Interns
Expand your horizons and propel your career in the Northern Territory
Interns
Intern positions aligned with the AMC framework are available to graduates of accredited Australian and New Zealand universities.
The NT Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) conducts a central review of eligible applicants and all intern positions are allocated within the 2 health services.
- Both regional health services are accredited to meet 47 weeks of satisfactory, supervised clinical practice as per the newly revised MBA Registration Standards to align with the Australian Medical Council’s (AMC’S) National Framework for Prevocational Doctors (PGY1 and PGY2) Medical Training (The AMC Framework).
- Top End Regional Health Service has a 5 term internship year - interns work at Gove and Katherine as well as Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional hospitals.
- Central Australia Regional Health Service has a 4 term internship year - interns work at Tennant Creek and Alice Springs hospitals.
Eligible applicants are allocated intern positions in line with the Northern Territory category groups. Within the relevant category groups, applicants are allocated to their highest possible health service preference, pending availability of a position.
Previous experience of working/studying in the NT in a rural, remote and/or Aboriginal health location will give an applicant good standing in this process. However, all medical graduate applicants will be selected against their capacity to work in a rural and remote environment.
To be eligible as an intern in the NT, you must not have commenced or completed a medical Internship previously in Australia or overseas. If you have completed an internship previously (overseas), go to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website for more information.
All applicants must meet the Medical Board of Australia's English language skill registration standard.
If you are currently working through any of the assessment pathways to registration as an international medical graduate with the Australian Medical Council (AMC) please apply for employment through the Northern Territory Resident Medical Officer (RMO) application process. For any enquiries regarding how to apply for these positions, email HospitalDoctors.THS@nt.gov.au.
The application is via the national process and the NT intern guide and intern application guide can be found on the NT Prevocational Medical Assurance Service website.
For general enquiries regarding intern applications email InternsNT.DoH@nt.gov.au or call 08 8999 2834.
Registration requirements
Interns in postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) are provisionally registered by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and administered through the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).
General registration is granted after successful completion of the internship (PGY1) program.
The 47 weeks experience:
- must be completed in a period no longer than 3 years
- excludes annual leave but may include up to 2 weeks of professional development leave
- must include a minimum of 4 terms (at least 10 weeks each term) in different specialities
- must include direct clinical care in each term, which will have been predetermined through the accreditation process:
- undifferentiated illness patient care
- chronic illness patient care
- acute and critical illness patient care; and
- peri-procedural patient care.
Central Australia Regional Health Service
The Central Australia Region (CAR), accredited by PMAS on behalf of the Northern Territory Medical Board, offers a dynamic clinical training program for junior medical officers.
The Central Australia Regional Health Service (CARHS), accredited by the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) on behalf of the Northern Territory Medical Board, currently has 24 intern positions available.
Four term rotations are offered at CARHS. Interns undertake the following:
- General Medicine
- General Surgery
- Emergency
- Renal
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics.
- Cardiology
- Rural Generalist at Tennant Creek Hospital (TCH).
Term positions are allocated randomly, however those who are keen to rotate to TCH may indicate this in their application.
2026
| Orientation | 8 January to 17 January | 8 days |
| Term 1 | 19 January to 19 April | 13 weeks |
| Term 2 | 20 April to 19 July | 13 weeks |
| Term 3 | 20 July to 18 October | 13 weeks |
| Term 4 | 19 October to 17 January | 13 weeks |
Top End Regional Health Service
The Top End Regional Health Service (TEHRS), accredited by the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) on behalf of the Northern Territory Medical Board, offers a dynamic clinical training program for prevocational medical officers. There are currently 64 intern positions available.
Five term rotations are offered at TERHS. Interns have the opportunity to undertake the following rotations:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Emergency Medical Care
- Renal Medicine
- Palliative Care
- Cardiology
- Head and Neck (Maxilofacial)
- Vascular and Plastic Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Rural terms in Emergency Medical Care and Medicine.
On and off site accommodation is available at Royal Darwin, Katherine and Gove hospitals for up to 12 weeks for interns relocating from interstate.
RDPH supports relocation costs for interns relocating from interstate.
2026
| Orientation and shadow | 21 January to 30 January | 7 days |
| Term 1 | 2 February to 12 April | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | 13 April to 21 June | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | 22 June to 6 September | 11 weeks |
| Term 4 | 7 September to 15 November | 10 weeks |
| Term 5 | 16 November to 31 January | 11 weeks |
General information
Interns undertake an orientation program prior to commencing ward duties.
The time allocated for this mandatory orientation is up to 10 days depending on the health service you are employed at. The orientation is predominantly hands-on and interactive. Key elements include:
- utilising the simulation laboratory
- cultural competencies
- use of hospital health systems
- introduction to management of unique and complex patient presentations.
You will be advised by your employing hospital when the hospital orientation is scheduled. Both hospitals usually run their orientations in early January.
Please note that term specific orientation takes place at the commencement of each term.
