Working in Australia as an OT, physio or speech pathologist on a working holiday visa

Yes, you can work as an allied health clinician on a working holiday visa, and if your role is in a covered sector you may be able to stay with one employer for the whole visa. Since 1 January 2024, working holiday makers in health, aged care and disability services can work for the same employer for more than six months without asking Home Affairs for permission. Home Affairs says this applies “until the Government makes further decisions”. You still need Ahpra registration to work as an OT or physio. Speech pathologists need to be eligible for SPA’s Certified Practising membership, which most Australian employers require.

General information only. A registered migration agent should confirm your situation.

Who can apply

From 1 July 2026, you must be within the age limit at the moment you lodge (for example, not yet 36 for a 417). Confirm on Home Affairs and don’t leave it to the last month.

Why it works well for clinicians

• No sponsor needed, so you can choose an employer on fit, not on who will sponsor.
• No skills assessment for the visa itself. OTs don’t need the OTC assessment for a working holiday. You do still need Ahpra registration to work.
• A real job, not a gap year. Where your role is covered by the health and disability exemption, a proper role with supervision is realistic.
• A trial run. You can try a city, and an employer, before committing to a sponsored visa.

What to check before you rely on the exemption

Home Affairs’ examples for health include hospitals, doctors, nurses, dental and medical support staff, and mental health; and for aged care and disability, disability services, aged care services, and aged or disabled carers. If your role is in a private clinic, ask the employer (or a migration agent) to confirm it falls within those sectors before you rely on it.

After the working holiday

Many clinicians who want to stay move to an employer-sponsored Skills in Demand (482) visa, which needs a year’s experience and a salary of at least A$79,423. Your working holiday job may count toward that experience; confirm with a migration agent. Some move to a points-tested visa: the 189 and 190 are permanent, the 491 is provisional and regional.

From my experience: working holiday clinicians have more freedom than sponsored ones. City clinics and short contracts are realistic. If you later need sponsorship, look 30 minutes or more out of the city centre, where sponsoring employers are more common.