Oncologists

Salary

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 salaries and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers.

Employment agreementsexternal link

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 is a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call
• evening, night and weekend work
• call back
• job size
• recruitment and retention
• special contribution.

Leave

Leave entitlements include:

• 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 to 12 months of parental leave, depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• 12 paid public holidays and time in lieu or alternative holiday if rostered on
• long service leave and sabbatical opportunities.

Additional benefits

Additional benefits include:

• an annual continuing medical education (CME) allowance of NZD $16,000 (pro-rated for part-time employees)
• membership subscriptions of medical professional bodies are reimbursed by Health NZ
• your professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ
• if eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health NZ as your employer
• a relocation package for international candidates.

KiwiSaver (superannuation savings scheme)

Leadership and career development opportunities

Health NZ encourages Senior Medical Officers to be involved in the design, implementation and performance of facilities and technology involved in the delivery of healthcare services to ensure an effective, efficient and safe workplace.

Specific opportunities vary by location and service; however, they can include:

• support and encouragement for research and publications
• mentorship opportunities for apprentice Junior Doctors/Registrars
• regional and national networks allowing 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 Aotearoa New Zealand are critical in diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer patients using medicinal therapies.

Primary responsibilities include:

Providing clinical care

• Assess patients and develop individualised treatment plans — such as chemotherapy and 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, such as surgeons and radiologists, to ensure comprehensive care.
• Communicate treatment options and offer emotional support to patients and families.

Participating in research and education

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

Leadership and 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 and 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
• 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.

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 and neck, thyroid, CNS or sarcoma.

Registering to work as a Senior Medical Officer in Aotearoa New Zealand

To work as a Senior Medical Officer in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will need to obtain vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

Pathways to vocational registration

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 (such as Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada and some European countries), you may be eligible to apply directly for vocational registration without needing first to obtain general registration.
• In this pathway, 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.
• 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.

Provisional vocational registration pathway

• If 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 will practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6 to 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.

General registration pathway

• If you do not meet the criteria for direct vocational registration, you may need to obtain general registration first if your qualifications and experience are not recognised as equivalent.
• This process to gain vocational registration includes:
  • a period of provisional general registration (with supervised practice) if necessary
  • after obtaining general registration, you can later apply for vocational registration once you have completed any further assessments or additional supervised practice required by the MCNZ.

Self-assessment

The Medical Council of New Zealand have a self-assessment tool to help you easily determine which registration pathway you should take.

Registration self assessment tool — Medical Council of New Zealandexternal link

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have a page dedicated to providing information to candidates about our recruitment process, what you need to work in Aotearoa New Zealand and key details about moving here.

Visas and settling in New Zealand

Salary

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 salaries and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers.

Employment agreementsexternal link

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 is a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call
• evening, night and weekend work
• call back
• job size
• recruitment and retention
• special contribution.

Leave

Leave entitlements include:

• 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 to 12 months of parental leave, depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• 12 paid public holidays and time in lieu or alternative holiday if rostered on
• long service leave and sabbatical opportunities.

Additional benefits

Additional benefits include:

• an annual continuing medical education (CME) allowance of NZD $16,000 (pro-rated for part-time employees)
• membership subscriptions of medical professional bodies are reimbursed by Health NZ
• your professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ
• if eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health NZ as your employer
• a relocation package for international candidates.

KiwiSaver (superannuation savings scheme)

Leadership and career development opportunities

Health NZ encourages Senior Medical Officers to be involved in the design, implementation and performance of facilities and technology involved in the delivery of healthcare services to ensure an effective, efficient and safe workplace.

Specific opportunities vary by location and service; however, they can include:

• support and encouragement for research and publications
• mentorship opportunities for apprentice Junior Doctors/Registrars
• regional and national networks allowing 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.

Radiation Oncologists in New Zealand play a pivotal role in diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer patients through the application of advanced radiation therapies.

Primary responsibilities include:

Providing clinical care

• Assessing patients and developing individualised radiation treatment plans, incorporating techniques such as external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or stereotactic treatments.
• Supervising the planning and precise delivery of radiotherapy in collaboration with clinical physicists and therapeutic radiographers.
• Monitoring patients' progress throughout treatment, adjusting plans as required to optimise outcomes while minimising side effects.
• Conducting post-treatment follow-ups and contributing to long-term survivorship care plans.

Palliative care

• Designing and delivering palliative radiotherapy to alleviate cancer symptoms, improve quality of life, and provide end-of-life support when necessary.

Working collaboratively

• Operating within multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure holistic and coordinated care.
• Communicating complex treatment options clearly, and addressing patient and family concerns with empathy and support.

Participating in research and education

• Engaging in clinical trials and research projects to advance radiotherapy techniques and outcomes.
• Mentoring junior doctors, trainees, and medical students, fostering the development of future oncology specialists.
• Staying abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in cancer care through continuous professional development.

Leadership and administrative tasks

• Maintaining comprehensive and accurate patient records to ensure continuity of care.
• Contributing to departmental management, service development, and hospital policy improvements.
• Taking on leadership roles within oncology services as required, guiding clinical practice standards and team operations.

Advocacy and outreach

• Promoting awareness of cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and the benefits of radiotherapy through public education initiatives.
• Advocating for equitable access to advanced cancer treatments and patient support services across New Zealand.

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 Radiation Oncology, you need either:

• the Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (FRANZCR) qualification
• an international postgraduate medical qualification in Radiation Oncology, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience will be assessed against the standard of the FRANZCR.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

To practice as a Radiation 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.

Registering to work as a Senior Medical Officer in Aotearoa New Zealand

To work as a Senior Medical Officer in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will need to obtain vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

Pathways to vocational registration

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 (such as Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada and some European countries), you may be eligible to apply directly for vocational registration without needing first to obtain general registration.
• In this pathway, 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.
• 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.

Provisional vocational registration pathway

• If 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 will practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6 to 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.

General registration pathway

• If you do not meet the criteria for direct vocational registration, you may need to obtain general registration first if your qualifications and experience are not recognised as equivalent.
• This process to gain vocational registration includes:
  • a period of provisional general registration (with supervised practice) if necessary
  • after obtaining general registration, you can later apply for vocational registration once you have completed any further assessments or additional supervised practice required by the MCNZ.

Self-assessment

The Medical Council of New Zealand have a self-assessment tool to help you easily determine which registration pathway you should take.

Registration self assessment tool — Medical Council of New Zealandexternal link

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have a page dedicated to providing information to candidates about our recruitment process, what you need to work in Aotearoa New Zealand and key details about moving here.

Visas and settling in New Zealand