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Discover doctor jobs in Southland

Southland, NZ offers great opportunities

New Zealand's southernmost region is known for snowcapped mountains, the Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound, unmatched beauty, and great surf beaches. Invercargill is the regional capital and commercial hub - base yourself in the gateway to the South, where you'll be able to see and explore so many amazing places. Stewart Island, The Catlins, Invercargill, and Gore are all within Southland, and Queenstown and Wanaka are just a stone's throw from the border of this region. We have an abundance of locum and permanent doctor jobs in Southland.

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It was my first day at Southland Hospital, in Invercargill. It was not until I arrived here, that I really appreciated how fortunate I had been to have secured a job here. It is perfectly situated to many of the gems of New Zealand – Queenstown and the amazing ski fields (2 hours North), The Catlins (1 hour 15 mins East) and Fiordland (2 hours North West) just to name a few! Invercargill itself is cool too, with plenty of places to eat out and a really friendly community.

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Dr Will Beech , A UK doctor who moved to Southland
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Explore the outdoors

Southland is known for its picturesque scenery and offers ample opportunity to get amongst it. From cycle trails to coastal walks, waterfalls, lush forests, and an array of wildlife, there's so much to explore in this region. Foodies can enjoy world-famous Bluff Oysters, fresh from the ocean, or fine fare made with fresh, local produce. And for animal lovers, you'll get to discover wildlife including sea lions, Hector’s Dolphins, and rare but distinctive Hoiho, the Yellow-Eyed Penguin.

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Gateway to the Catlins

If you're in the region's capital and commercial hub, Invercargill, you'll be able to take day or weekend adventures to many stunning spots including the breathtaking Catlins - home to thriving forests, blue lakes, and cute wildlife. Invercargill is a town of friendly locals, a laidback atmosphere, long daylight hours, lively cafes and restaurants, and great activities for families. Check out Elegance at 148 on Elles for dinner or Ziff's Cafe and Bar for brunch, which is on beautiful Oreti Beach.

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Getting to Southland

You can travel to Southland by air or road, and the easiest airport to fly into is Invercargill - if you're flying in prepare yourself for some spectacular views. Invercargill is a great spot to base yourself - you'll be just under a two hour drive from Fiordland and only an hour to the Catlins. Driving is a great way to get around Southland - you'll get to see some beautiful sights, and nothing's too far away. Invercargill has a good public transport system - if you're not feeling like driving or flying you can always jump on a coach.

Why Medrecruit

Medrecruit is a medical recruitment agency with a difference. We make a difference in the lives of doctors by changing how medicine works and having a real-world impact on communities across Australia and New Zealand.

Medrecruit has the largest network of jobs in Australia and New Zealand, double the next largest agency. This provides you with the highest chance of getting the right role, and our scale provides you with a hiring advantage as many employers come to us exclusively before going to market.

We make the process as easy as possible. Some agencies have recruiters do everything. However, one person can’t be the best at all functions so we have specialist teams, combined with technology, to make each stage of the process as smooth as humanly possible.

In 2016, Our founder, Dr Sam Hazledine successfully lobbied the World Medical Association to amend the Declaration of Geneva (the modern-day Hippocratic Oath) to include: I WILL ATTEND to my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.

Since then Medworld has continued to advocate for, educate, and work towards better health and well-being for all doctors. Medworld and Medrecruit are built for doctors, by doctors.

A doctor in New Zealand earns an average salary of between $72,000 and $182,000 a year. A junior doctor in New Zealand makes around $80,000 – $140,000 a year, whereas Consultants could be earning between $155,000 and $219,000 a year. Those working in the private sector could earn up to $600,000.

According to Seek, a doctor is the highest paid job in New Zealand.

As of 2022, the average New Zealand wage is $58,836 per year, with doctors of all grades and specialties earning above the median wage.

Southland doctor
Very professional, prompt communication, makes working as a locum around NZ easy! - Dr Sam Burridge, Southland Hospital Locum
Article by Julia | 16 Sep 2022

Are doctors in demand in New Zealand?

Yes! Doctors are highly sought-after in New Zealand. There are many specialist roles on the skills shortage list including palliative medicine specialist, cardiologist, paediatrician and emergency medicine.

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Benefits of working with Medrecruit

Find better

We help doctors find better permanent and locum job opportunities, better experiences, and better lives. Work when and where you want with locum work or find the permanent role of your dreams with us.

Earn up to $2000/day

Locum doctors can earn fantastic rates with flexible hours and locations NZ. Whether you're saving for a house, investing or simply feel like treating yourself - locuming is a great way to boost your earnings.

Travel costs covered

For SMO/Consultant permanent roles, your travel and accommodation costs are covered. In some cases, relocation expenses are covered as well. This means you get to explore new places and live somewhere new with no cost to you!

What other locations in New Zealand do you cover?

We have locum and permanent positions all over Australia and New Zealand, and every day we help doctors find the lifestyles or career goals they have been seeking. You can check out some of our other location pages here: Auckland, Queenstown, Taranaki, Southland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Australia. If you are interested in finding a new locum or permanent position in one of these regions the best thing to do is get in touch with our team and let them know which region you are looking to work in.