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'Area of need' refers to any location in which there is a lack of particular medical practitioners, or where there is a medical position that remains unfilled following multiple recruitment attempts over a period of time. Area of need applies to both public and private sector medical positions.
In Victoria, it is the responsibility of the Department of Health to assess all area of need applications and to determine whether a genuine need exists.
Who needs an Area of Need (AoN) endorsement
You need an AoN endorsement if you are:
- A General Practitioner (GP) or Specialist IMG, and
- Applying for Limited registration for Area of Need with the Medical Board of Australia.
The Medical Board of Australia requires the responsible Minister (or delegate) to decide whether an area of need exists and to provide written notice to the National Board. This is in line with section 67(5) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009
You do not need an AoN if you hold a General Registration.
Distribution priority areas (DPA) and districts of workforce shortage (DWS)
Under section of the Health Insurance Act 1973:
- GP IMGs must work in a DPA
- Non‑GP specialist IMGs must work in a DWS
This requirement applies for at least 10 years from the date of first medical registration in Australia. This is commonly known as the 10‑year moratorium.
The Department of Health (Commonwealth) is responsible for making DPA and DWS determinations.
Distribution Priority Area (DPA
A Distribution Priority (DPA) is where the level of health services available to the local community does not meet a national service benchmark taking into account:
- Medicare data
- GP workforce
- population demographics
- socio-economic status.
An area is automatically classified as a DPA if it:
- is classified as MM 5 to 7 based on Monash Modified Model
- is in the Northern Territory.
District of Workforce Shortage
A District of Workforce is a geographic area in which the ratio of specialists to population is less than the national average or it has an Australia Statistical Geography Standard – Remoteness Area classification RA 3 to 5.
For more information on the DPA and the DWS, see on the Australian Government Department of Health website.
Finding a job in an Area of Need
In Victoria there is no specific list of Area of Need positions or zones.
In most cases if a position is located within a Commonwealth designated DPA for GPs or DWS for non-GP specialists, it is likely that the Victorian government will also support this as an Area of Need.
Looking for roles
In Victoria public hospitals are responsible for their own recruitment, see a list of public hospitals in Victoria.
Specialist college websites often advertise vacant positions. A list of specialist medical can be found on the Medical Board of Australia website.
For General Practice you should contact the Rural Workforce Agency, (RWAV) on (03) 9349 7800.
Checking if a location is DPA or DWS
There is no consolidated list of DPA or DWS locations but you can check the DPA or DWS status of a location using the Health Workforce Locator .
For specialities that are not listed, email the Commonwealth Department of Health 19AB@health.gov.au to confirm if the particular location(s) are considered to be DWS for the specialty.
Not a DPA or DWS location
If a location is not currently considered to be in a DPA or DWS you may apply to the Commonwealth for consideration of a 19AB in one of the following categories:
- After hours work only
- Work on an approved workforce or training program
- Provision of services at Commonwealth funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care service
- Assistance at Operations exemption
- Academic exemption
- Specialties in acute shortage exemption
- Locum exemption
- Spousal exemption
- Replacement exemption
Detailed information regarding 19AB exemptions can be found in the Health Insurance (Section 19AB Exemptions Guidelines) Determination . You should note that granting of 19AB exemptions is the decision of the Commonwealth government.
Without a valid DPA, DWS or 19AB exemption, an AoN endorsement cannot be granted
Permanent residents and Australian citizens
DPA and DWS requirements
All IMGs, regardless of residency status, are required to work in a DPA or DWS until they have fulfilled the 10-year moratorium.
Why you can’t work after- hours only
Permanent residents/Australian citizens who were first registered after 1 November 1996 and who are neither vocationally recognised nor hold fellowship of a recognised medical college, are subject to section of the Health Insurance Act, 1973.
There are exemptions from section 19AA restrictions for certain training and workforce programs. Section 3GA of the Act allows medical practitioners who are otherwise restricted by section 19AA of the Act to provide professional medical services that are able to attract Medicare benefits.
Applying for an Area of Need endorsement
New applications
New applications must include:
1.Evidence of DPA or DWS status
Evidence of Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status for GPs, or District of Workforce (DWS) status for non-GP specialists is required if access to the Medicare benefits arrangement is required.
As an area of need endorsement is not linked to the provision of a Medicare provider number, there is no guarantee that an IMG will be granted access to a Medicare provider number or the Medicare billing arrangements on the basis of an area of need endorsement.
For international doctors, access to a Medicare provider number is linked to the DPA/DWS status of the location.
Therefore, all area of need applications in respect to positions that require a Medicare provider number must include the following evidence.
- General practitioners – provide a printout or scan of the Health Workforce positively identifying the location as a DPA.
- Specialist - provide a printout or scan of the Health Workforce positively identifying the location as a DWS. Or an email from the Commonwealth Department of Health (19AB@health.gov.au) confirming DWS status for the specialty.
If a location is not currently a DPA/DWS you must indicate the type of 19AB exemption for which you are applying or provide evidence of a valid 19AB exemption held by the candidate.
- Statement of need
All applications must include a statement of need outlining why the employer needs to employ an international medical graduate (IMG). Statements may include information on the number of recruitment attempts, geographical pressures and special cultural needs relevant to the demographic.
Submit your application
Applications for an area of need endorsement must be made directly to the Department of Health by completing the area of need application form. All applications for new endorsements must:
- be authorised by the employer or the employer’s authorised agent
- provide the appropriate evidence that demonstrates DPA status for GPs or DWS status for non-GP specialists or a valid 19AB exemption.
- include a statement of need.
The form should be signed by a responsible employee validating the information provided is true and correct.
Complete .
Approval period
if approved, area of need endorsements are valid for 12 months or until the doctors' medical registration is due for renewal, whichever occurs first.
Time frame for assessment
Where all information has been submitted, applications are processed within approximately 4-6 weeks. Once approval is received an electronic version will be sent to the applicant.
Renewal applications
Applications for an Area of Need endorsement renewal can be submitted with a copy of the IMGs current Medical registration. Evidence of DPA/DWS or 19AB exemptions are not required for renewal applications.
Medical Board of Australia requirements
The Medical Board , under s. 67 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 (the ‘national law’), requires IMGs who do not qualify for general or specialist registration to obtain an area endorsement. IMGs must do this when applying for limited registration for an area of need (or for a renewal of limited registration for an area of need).
Section 67(5) of the national law provides that it is the responsible minister (or delegate) in a participating jurisdiction that decides whether an area of need exists. However, it is for the Medical Board of Australia to decide whether an individual applicant is eligible, qualified and suitable to practise in a particular position.
Need more information
For information about assessment pathways, registration, visas, employment and support services, see International Health Professionals Victoria.
Reviewed 29 March 2026