Medicals
Important changes to gaining a Certificate of Medical Fitness issued under Marine Orders Part 9
Commencing 1 June 2011, the coordination and administration of all AMSA medical examinations leading to the issue of a Certificate of Medical Fitness under Marine Orders Part 9, including the booking of an appointment, will be administered by Health Services Australia (trading as Medibank Health Solutions (MHS)) on behalf of AMSA.
All AMSA medical examinations leading to the issue of a Certificate of Medical Fitness must be booked through the new central booking system administered by MHS on 1300 277 904. From 1 June 2011 onwards, seafarers will no longer be able to make appointments directly with the Medical Inspector of Seamen (MIS), medical examinations booked directly with a MIS rather than via the central booking system’s 1300 number will be deemed invalid.
How to obtain a Certificate of Medical Fitness
Within Australia
For seafarers living, working or presently in Australia, the certificate holder must obtain a Certificate of Medical Fitness issued in accordance with Marine Orders Part 9.
Seafarers and Coastal Pilots must call the toll free central booking telephone number (1300 277 904), for those who can not access a toll free line, alternative contact details are listed below). Upon calling you will be asked to provide your location, and nominate a day and time on which you wish the medical examination to be conducted. The appointment will then be arranged by MHS with a duly trained and authorised MIS and you will be contacted and informed of your medical examination arrangements.
The central booking service is manned Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (Eastern Standard Time during winter). At times of high demand when operators are taking other calls you may find you are directed to a message bank. If this occurs please leave a message including your name and telephone number so that the operator may return your call and arrange your medical examination. The central booking service is closed on National public holidays.
The contact details for booking an AMSA medical examination are:
toll free 1300 277 904
land line +61 (0)3 9224 8510
email SeafarerMedicals@medibank.com.au
Outside Australia
Where a certificate holder is living and working overseas and wishes to revalidate their certificate of competency they must comply with the requirements below in order to obtain an acceptable Certificate of Medical Fitness:
- Ensure the country in which your medical is to be completed is listed as having an agreement in place enabling AMSA to recognise their certificates. Please see the List of Countries with an Agreement in Place.
- Contact the countries Flag State administration to obtain information regarding a suitable medical inspector in that country;
- Use the internet and go to AMSA's home page ( www.amsa.gov.au ) to obtain a copy of the Medical Examination Report form (AMSA 232) and the Certificate of Medical Fitness form (AMSA 303);
- Take both forms to the doctor and get the doctor to use the report form as a guide for the medical examination. Upon completion of the medical, the doctor undertaking the examination is to complete both forms and give them back to the applicant (NB: you must collect both forms from the doctor);
- Send both completed forms to AMSA with the application for revalidation of the certificate.
Note: All initial Certificates of Medical Fitness must be obtained in Australia. Certificates of Medical Fitness obtained overseas are only acceptable in the circumstance of renewal/revalidation.