Salary:

Oncologists (Senior Medical Officers) receive a base salary relative to their level of experience. This is agreed upon at the time of the job offer. There is a 15-step pay scale that SMOs continue to progress through on a yearly basis.

In New Zealand, the salary and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers. The full Senior Medical Officers collective agreement can be found on the Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora website here.

Additional allowances are paid on top of base salary and vary due to location and service and are often not specified in the collective agreement.

Allowances:

There are a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call

• evening, night and weekend work

• call back

• job size

• recruitment and retention

• special contribution

Leave:

• 6 weeks of paid annual leave

• A minimum of 10 days of sick leave per year

• 10 days of paid Continuing Medical Education Leave (CME), plus the ability to use annual leave tacked onto the end of your CME travel

• 6-12 months of parental leave depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave

• 12 paid public holidays + time in lieu/alternative holiday if rostered on

• Long service leave + sabbatical opportunities

Additional benefits include: 

• Reimbursement of your registration and practising certificate fees 

• Your professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ 

• A paid continuing professional development allowance 

• An annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowance of NZD $16,000 (pro-rated for part-time employees)

• If eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand as your employer.

• A relocation package for international candidates

• Great balance: New Zealand is known for our work-life balance, and Oncologists can enjoy flexible hours to make the most of all the country has to offer.

Leadership and career development opportunities:

Oncologists at Health New Zealand are actively involved in the design, implementation and performance of cancer facilities and technology involved in the delivery of healthcare services to ensure an effective, efficient and safe workplace. 

Opportunities can include:  

• Support and encouragement for research and publications 
  

• Mentorship opportunities for apprentice Junior Doctors/Registrars 
  

• Regional and National networks allow for subspeciality research and practice. 
  

• Ongoing development and support for career growth with on-the-job coaching and a variety of in-house training programmes. 

Medical Oncologists in New Zealand are critical in diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer patients using medicinal therapies. Primary responsibilities include:

Providing clinical care

• Assess patients and develop individualized treatment plans (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy).

• Oversee treatment administration.

• Monitor progress and adjust therapies as needed.

• Completing post-treatment follow-up and long-term care are also essential.

Palliative care

• Help manage cancer symptoms and provide end-of-life care, focusing on patient comfort.

Working collaboratively

• Work across multidisciplinary teams (surgeons, radiologists, etc.) to ensure comprehensive care.

• Communicate treatment options and offer emotional support to patients and families.

Participating in research & education

• Participate in clinical trials, contribute to Medical Oncology research, and educate junior doctors and students, staying updated on advancements in cancer treatments.

Leadership & administration tasks

• Medical Oncologists need to maintain thorough patient records and may take on leadership roles within hospital units, contributing to policy and service improvements.

Advocacy & outreach

• Medical Oncologists may engage in public education about cancer prevention and advocate for patient access to innovative treatments.

Medical Qualification:

• You must hold a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB); or

• an overseas qualification that is assessed as equivalent to New Zealand standards by the MCNZ.

Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ):

To apply for Vocational Registration in Medical Oncology, you need either:

• the FRACP (Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians) qualification in Medical Oncology; or

• an international postgraduate medical qualification in Medical Oncology, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience will be assessed against the standard of the FRACP.

  • More information on international medical graduates' registration pathways can be found in the 'Information for international candidates'.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC):

• To practice as a Medical Oncologist you must hold a valid Annual Practising Certificate (APC) with the MCNZ which is renewed annually.

• To maintain the APC, you must:

  • Provide evidence of ongoing competence.

  • Demonstrate participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.

Desired experience:

• Experience in solid malignancy treatment, including Breast, Colorectal, Upper GI, NET, Melanoma and other cutaneous malignancies, Gynaecological malignancies, Lung, Genitourinary, Head & Neck, Thyroid, CNS, and/or Sarcoma.  

To become a Medical Oncologist, you will need to: 

• complete the Health Sciences First Year programme at the University of Otago or the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland; and then

• complete a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at Otago or Auckland University; and then

• work for two years as a house officer (supervised junior doctor) in a hospital; and then

• complete another five years as a registrar with specialist training and examinations to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Registering to work as a Medical Oncologist in New Zealand:

To work as a Medical Oncologist in New Zealand you will need to obtain Vocational Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

Pathways to Vocational Registration include:

1. Direct Pathway to Vocational Registration:

• If you are an International Medical Graduate (IMG) with specialist qualifications from countries with medical systems deemed equivalent to New Zealand’s (e.g., Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, or some European countries), you may be eligible to apply directly for vocational registration without needing to first obtain general registration.

• In this pathway, the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) will assess your specialist qualifications, clinical experience, and the medical system where you trained. If these are deemed equivalent, you can apply directly for vocational registration in your specialty (such as Medical Oncology).

• This pathway allows experienced specialists to bypass general registration and the provisional general phase, which is typically required for doctors without a recognised specialist qualification.

2. Provisional Vocational Registration Pathway

• If the MCNZ determines that your qualifications and experience are largely equivalent but that you need some orientation or assessment within the New Zealand healthcare system, you may be granted provisional vocational registration.

• This means you’ll practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6-12 months, before being granted full vocational registration.

• During this provisional Vocational Registration period, a specialist who practises in the same area of medicine as you will supervise you. 

3. General Registration Pathway

• Some IMGs who do not meet the criteria for direct vocational registration may first need to obtain general registration if their qualifications and experience are not recognized as equivalent.

• This process to gain Vocational Registration includes:

  • A period of Provisional General Registration (with supervised practice) if necessary.

  • After obtaining General Registration, they can later apply for Vocational Registration once they have completed any further assessments or additional supervised practice required by the MCNZ.

Oncologists receive a base salary relative to their level of experience. This is agreed upon at the time of the job offer. There is a 15-step pay scale that SMOs continue to progress through on a yearly basis.

In New Zealand, the salary and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers. The full Senior Medical Officers collective agreement can be found on the Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora website here.

Additional allowances are paid on top of base salary and vary due to location and service and are often not specified in the collective agreement.

Allowances:

There are a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call

• evening, night and weekend work

• call back

• job size

• recruitment and retention

• special contribution

Leave:

• 6 weeks of paid annual leave

• A minimum of 10 days of sick leave per year

• 10 days of paid Continuing Medical Education Leave (CME), plus the ability to use annual leave tacked onto the end of your CME travel

• 6-12 months of parental leave depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave

• 12 paid public holidays + time in lieu/alternative holiday if rostered on

• Long service leave + sabbatical opportunities

To work in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will need a medical degree recognised by the New Zealand Medical Council (MCNZ) and The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). An admission to Fellowship at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) or equivalent is also required. 

To work in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will require an appropriate registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand and an Annual Practising Certificate. This can take 3-4 months to complete so it is important to start this process early on.

To become a Radiation Oncologist, you will need to: 

• complete a Health Sciences First Year programme at Otago University, or the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at Auckland University
• complete a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at Otago or Auckland University
• work for two years as a house officer (Junior Doctor or RMO) in a hospital
• complete a further five years of specialist training and examinations in your chosen speciality to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.