International practitioners
MIPS membership provides professional indemnity insurance and support for healthcare practitioners working permanently or temporarily in Australia, or undertaking a medical observership.
To practice in Australia, you are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Agency (Ahpra), the national regulating body for healthcare practitioners in Australia. You can find further information on their website at https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/International-practitioners.aspx
Why you need insurance to practice in Australia?
It is an Ahpra registration requirement to have appropriate professional indemnity insurance for the healthcare services you provide in Australia.
If you will be working in the public hospital system, you may be indemnified by your employer for civil claims arising from your provision of healthcare. However, you may not be covered for other types of claims which is why you should consider having your own indemnity insurance.
If you are working in a setting where your employer is not indemnifying you for civil claims, for example a GP or dental practice, the MIPS Indemnity Insurance Policy provides comprehensive indemnity cover that meets your Ahpra registration requirements.
Are you working in Australia temporarily?
Unlike other countries, such as the UK, Australian medical indemnity insurers provide ‘claims made’ cover. This means that cover is provided for claims and notifications that are made or first notified to us during the period of insurance.
This means that when you leave Australia, you will need to update your membership details to run off cover which will provide cover for those claims that may arise from your previous practice in Australia. There is a cost associated with run off cover unless you are a medical practitioner and eligible for the Australian Government’s Run-Off Cover Scheme (ROCS).
Every MIPS policy period ends on 30 June so, regardless of the date you commence your membership, you will need to renew your membership effective 1 July.
When can I apply for MIPS membership?
You can apply for MIPS membership prior to your registration with Ahpra being finalised and when you know the date you expect to start practising in Australia (usually no more than three months ahead of that date).
If you have already commenced practice in Australia your MIPS membership can include retroactive cover effective your first date of practice in Australia.
Apply now
Undertaking a medical observership before you obtain your Ahpra registration?
You are undertaking a healthcare placement (e.g. medical observership) and you are not registered with Ahpra.
This category provides cover for pre-registration healthcare placements where you are under the appropriate supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner who holds the appropriate qualifications.
Appropriate supervision includes direct or indirect supervision that provides adequate access to communication, oversight, interaction, direction, and support from your supervisor throughout the activity.
You are not covered for the position of healthcare:
- in a capacity other than as an observer; or
- where you are remunerated for the provision of healthcare service; or
- where you represent yourself or hold yourself out as an Australian-registered practitioner.
You are not eligible for this caregory if you are registered with Ahpra.
Apply now
What do I need to know before practising in Australia as a doctor?
The Department of Health has developed Doctor Connect, a website for doctors trained outside of Australia. It aims to help international medical graduates understand the steps required to work as a doctor in Australia, where they can work and restrictions on billing patients under Medicare. See https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/doctorconnect.
Are you a student from a university outside of Australia undertaking a student placement?
Refer to student page
Why choose MIPS?
As a member-owned not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to protecting you and your professional reputation with comprehensive insurance cover. As a MIPS Member you’ll also have access to resources, advice, and support 24 hours a day from medico-legal experts.
Providing you protection for up to $20 million in claims*
*The maximum amount we will pay in the aggregate per annual membership period.
Ability to speak with an experienced professional any time of the day
Access to accredited professional development (CPD) and on-demand learning.
What are international practitioners covered for?
|
Area of Cover
|
Clause/s
|
Sub-limit*
|
| Civil liability
|
|
Adverse clinical outcomes |
4 |
No sub-limit |
|
Breach of privacy |
5 |
No sub-limit |
|
Reporting others |
8 |
No sub-limit |
|
Clinical trials and research projects |
9 |
No sub-limit |
|
Telehealth consultations** |
6 |
No sub-limit |
|
Supervising others** |
7 |
No sub-limit |
|
Medical retrievals and repatriation** |
10 |
No sub-limit |
| Professional and disciplinary matters
|
| Regulatory processes |
12 |
No sub-limit
|
| Coronial and other public inquiries |
13 |
No sub-limit
|
| Criminal matters |
14 |
$500,000
|
| Removal from proceedings |
17 |
No sub-limit
|
| Mandatory reporting |
19 |
No sub-limit
|
| Medicare investigations and audits** |
15 |
No sub-limit
|
| Other billing investigations and audits** |
16 |
No sub-limit
|
| Statutory breaches** |
18 |
No sub-limit
|
| Employment, training and university disputes
|
| Workplace bullying or harassment |
21 |
$100,000 combined sub-limit
|
| Training program, professional association and university disputes |
22 |
Not covered for international practitioners, or students:
- Employment contracts and credentialling disputes
|
| Pursuit matters
|
| Pursuit of indemnity |
24 |
No sub-limit
|
| Personal safety pursuit |
25 |
$100,000
|
| Pursuing an objection to a subpoena |
26 |
No sub-limit
|
Not covered for international practitioners, or students:
- Defamation pursuit
- Removal of restrictions on registration
|
| Additional covers |
| Contagious disease |
29 |
$25,000
|
| Sole practitioner entity and Practice staff ** |
28 |
No sub-limit
|
* Sub-limits apply per Claim and in the aggregate for all Claims notified to Us in the Policy
Period for each clause or group of clauses under an area of cover. The sub-limits shall
be part of and not in addition to the maximum sum insured under this Policy. Where an
alternative sub-limit or excess is noted on Your Member Benefit Statement, it is that
sub-limit and excess that applies to Your cover under this Policy.
**Not covered if you are not a registered practitioner and either undertaking a student placement or medical observership prior to obtaining your Ahpra registration.
^The excess of $20,000 reduces the amount payable by MIPS under the sub-limit
from $150,000 to $130,000.
Insurance cover is subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policy. The information provided is general advice only and does not consider your personal circumstances or needs. You should review the Member Handbook Combined PDS and FSG and/or contact MIPS on 1800 061 113, before making a decision. Information is current as at the date published.