1. APPOINTMENT WITH THE LABOUR SENDING UNIT

What to bring : Passport

2. APPOINTMENT WITH STAMFORD MEDICAL

What to bring : Passport, Medical History, Glasses/Contact Lenses, Cash Payment Fee of USD295

3. YOUR MEDICAL EXAMINATION RESULT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.Why do I have to do a medical examination?

• The Australian Department of Home Affairs decides when medical examinations are required for visa applications. All visa applicants living in Timor-Leste wanting to travel to Australia for more than 5 months require a medical examination.

2. What if I am going on a work placement for 5 months or less?

• You don’t need to do a medical examination. However, SEFOPE has a policy that workers can not travel while pregnant and requires all female workers to undertake a pregnancy test within the week prior to travel.

3. Why do I have to go to Stamford Medical Clinic?

• The Australian Department of Home Affairs decides which clinics around the world are able to conduct visa medical examinations. Specialist skills, computer software and qualifications are required to be authorised. No other clinic in Timor-Leste is currently authorised.

4. Why does it cost USD$295 to do this medical examination?

• The examinations that are being undertaken, specialist equipment and staff required to conduct the tests and upload the results are expensive. All visa applicants who require a medical examination for temporary stay in Australia pay the same fee, whether this is a work, visit or student visa.

5. Who can give me my results and when?

• The Australian Medical Officer in Australia will make the decision on your results and upload this. Stamford doctors do not make this decision, they only provide input and evidence from your examination, x-ray and tests. Your result should be available within 10 working days after the test and will be emailed to you or to the LSU as your representative. The LSU will contact you when you have a result.

6. What if I require additional testing? How much does this cost? How long will it take?

• If you require further testing the LSU will advise you to return to Stamford for an explanation. Most often, the additional testing required is called a Sputum Culturing test. This is where you are required to provide spit samples to Stamford three days in a row. This does not cost you anything extra. The results will not be known for up to 14 weeks as the culture grows. This test is to see if you have ever had or still have Tuberculosis.

7. What if I have had Tuberculosis before?  Does this mean I can’t get a visa?

• If you have active Tuberculosis, you will be immediately referred for treatment so that this disease can be controlled. Once controlled, you will be asked to have another chest x-ray to see if your condition has changed and is stable. If you have had Tuberculosis in the past, you maybe asked to wait for a period to then have another chest x-ray to see that the condition has not changed during this time. Whilst it may take longer, you are likely to eventually be cleared for a visa. You will stay in the Work Ready Pool until you meet the health requirement.

8. What is a health undertaking?

• This is an agreement you must sign, stating that you will contact BUPA medical when you arrive in Australia and attend a clinic in Australia so that your condition can be monitored and evaluated. This is mandatory. If you do not sign the agreement, you will not be eligible for a visa. If you do not call and attend an appointment once in Australia, your visa may be cancelled. You will also need to inform your employer, so you can arrange time off work.

9. Why and how do I do a pregnancy test?

• SEFOPE requires all females to undertake a pregnancy test inside 1 week of their Australian travel date. Stamford can provide a pregnancy test for US$10. However SEFOPE may also allow other medical pro-fessionals to provide this test.

10. What if I have questions about my medical result and additional tests?

• You can ask Stamford to help interpret the additional tests you have been asked to undertake. Or you may directly contact the visa decision maker who is assessing your visa application via email.

NOTE:
Appropriate Behaviour at Stamford Medical is required. Please note the SEFOPE worker code of conduct applies to worker behaviour in Stamford Medical. Please abide by the Code of Conduct.

CAN’T FIND THE ANSWER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO enquiries.lsu.tl@gmail.com
Australian Labour Mobility Office, Becora

 For more details information please download our SEFOPE Factsheet 3 – Labour Mobility Visa Medical Examination Process below:

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