Both TERHS and CARHS Medical Education Units (MEUs) provide an outstanding training program for prevocational medical officers with a award-winning team of educators and clinicians committed to providing a rich and diverse education and training program. The education and training programs reflect the challenges that come with working in Aboriginal health in rural and remote locations. Strong intern and RMO representation on the Medical Training Committee offers support to the prevocational doctor experience.
Formal and informal teaching sessions related to the specific terms are delivered weekly by consultants and registrars. Most departments will have regular formal grand rounds, journal clubs and specific sessions where all prevocational doctors, particularly interns, are encouraged to attend.
The education and training program for interns is mapped to the Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors. Term descriptions provided at the term orientation will show how an intern may meet the framework in that term.
The Northern Territory has a strong focus on Rural Generalist in their training programs. You will, at the intern and resident medical officer levels have the opportunity to consolidate, maintain and widen your knowledge, skills and experience, as well as have access to opportunities to explore potential careers in rural and remote settings.
Supervision is provided as part of the education and training program, and contributes to developing the transition to safe, independent practice. Each department or division has a term supervisor responsible for coordinating and ensuring intern training and supervision occurs. Each intern will also have a clinical supervisor within their team who provides education and on-the-job training, career advice and guidance to achieve learning goals.
Interns meet with their supervisors at the start of each term to define learning objectives by discussing the expectations of both the intern and their supervisors’, and the role and responsibility of the intern within that team. Interns meet with each supervisor mid-term for a formative assessment, to ensure that they are performing to set goals and discuss any concerns. The end-of-term assessment is a formal, summative process which contributes to gaining full registration at the end of the intern year. These assessments are discussed at term orientation and comprise of, but are not limited to, direct observation, participation in case studies and other department or division education and training sessions.
Eligibility categories
- To be eligible as an intern applicant in the Northern Territory you must not have completed a medical internship previously.
- If you have completed an internship previously (overseas), go to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website for more information.
The applicant eligibility categories in order of selection for internship in the Northern Territory are:
Category | Criteria |
|---|---|
A | NT Bonded Medical Scheme (NTBMS) applicants |
B | Aboriginal applicants who are:
|
C | NT applicants (non-Aboriginal) who are:
|
D | Australian applicants (non-Aboriginal/non NT residents) who have:
|
| E | Medical applicants from an AMC accredited medical school who are not Australian/New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents with previous experience in one or more of the following:
|
*Definition of NT resident.
An NT resident is an Australian citizen/permanent resident who has reside with a permanent address in the NT for either:
- at least 2 years out of the last 6, or
- a total of at least 5 years since commencing primary school.
National intern data audit
To assist states and territories with the filling of intern positions, a national audit of internship acceptances for the following clinical year will occur. Information disclosed will be restricted to name, date of birth, university attended or attending, student number, AHPRA registration number, email address, contact number and residency status.
The information will not be used to influence or determine the outcome of an applicant's application. This information may be used by States and Territories to determine whether applicants have accepted multiple positions. Specific information will not be disclosed to persons not involved in the audit.
Applicants who are identified as having accepted more than one position will be contacted by the National Intern Data Audit Manager by phone or email and asked to withdraw from all intern positions within 48 hours, except for the one where they intend to undertake their internship commencing in the following year. Applicants may access any of their information held by the National Intern Data Audit by contacting the National Audit Data Manager.
For general enquiries regarding this process or to access your information email the National Intern Data Audit Manager at datamanager@health.nsw.gov.au.
Applications intake for the 2026 clinical year
- Applications open: Tuesday 6 May 2025
- Applications close: Thursday 5 June 2025
- Round 1 offers commence Wednesday 16 July 2025 and close Friday 1 August 2025
- Round 2 offers commence Thursday 14 August 2025 and close Friday 5 September 2025
- Round 3 offers commence Thursday 18 September 2025 and close Friday 17 October 2025
- Late Vacancy Management commences Monday 10 November 2025 and cease Friday 20 March 2025.
For further information, view the National Audit Timeline and flyer for the 2026 clinical year.
Apply for internship
Applications are made through a centralised online job application portal:
- Go to the NT Jobs portal and search for available jobs with the keyword 'Intern'.
- You may apply for either or both CARHS or TERHS positions.
- Submit your application online through the portal, ensuring you:
- upload all supporting documents, and
- provide 3 referees who are registered medical specialists.
The CARHS and TERHS health services will make employment offers to those applicants who have met the Northern Territory intern recruitment requirements.
The health services will only contact the referees of short-listed applicants.
For further information on what is required for your application, download the the intern application guide.
Why work with us
Jerome
Intern - Royal Darwin Hospital
Sonia
Junior Doctor - Royal Darwin Hospital
Dr Rochelle Basset
Junior Doctor
Dr Romali Boteju
International Medical Graduate
Get in touch
For general enquiries regarding intern applications email InternsNT.DoH@nt.gov.au or phone 08 8999 2834.