- The annual base salary when in Australia starts from $157,881 - $230,244 per annum.
- Base salary + additional allowances when in Antarctica starts from $228,418 - $300,781 per annum.
- You will also receive ACRRM accredited remote and Antarctic medicine training and professional development, medical indemnity and professional development support and opportunities for research and higher degrees in healthcare in remote and extreme environments. The AAD has developed, with the University of Tasmania (UTAS), the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments and higher awards.
- A generous employer superannuation contribution of up to 15.4% will be paid in addition to salary and allowances.
- You will accrue recreation leave at the equivalent of 20 days per annum pro rata. Please note that recreation leave is not available in Antarctica but will be paid out on return to Australia.
Please note: Antarctic Medical Practitioner recruitment is for season 2027–28.
As an Antarctic Medical Practitioner (AMP) with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) you will provide complete generalist medical, emergency surgical and emergency dental care for a remote community at an Australian Antarctic or sub-Antarctic station. AMPs also provide care during voyages and in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic field environments.
You will generally be the sole medical practitioner at the station. The AMP provides comprehensive health care services for 15 to 30 expeditioners over winter. This can increase to 120 during summer (October to March). There may be up to 130 passengers and crew on expedition voyages. The Polar Medicine Unit focuses on recruiting for winter AMP positions (total employment 15 to 18 months, with 4 to 5 months of pre-departure training and 10 to 15 months in Antarctica and Sub-Antarctica). Shorter term appointments (including ship, summer station and field doctors) are typically filled by returning AMPs who have previously completed the wintering pre-departure AMP training.
You should apply for this role if you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience and an interest in the challenge of living and working in a small community in a remote environment. Applicants will be assessed and if successful placed in a role for training and deployment, or a merit pool that will be used for future seasons.
For more detailed information about the requirements of the role and the selection process, please see the job description document and link to more information on the application process below.
What we are looking for
Essential
To apply for this role, you must have the skills and licences listed below:
Qualifications/licences
Provide copy with application:
- Medical Registration - Unrestricted general registration as a medical practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/
- Basic Medical Qualification.
- Suspensions or Restrictions - Provide details of any suspensions, restrictions or other actions from relevant registering and professional bodies in Australia or in any other country.
- Certificate of Good Standing (where requested).
- Driver’s Licence – A current, unrestricted “C” class (manual) Australian driver’s licence.
- Citizenship - In accordance with the PS Act 1999, APS employees are required to be Australian citizens. Persons who are not Australian citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with next considerations being Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens.
Obtain prior to commencement:
- Valid Passport - The expiry date of the passport (and any relevant visa) must be at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your intended stay in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic.
Knowledge and experience
Successful applicants are typically rural and remote generalist practitioners or registrars (e.g. rural generalists), or less typically specialists with a broad scope of practice and relevant upskilling (e.g. emergency physicians, anaesthetists, surgeons, physicians).
AMPs must have practical skills or be able to respond, where appropriate, in the following fields. Some examples of practical procedures which have been performed by AMPs, or may be required, are indicated below. A generalist non-specialist level of experience is sought.
1. General Medicine
- General Medicine (lumbar puncture, pleural tap)
- Dermatology
- Ophthalmology (enucleation of eye)
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Counselling
2. Emergency Management
- Urology & STI (catheters, suprapubic cystotomy)
- Thoracic (underwater seal drains)
- Burns (split skin graft)
3. Anaesthetics* and Intensive Care
- General Anaesthesia
- Local and Regional Anaesthesia (spinal, Bier’s Block)
4. Surgery*
- Surgery – Appendicectomy (craniotomy, laparotomy with exploration of the abdomen, oversewing perforated peptic ulcer, splenectomy, management of other abdominal trauma, colostomy, tracheostomy, oesophagoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidoscopy)
- Plastic Surgery (hand injuries, amputations, management of tendon and nerve injuries)
5. Orthopaedics
- Orthopaedics (conservative management of all types of fractures, including skeletal traction, management of cervical and thoraco-lumbar spinal injuries, treatment of dislocations of minor and major joints, and management of lower back problems)
6. Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Dilatation and Curettage, Ectopic Pregnancy)
*Some training may be provided in these areas before departure.
Highly desirable
These are not essential to the role however to be suitable you will need to have at least some of these. We encourage you to apply even if you do not fit 100% of the requirements.
Knowledge and experience:
1. Occupational, Industrial and Environmental Medicine and Public Health*
- Diving Medicine*
- Aviation and Retrieval Medicine*
- Altitude Medicine*
2. Dentistry* (extractions, conservative treatment)
3. Laboratory*, Radiology & Radiography* and Pathology*
- Laboratory Methods (urine, blood, microbiology, biochemistry, cross matching)
- Radiology and radiography (digital processing, ultrasound)
- Pathology (limited post mortem)
4. Physiotherapy*, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
5. Medical Services*
- Nursing
- Sterilisation of equipment
- Drug and Equipment Inventory
- Nutrition, Dietetics
- First Aid Instruction
*Some training may be provided in these areas before departure.
Contact
For general enquiries, please email the Hays Expeditioner Recruitment Team at antarctica@hays.com.au.
For job specific (technical or trade related) enquiries, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Polar Medicine Team at medicine@aad.gov.au.
Applications will not be accepted via email.
How to apply
- Read about the essential information for all applicants and life as an expeditioner. This is an overview of the recruitment and selection process.
- Review the job description. This describes the job and specifies essential qualifications and experience. It also tells you what documents you need to attach to your application.
- Have your documents ready to attach (e.g., licences, qualifications and current CV/résumé). You must include these to be considered for the job.
- When you have completed steps 1 to 3 above, click ‘Apply Now’✱ to start your application. Applications will not be accepted via email.
