candidate's home state? I have studied interstate but my home town is in Queensland, so do I have an increased chance of getting a place in Queensland?

You will have to contact the hospitals that you wish to work at to enquire about their merit selection processes.

How do the hospitals determine allocation spots for applicants from
outside group A?

After the applicants from group A are allocated, applicants of groups B, C and D have 48 hours to change their preferences to the remaining vacancies if they wish to. Queensland Health hospitals will then assess applications and conduct their own meritorious selection processes. 

Are Groups B to D told which hospitals were undersubscribed before
re-preference dates open?

Applicants in groups B to D will have the option to re-preference to the remaining vacancies from 5pm Monday 25 July – 5pm Tuesday 26 July. The remaining vacancies will be updated on the position status report once live preferencing commences.

Does the national audit occur before group B-D applicants can re-preference?

Please refer to the QLD Health intern website and Applicant Guide for dates.

If a hospital is oversubscribed with group A applicants, does that mean that no offers will be made to group B-D applicants through subsequent rounds?

After group A offers are complete, the position status report will be updated with the remaning vacancies for group B-D candidates to re-preference. Group A candidates will withdraw their offers throughout the year for interstate offers which frees up positions for the group B-D candidates. A hospital that is oversubscribed with group A offers may have a position become available later on due to a group A applicant declining their offer.

Do the hospitals see the preference list for groups B-D?

Yes, the hospitals can see your application, including your preferences.

Does preferencing hospitals higher on your list as a group C student give you a greater chance of getting that hospital? For example if I preferred an oversubscribed hospital first and a spot opened up will I have a better chance of getting this position compared to if I preferenced it 15th?

Yes - higher preferenced hospitals will look at your application first.

Will group B-D applicant offers be sent as a text message or will candidates need to be continuously checking their emails?

You will receive a verbal offer first, either by phone or email. If you accept the verbal offer you will be emailed to advise to accept the offer via the application portal.

If any group B-D candidates are currently doing research in one of the metro hospitals and would like to continue this during intern year, is the campaign able to accommodate that? If so, how?

It does depend upon the research project and its characteristics and Doctors/Academics involved, but in general yes. We are happy to support any such junior doctors in working through their unique and individual scenario. If you are accepted at a north QLD hospital, we have research facilities and support systems in place for assistance.

For group B-D students, do we have to submit cover letters anywhere? Either through the central application or to the sites independently?

No cover letter is required.

Will group B-D students be eligible to start internship mid year?

If you are unable to commence at the beginning of the year please note this on your application.

If group B-D students do not get an offer in the 2nd round, what advice do you have for those students?

Keep in touch with the hospitals to express your interest in working there. Group A candidates will withdraw their offers for interstate ones freeing up positions for groups B-D. If unsuccessful at the recruitment close date you will be asked to opt in to the late vacancy management process. Information about the late vacancy management process can be found in the intern application guide

Did anyone from group C miss out an internship spot last year?

Most of the group C (QLD trained) applicants received an intern offer either with a hospital via the Intern recruitment campaign or via the Junior Doctor Training Program.

For group C, if you do not receive a position in this round, can you reapply for the following year?

Yes.

International students and International Medical Graduate

Is there a list of hospitals to which international students could apply?

The majority of international students are normally offered positions in Rockhampton, Townsville, and Mackay hospitals.

What are the best options to put down as internship preferences for an international student?

After the allocations of applicant group A candidates, applicant groups B-D will have the option to re-preference to the remaining vacancies if they wish to. After the re-preference round is complete, hospitals will assess group B, C, and D applicants who first preferenced their hospital. Once this round of recruitment is complete, there is an open round where hospitals can assess applications that have not first preferenced their hospital. It is recommended groups B, C and D contact hospitals to express an interest in working at their hospital and ask the hospital about their assessment process and what they look for in an intern.

What is the best approach for international students graduating from a Queensland medical school?

Contact the hospitals at which you are interested in doing your intern year, and ask about their assessment process and what they look for in an intern.

Do I need to get an international criminal check (Ahpra requirement), or is the employment screening consent form enough?

For your intern application, please complete the employment screening consent form. You can find this form on the intern application form. Ahpra will require an international criminal history check when you apply for registration. This is a separate process.

When will VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) be required?

Please upload the VEVO during the application period. If it's unavailable, please provide it as soon as possible.

Is VEVO required for NZ citizens?

VEVO is not required for NZ citizens.

What should I do if my birth certificate is in a different language?

Please have it translated by an official translator and upload it to your application.

Is there an English requirement for international students?

There are no English requirements for your intern application. However, when you apply for registration with Ahpra, they will require English language evidence.

Is there a difference between Queensland international applicants and interstate international applicants?

Each participating hospital and health service establishes individual assessment processes for merit selection from its available applicant pool and is not obligated to select through the applicant groups sequentially. To find out about each hospital and health service’s merit selection process and what they look for in an intern, please contact them directly.

Can an international medical graduate be eligible for limited registration?

Yes, if you have not completed an internship before.

Can an IMG be a part of this 2023 intern campaign?

Yes. Please refer to the applicant groups for eligibility requirements. Please refer to the application guide on the intern recruitment campaign website for key dates and supporting documentation requirements.

Does the slide showing outcomes of last years campaign (the 8 oversubscribed hospitals) include groups B to D? What about international applicants?

