Opportunities and benefits

Salary and benefits

No matter where you are placed and what work you do on assignment, you will have the opportunity to develop your professional and personal capacities in ways in which you would not have imagined. 

Length of assignment

A typical placement lasts 6 to 12 months. All internationally mobile staff need time to become acclimated to the work and the environment in order to assume a significant level of responsibility on a project, as well as to provide continuity for the benefit of both our national staff and patients.  

A placement may have a shorter duration for emergencies or for needs driven by particular circumstances. For example surgeons, obstetricians-gynecologists and anaesthetists can be exempt from this requirement due to the nature of their on-call responsibilities when on assignment. Some projects are launched in response to sudden crises, whether natural or otherwise, requiring the participation of staff who are available on short notice and for shorter duration.

Types of commitment

Many of our internationally mobile staff enjoy the flexibility of being able to undertake assignments during different periods in their careers or as personal circumstances permit. Others determine that working with Médecins Sans Frontières is a way of life suited to their values and career aspirations over the long term. Our international staff have a dedicated Career Manager who works with them to develop a career path. Our organisation offers an array of long term career options with increasing responsibility, scope, and complexity over time and the opportunity to have an impact on the strategic direction of the organisation at the management level.

Following the first placement, dependent on the type of commitment you may wish to make and the operational needs, there are a variety of contract types available to suit the needs of both the individual and the organisation. These range from single placement contracts, to on-going 'vocationer' contracts. 

Learning and development 

Médecins Sans Frontières is committed to the ongoing professional development of our internationally mobile staff. We provide them with access to various types of training that build the skills and knowledge required to be effective on assignment. This ensures that as an organisation we can respond to the most urgent and critical needs of the people we help around the globe, people who often require scarce and highly specialised expertise from medical and support professionals. 

Training programs can range from language training, to sophisticated medical treatments and protocols, to management and leadership best practices, and a host of other possibilities relevant to the professional background and career aspirations of each individual.

Salary and benefits

Internationally mobile staff salaries are set to reflect the humanitarian spirit of volunteerism, while recognising the high level of professional expertise provided by the staff. The starting gross monthly salary is approximately 3,826 AUD, and all salaries are subject to subsequent increases based on expertise, experience, and increasing levels of responsibility. 

Benefits include:

  • Three days pre-departure Welcome to MSF days (online training)
  • Reimbursement of required vaccinations
  • Required visas and work permits
  • Monthly salary starting from 3,826 AUD
  • Tax-exempt income for assignments longer than 91 days (for Australia residents only). This income qualifies for tax-exempt income under the ATO Section 23AG – Exempt foreign service income ruling. 
  • Paid vacation (25 days per year)
  • Superannuation contributions for Australian residents. New Zealand residents will receive the equivalent amount as additional salary.
  • Daily per diem in local currency, paid while on assignment
  • Accommodation while on assignment
  • Round-trip transportation to your assignment
  • Medical, disability and life insurance coverage
  • Medical evacuation coverage
  • Medical/professional indemnity (for health profiles)
  • Luggage insurance
  • Psychosocial support
  • Access to an Employee Assistance Program

 

To learn more about working overseas with MSF, please register to receive recruitment updates below. 

Employment policies