Antarctic Medical Practitioner

Please note: Antarctic Medical Practitioner role recruitment is for season 2026–27.

As an Antarctic Medical Practitioner (AMP) you will provide complete generalist medical, emergency surgical and emergency dental care for a remote community at an Australian Antarctic or subAntarctic station. AMPs also provide care during voyages and in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic field environments.

Medical roles

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.

The Australian Antarctic Program’s (AAP) vision is to ensure Antarctica is valued, protected and understood. Working with the AAP provides a unique opportunity to experience Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, while supporting world-leading science.

The AAP aims to support expeditioner growth, professionally and personally, with a focus on wellbeing. We strive to employ versatile, proactive and community minded people. Expeditioners will need to contribute to a small team and be resilient as they face the challenges of living in an isolated environment.

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.

Employment conditions

The annual base salary when in Australia starts from $152,101 - $221,815 per annum.
Base salary + additional allowances when in Antarctica starts from $220,055 - $289,769 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.

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)

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. 

Other requirements

As a proactive and positive member of the community you will:

Maintain a personal and practical commitment to AAD policies and standard operating procedures (including work, health and safety and environmental policies). Training and guidance in regard to all responsibilities relevant to your position will be provided.
Be rostered to perform duties to support the community life of the expedition, such as general kitchen duties, garbage clearance, general cleaning duties, and assisting other expedition members with official programs, to ensure an equitable contribution.
Work in areas outside of your primary role, for example, aiding other areas or science projects, or participating in general labouring tasks such as clearing snow or handling cargo.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At the AAD, we value diversity in all its forms – background, experience, and perspective. We recognise the challenges that come with our work and are committed to fostering an inclusive culture for all. We encourage applications from everyone, especially people from under-represented groups like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, gender-diverse people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Personal qualities

During the recruitment selection process the AAD assesses individual personal qualities expeditioners need to successfully live and work in an isolated Antarctic/sub-Antarctic community.

Covid-19

Expeditioners must comply with the AAD’s Infectious Respiratory Disease Management Plan, including the requirement to have had a COVID-19 vaccination or a medically documented COVID-19 infection, within 12 months of deployment. More information is available.