The oversubscribed hospitals on the previous slide only shows group A candidates. Once the offers are finalised for group A, groups B-D will have the option to repreference to the remaining vacancies.

If an international student becomes a permanent resident before the application deadline, will they be considered group A?

If you obtain Australian permanent residency before applying and will graduate from a QLD university in 2022, you will be categorised as a group A applicant.

In terms of international students re: visas - do we need to ensure our visas for next year are sorted before the application deadline?

No, you can still apply. Once you receive your new visa you can email the document to intern-recruitment@health.qld.gov.au and they will upload it to your intern application for you.

When is the best time to apply for your post graduate visa as an international student? Do we need it before applying for our internship?

Candidates who are not Australian Citizen/Permanent residents will need a visa to work in Australia. If they don't have this at the time of application then they can still apply. Candidates who are successful in obtaining an intern position will be required to obtain a working visa before the time of employment. Please contact the Department of Home Affairs for further information about visas.

I completed my internship overseas but would like to do an internship in QLD. I am eligible for limited registration. Can I apply?

IMG's who have completed an internship in Australia or another country are ineligble to apply for an intern position in QLD, however may be eligible to apply to the RMO campaign for a Junior House Officer position. Episode #5 in the NQRTH Medical Recruitment webinar series will cover the RMO campaign.

I graduated in 2021 in Australia and I am currently doing an internship in Singapore. Will I still be considered for an internship in Australia for 2023?

Candidates who have completed an internship are ineligble to apply for an intern position however may apply to the RMO campaign for a junior house officer position. Episode #5 in the NQRTH Medical Recruitment webinar series will cover the RMO campaign.

I have recently completed the AMC MCQ, can I apply for an intern position and do I need to be an Australian Permanent Resident to get an intern position?

You can still apply for an intern position on a visa, you must be able to obtain registration with Ahpra and also obtain a visa to work in Australia.

I’m an IMG but have permanent residency with a 10 year gap since I finished my education, can I apply for an intern position to restart my career?

Yes you can apply - we suggest talking to Ahpra about registration requirements due to a 10 year gap and also talking to the hospitals.

How many years on average do UK IMGs take to obtain permanent residency in order to apply for specialty training positions in Australia?

4 years of permanent residency plus other eligibility criteria listed here:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident

Are there any restrictions to International medical students who have completed medical studies in Australia from applying to the ACRRM training?

Yes there are, please contact ACRRM directly for further information regarding this.

Northern Queensland Hospitals

Are Queensland Health contracts for one or two years? It differs between hospitals. Townsville University Hospital offers two-year contracts. Cairns Hospital and Mackay Hospital offer one-year contracts.

What are the average prices of accommodations in rural parts of Queensland?

Costs of accommodation in rural parts of Queensland are significantly lower than in the major cities. Rental prices vary from $200/week to $600/week depending on location/size/how many people sharing, etc. Similarly, the cost to purchase a house is significantly lower, ranging anywhere from $300K – $800K for good-sized houses on average-sized blocks of land close to the hospital.

Will the hospitals provide guidance/support in allocation?

All hospitals in northern Queensland (Townsville, Mackay and Cairns) offer allocation assistance to applicants in Groups A to C. This includes interstate domestic students and international students who have graduated from Australian universities

Is it difficult to work in north QLD hospitals (e.g getting around town/rural placement allocations) if you are unable to drive or have a vehicle? 

This would depend on the hospital location. We have a map on the campaign website that may provide further info.  However, for the main hospitals (Townsville, Mackay and Cairns) lots of Doctors’ cycle in from nearby suburbs.

Do the 700+ listed intern positions include the private hospital positions?

No, they don't. The Government funds the private hospital positions. Mater Private Hospital Townsville has 15 intern positions. The application process for these positions opens later in the year.

Mater interns work across both the Mater and the Townsville University Hospital and complete the same placement/rotation preferencing form that the Townsville interns complete. You will be well supported by both the Mater education team and the Townsville education team.

What are the retention rates of interns if they wish to remain in the same hospital?

Very high. As long as you successfully pass your intern year, you should then be offered a contract again for the following year. Townsville offers a two-year contract for Intern and PGY2. Episode #5 in the NQRTH Medical Recruitment webinar series will cover the RMO campaign and highlight the plentiful opportunities on offer.

Do you have a research relationship with a local university/institution?

Yes, we do. We work very closely with James Cook University, and each of the hospitals has its own research institutes/teams.

It has been mentioned that in Townsville, there has been cases in the past where doctors start basic physician training (BPT) as early as PGY2. Is this still currently the case given that more recently, hospitals are looking for more mature candidates (PGY3+) for BPT entry?

Please refer to: Queensland Health's Basic Paediatric Training for more information.

What is the likelihood of getting a paediatric rotation in Cairns?

A lot of people who wanted paeds or O&G in PGY1 got it.

How many group B-D interns did Townsville Hospital take last year?

21 x B-D candidates were successful in obtaining an intern position at Townsville last year via the intern campaign.

Southern Queensland Hospitals

If we preference Wide Bay Health Service do we get to choose between Bundaberg v.s Hervey Bay, or is this randomly allocated ?

You are required to preference all 20 hospitals, Wide Bay is not one hospital. You will have to preference Bundaberg and Hervey Bay individually.

How many IMGs’ get intern positions in Hervey Bay hospital?

It differs with each year, last year 1 IMG was successful in obtaining a position in Hervey Bay via the Intern campaign.