Area of Need (AoN)

The Area of Need (AoN) process applies to Australia only. The declaration that a specified position is an AoN is made by the relevant government jurisdiction not ANZCA.

The Area of Need (AoN) process addresses medical workforce shortages in designated areas. All applications for the AoN pathway are to be made in conjunction with application to the SIMG pathway. If an applicant wishes to undertake an AoN position, they must apply for assessment in both the AoN and SIMG pathways.

All applicants will need to

• Complete the AoN and SIMG application form along with supporting documentation listed in the SIMG application section
• Apply to the Australian Medical Council for primary source verification
• Provide an AoN declaration (issued by the health department in the state or territory in which the position(s) is located).
• Submit application for approval of a position.
• Provide Letter of offer of employment.
• Payment of the AoN application fee.

The college will assess the application to determine whether the applicant is suitable to undertake the proposed position. The outcome of this assessment will be emailed to the applicant and their supervisor, and a copy will be uploaded to the AMC/AHPRA portal.

Once the college has supported the applicant in an area of need position, they may apply for limited registration with the Medical Board of Australia. 

Applicants should also read regulation 23 and the Handbook for specialist international medical graduates for further information.

To Apply
Please refer to the SIMG assessment process page for more information and required documentation for applications.