It is not at all uncommon for healthcare professionals in New Zealand to start thinking about career options across Australia. Shifts in workplace structures, stretched resources, and limited growth in certain regions have prompted many to consider Australia, where demand remains steady and pathways are more defined.
At City Country Health Recruitment, we work with New Zealand-based nurses, doctors, and allied health workers who are planning to move to Australia. From confirming registration eligibility and helping you line up interviews to understanding visa options and preparing for the move, we support you at each stage with clarity and focus.
Find The Right Role for Your Clinical Background
Nurses
Australia’s hospitals, aged care services, and community teams are short on qualified staff, and New Zealand-trained nurses are well placed to fill those gaps. We help with AHPRA registration, employer selection, and role matching across specialties like acute care, mental health, emergency, aged care, and community nursing. If you’re already practising in DHBs or primary health networks, we’ll help you translate that experience into your next opportunity.
Doctors
New Zealand-trained doctors are eligible for Australian registration via the competent authority route. Whether you’re a GP, registrar, SMO, or hospital doctor, we help streamline your AMC process and introduce you to roles in both city and regional locations, depending on what suits your goals. We’ll also help you plan for the differences in billing systems, reporting structures, and hospital models.
Physiotherapists And Occupational Therapists
Australia continues to invest in rehabilitation services, ranging from public hospital programs to NDIS-funded providers. If you’re currently working in musculoskeletal care, neurorehabilitation, or aged care in New Zealand, we help you prepare your application for APC or the OT Board of Australia, confirm timelines, and guide you through employer interviews in both metropolitan and regional settings.
Speech Pathologists
There is demand for paediatric, adult rehab, and aged care speech services across Australia. We assist New Zealand-trained therapists in applying for recognition through Speech Pathology Australia and guide you through the differences in caseload expectations, funding schemes, and workplace systems.
Exercise Physiologists
With more focus on preventative health and chronic condition support, roles for EPs are growing across Australia. We help you meet ESSA’s criteria and connect with employers hiring in cardiac rehab, diabetes care, injury recovery, and workplace health with clear insight into regional and city-based roles.
Medical Imaging Professionals
If you’re working in radiography or sonography in New Zealand, your experience is in demand. We help with AIR applications and find job placements in CT, general X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI. You’ll also get upfront information about system changes, team structure, and relocation support based on your chosen location.
Psychologists And Mental Health Workers
Australian mental health services are expanding, with more staff needed in public hospitals, private clinics, schools, and community outreach teams. If you’re a psychologist or registered mental health clinician in New Zealand, we can help with the transition to Australia’s registration board and identify the right work environment for your skillset.
Know The Key Differences Before You Relocate
Health System Expectations
Australia and New Zealand share many clinical similarities, but there are differences in how health services are funded, managed, and delivered. We help you prepare for those changes so you are not caught off guard by different documentation systems, patient ratios, or billing models.
Location And Lifestyle Decisions
Some choose cities like Brisbane or Melbourne for structured hospital placements. Others go regional, where there is often more flexibility, higher pay, or faster permanent residency access. We help you weigh the trade-offs between location, salary, and lifestyle based on your goals and experience.
Handling Registration Requirements
Even with Trans-Tasman recognition, your registration still needs to be correctly submitted. We review your qualifications, professional history, and timing so you avoid common errors that delay your start. We also confirm what additional checks may apply to your role or state of employment.
Sorting Out Visas and Sponsorship
Not everyone has Australian work rights automatically. If you need sponsorship, we will connect you with employers who are registered and able to offer compliant contracts. We also explain the timeframes and steps for skilled visa applications, so you know exactly what’s ahead.
How We Support New Zealand Professionals?
We start by understanding your clinical background, where you are in your career, and what type of move you are planning. From there, we help with the application process, make job introductions, and support your transition, including follow-up once you have started.
Looking To Relocate From New Zealand To Australia?
We have worked with healthcare professionals from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, and regional areas who’ve taken up roles across Australia. Our support includes:
- Matching your qualifications with suitable Australian positions
- Managing AHPRA or other board registrations early
- Connecting you with employers prepared to assist with relocation
- Helping you assess salary offers, leave, and location conditions
- Providing updates and support until you have settled in
You would not be left wondering how the system works or what is expected; we take the uncertainty out of the move.
Why New Zealand Candidates Trust Our Process?
We have worked with professionals across hospitals, private clinics, aged care, and rehab settings, and we know how to place people well. When you move from New Zealand to Australia, you need a clear path, honest advice, and proper support. That is exactly what we offer from start to placement and beyond.
To know more, connect with us now!
+61 881 135 379
