NSW medical internship application (2026 HETI guide)

NSW intern recruitment is managed by HETI (Health Education and Training Institute), not individual hospitals. There are 1,200 intern positions available across 15 prevocational training networks across the state.

You apply through the NSW Health Careers Portal. Your application covers all 15 networks in one place. You rank the networks in your preferred order, and an algorithm matches you based on your preferences and priority category.

Before you do anything else, check which NSW Health Priority Category you fall into. Your category determines your eligibility and when you receive an offer.

There are six priority categories:

• Category 1: Medical graduates of NSW universities who are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (Commonwealth Supported Place and Domestic Full Fee paying). Category 1 applicants are guaranteed an intern position in NSW.
  
• Category 2: Medical graduates of interstate or New Zealand universities who completed Year 12 in NSW and are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (Commonwealth Supported Place, Domestic Full Fee paying or NZ equivalent).
  
• Category 3: Medical graduates of interstate or New Zealand universities who completed Year 12 outside of NSW and are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (Commonwealth Supported Place, Domestic Full Fee paying or NZ equivalent).
  
• Category 4: Medical graduates of NSW universities who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents, but hold a visa that allows them to work in Australia or are able to obtain one.
  
• Category 5: Medical graduates of interstate or New Zealand universities who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents, but hold a visa that allows them to work in Australia or are able to obtain one.
  
• Category 6: Medical graduates of Australian Medical Council accredited universities with campuses outside of Australia or New Zealand (University of Queensland Ochsner and Monash Malaysia) who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents, but hold a visa that allows them to work in Australia or are able to obtain one.

Only Category 1 applicants are guaranteed a position. All other categories are considered in order after Category 1 positions have been filled. Confirm which category applies to you before you submit your application.

NSW offers four ways to apply for an intern position. Understanding which one is right for you will save you a lot of confusion.

• Optimised Pathway: This is the standard pathway for most applicants. You rank all 15 prevocational training networks in your preferred order, and an algorithm allocates you based on those preferences and your priority category. No CV, no referees, no selection criteria. The process is entirely application-based.
  
  One important note: HETI is aware of a practice called “stacking,” where applicants deliberately manipulate their network order to try to game the algorithm. HETI strongly advises against this. It can backfire and result in a worse outcome than simply listing your genuine preferences in order.
  
• Direct Regional Allocation (DRA): For applicants who genuinely want to work in a regional or rural network. This pathway gives you a higher chance of being placed at your preferred regional network. Still application-based, no CV or referees required.
  
• Rural Preferential Recruitment (RPR): This is the only merit-based pathway in NSW. It is also the only pathway that requires a CV, a statement addressing the selection criteria, referees, and potentially an interview. If you are applying through RPR, you must submit a separate application directly to each RPR hospital you want to be considered for, in addition to your standard HETI application. RPR applications to hospitals close on the same date as the main application.
  
• Aboriginal Medical Workforce (AMW): For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical graduates. Applications are assessed by the Aboriginal Medical Workforce Committee. Applicants are offered a position at the network or RPR hospital of their choice, subject to availability.

For the Optimised, DRA, and AMW pathways, the requirements are minimal:

• Completed online application via the NSW Health Careers Portal
• Ranked list of up to 15 prevocational training network preferences
• Intern Placement Number (IPN), provided by your university
• Proof of expected or completed graduation from an AMC-accredited medical school
• Supporting documents certified by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Declarations, or Notary Public
• Valid AHPRA provisional registration (or application in progress)

No CV. No cover letter. No referees.

However, if you are taking the RPR pathway, you will also need:

• A CV
• A written statement addressing the selection criteria
• Referees
• Possibly an interview (face-to-face or virtual, depending on the hospital)

Once offers are made, you have 48 hours to accept or decline. If you receive multiple offers (for example, an RPR offer and an Optimised offer), you will be contacted by the National Data Manager and given 48 hours to choose.

If you decline your NSW offer, you will not receive another offer from NSW. This applies whether the offer came through the RPR pathway or the Optimised pathway.

Position swaps between applicants are permitted in NSW, but only before the end of National Offer Period 2. Swaps must be between applicants with the same residency status and require a completed swap application and statutory declaration. More information is available at the NSW Medical Student Council Intern Swap.