Cardiologist recruitment for regional employers

Cardiologists investigate, diagnose and treat diseases of the heart.⁵ The qualification is Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in cardiology. After basic physician training, Advanced Training in Cardiology (Adult) requires 3 years (36 months) of full-time equivalent training, all within 8 years of starting.⁶

To practise as a specialist, a cardiologist needs specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia in the specialty of physician, field of cardiology, which carries the title "specialist cardiologist".⁷ Fellows of an accredited college, and doctors the college assesses as eligible for fellowship, can apply. Under the registration standard in force since 21 October 2024, a cardiologist newly granted specialist registration needs supervised practice, an orientation to the Australian health system and cultural safety education, though some exemptions apply.⁸ If the cardiologist was awarded an approved qualification in the specialty, they may be exempt from the six months of supervised practice, and supervised practice completed in accredited training can count towards it; a cardiologist who isn't exempt may be registered with a condition to complete it.⁹ You can check the cardiologist's current registration on Ahpra's online register.⁸

Where the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 covers the role, a specialist earns at least $2,337.21 a week, or $121,535 a year, from 1 July 2026.¹⁸ Including the 10% on-call allowance the award pays specialists, who must be available for reasonable on-call and recall duties, the pay guide rate is $2,570.93 a week.¹⁹ The award covers doctors employed in settings such as hospitals, day procedure centres and community health centres, and it excludes employees under a state public sector award.¹⁸

Public hospital cardiologists are paid under state instruments, including the Staff Specialists (State) Award in New South Wales,²⁰ the Medical Officers' (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (No.7) 2025²¹ and Western Australia's 2024 AMA agreement.²²

The wider Specialist Physicians group, which includes cardiologists and registrars training as specialist physicians, had median full-time earnings of $3,620 a week in May 2025, nationally.⁵ No median exists for cardiologists alone or for regional areas, so we settle the salary, private practice and on-call arrangements with you before the search begins.

A cardiologist billing Medicare for consultations, tests or procedures needs specialist recognition and a Medicare provider number.²⁶ The government advises allowing at least 6 weeks for a provider number from November to March, its peak period.²⁷

Overseas trained specialists and foreign graduates covered by section 19AB generally need to work in a District of Workforce Shortage for 10 years from registration to access Medicare.²⁷ Cardiology was one of eight specialties with its own test in the November 2023 classification: a location qualifies when its ratio of cardiologists to population is below the national average, and every outer regional and remote area qualifies.²⁸ Salaried public hospital roles that don't attract Medicare benefits aren't restricted.²⁷

Tell us the kind of cardiology you need: general and non-invasive work, echocardiography, interventional procedures in a catheter laboratory, electrophysiology, or heart failure and outreach clinics, and whether the role is a staff specialist, visiting medical officer or private practice position.

Then the detail cardiologists ask about: the cath lab and imaging equipment, cardiac nursing and technician support, the on-call roster, links to the nearest tertiary cardiac centre, private rooms and whether the role bills Medicare.

Cardiology is full-time work for most: 82% of cardiologists worked full-time hours in 2021, averaging 49 hours a week.⁵ The on-call share and the outreach travel often decide whether a cardiologist commits to a regional service.

We start with cardiologists who already live in or have ties to your region, then widen the search to those planning a move. Tell us early about housing, relocation costs and support for a family, and we raise them in the first conversation.

If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.

Register with Hire Australia and tell us your fellowship, the procedures you do, your registration and where you would like to work. We talk with you about permanent public and private roles that fit.