Ophthalmologist recruitment for regional employers

Ophthalmologists provide diagnostic, treatment and preventative medical services for diseases, injuries and deficiencies of the eye and its associated structures.³ The qualification is Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. Its Vocational Training Program takes five years: two years of basic training, two years of advanced training and a final year, after which graduates can apply for fellowship.⁵

To practise as a specialist, an ophthalmologist needs specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia in ophthalmology, which carries the title "specialist ophthalmologist".⁶ 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, an ophthalmologist newly granted specialist registration needs supervised practice, an orientation to the Australian health system and cultural safety education, though some exemptions apply.⁷ If the ophthalmologist 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 ophthalmologist who isn't exempt may be registered with a condition to complete it.⁸ You can check the ophthalmologist's current registration on Ahpra's online register.⁷

The Medical Practitioners Award 2020 minimum for a specialist is $2,337.21 a week, or $121,535 a year, from 1 July 2026, where the award covers the role.¹⁷ 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.¹⁸ The award covers doctors employed in settings such as hospitals, day procedure centres and community health centres, and excludes employees under a state public sector award.¹⁷

Public hospital ophthalmologists are paid under state instruments: the Staff Specialists (State) Award in New South Wales,¹⁹ the Medical Officers' (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (No.7) 2025²⁰ and Western Australia's 2024 AMA agreement are examples.²¹ Ophthalmologists work across public and private services,² so a package often mixes public sessions with private practice.

The Other Medical Practitioners group, which includes eye specialists, radiologists, dermatologists and their registrars, had median full-time earnings of $5,013 a week in May 2025, nationally.³ No median exists for ophthalmologists alone or by region, so we work through the sessions, private practice rights and on-call terms with you first.

An ophthalmologist billing Medicare needs specialist recognition and a Medicare provider number.²⁶ Medicare checks the public specialist register before paying a specialist-level rebate,⁷ and the government advises allowing at least 6 weeks for a provider number from November to March.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 Ophthalmology was one of eight specialties with its own test in the November 2023 classification: a location qualifies when its ratio of ophthalmologists to population is below the national average, and every outer regional and remote area qualifies.²⁸

Tell us the mix of work: general ophthalmology, cataract lists, intravitreal injections, emergency eye care, outreach clinics, and any subspecialty such as retina, glaucoma, cornea or paediatric ophthalmology.

Then the detail ophthalmologists ask about: theatre sessions each week, equipment and imaging in the clinic, orthoptist and nursing support, the on-call share, private rooms and operating rights, and whether the role bills Medicare.

Ophthalmologists averaged 47 hours a week when full-time, and 73% worked full-time hours in 2021.³ With so many approaching retirement, a role that offers a path into an established private practice can be a strong draw.

We start with ophthalmologists 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 the travel your outreach clinics involve, 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, subspecialty, registration and where you would like to work. We talk with you about permanent public and private roles that suit your practice.