PORA: Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions NSW Ministry of Health has received about the Panel of Overseas Recruitment Agencies (PORA). If you any further questions or comments please email us.
Do we have to use a member of the Panel of Recruitment Agencies (PORA) to recruit all Health Professionals from overseas?
NSW Public Health Organisations (PHOs) may either:
- manage the recruitment of overseas Health Professionals in-house; or
- engage with a PORA member to place and/or screen suitable candidates from overseas.
In accordance with PD2009_024, PHOs may not pay fees for placement and/or screening services of overseas candidates to non-PORA agencies.
How long is the PORA in place for?
The original Request for Tender documentation and Agreement was for an initial 3 year contract from August 2008. The Agreement provided options to extend on the same terms and conditions for 2 further periods of 12 months.
The Agreements with all PORA agencies have been extended for 12 months until August 2012.
What recruitment agencies are members of the PORA?
There are 7 approved agencies on the PORA. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Challis Recruitment
- Chandler Macleod (trading as CM Medical)
- Flexstaff (trading as HealthStaff)
- Hays Recruitment
- IPA Personnel
- Professional Connections
- Vital
It should be noted that not all agencies can screen and / or place to all health professions. Please contact us for more information.
If I choose to use a member of the PORA, how do I do that?
There are 3 steps in engaging with a PORA member:
- Contact the PORA coordinator at your Public Health Organisations.
- The PORA Coordinator will contact PORA members to source suitable candidates and organise a Letter of Engagement to the appropriate PORA member.
- The PORA Coordinator will forward suitable candidate details to you or arrange for you to liaise with the PORA member directly.
Having found a suitable candidate, interview and recruitment should be carried out in accordance with appropriate NSW Health recruitment & selection policies.
Who is the PORA coordinator at my PHO?
Please send an email to Susan Connolly or telephone (02) 8644 2285 for details.
Does NSW Ministry of Health pay the PORA for their services?
No, each Public Health Organisation who engages a member of the PORA must pay for the services used.
How much do the PORA charge for their services?
Contact your local PORA Coordinator for further information on fees.
If a candidate leaves before fulfilling their contract or is deemed unsuitable, will the PORA replace them at no additional cost?
Members of the PORA provide a variety of replacement options. Contact your local PORA coordinator for further information.
My agency is not a member of the PORA - can we still present candidates to NSW Health?
Public Health Organisations may only pay fees for overseas recruitment services to PORA members - in accordance with PD2009_024.
An agency who is not a member of the PORA may enter into a sub-contracting arrangement with a PORA member for the provision of Health Professionals to Public Health Organisations.
All subcontracting arrangements must be approved by the NSW Ministry of Health in writing prior to any recruitment activity being carried out by the subcontractor.
I want to recruit an Australian qualified, Australian citizen/permanent resident who has current Australian registration but is located overseas - do I have to use a member of the PORA?
No - you may use the services of any recruitment agency after obtaining consent of the Director General, in line with the Recruitment and Selection of Staff of the NSW Health Service Policy.
I want to recruit an Overseas qualified health professional who has current Australian registration and is located in Australia - do I have to use a member of the PORA?
No - you may use the services of any recruitment agency after obtaining consent of the Director General, in line with the Recruitment and Selection of Staff of the NSW Health Service Policy.
I've heard that PHOs may incur some additional costs when recruiting from overseas, such as for health insurance. Is this the case?
Refer to the relevant visa category on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website http://www.immi.gov.au for up-to-date information on Employer obligations when sponsoring professionals from overseas.
Is the PORA a substitute for the Area of Need program?
No. The Area of Need program is a registration pathway for international medical graduates and is entirely different to the PORA.
If a Public Health Organisation wishes to recruit to an Area of Need position from overseas, it may either:
- Manage recruitment to the position internally; or
- Engage with a PORA member to place and/or screen a suitable candidate from overseas.
For further information on Area of Need and current vacancies, please visit http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aon
Does the PORA apply to locum positions?
No – but you must use an agency on the NSW Health Register of Medical Locum Agencies in order to provide locums to the NSW public health system.
For more information, please visit http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/business/locums/index.asp