Tasmania › Consultants & Specialists
TAS Specialist Medical Practitioner Pay 2025–26
Tasmanian public hospital specialists are called 'Specialist Medical Practitioners' (SMPs) and employed under the Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Award S099, No.1 of 2025 (effective 5 January 2025). TAS uses the most granular progression ladder nationally: 11 annual increment levels plus 3 Senior SMP levels. A separate Visiting Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement covers sessional VMPs.
Key takeaways
- TAS Specialist Medical Practitioner salary runs $163,005 (SMP Level 1) to $247,768 (SMP Level 11) with annual increments, then continues to Senior SMP 3 (~$288,000+).
- TAS has the most granular specialist progression scale nationally — 11 annual levels plus 3 Senior SMP levels — providing predictable incremental growth.
- 20 days sick leave per year applies to TAS specialists, the highest sick leave entitlement of any Australian state for medical practitioners.
- A separate Visiting Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement governs sessional rates; rates were updated effective 6 July 2025.
Which model applies?
Most Tasmania specialists work as Specialist Medical Practitioners, VMOs, or hold concurrent appointments across both models.
Specialist Medical Practitioner
Salaried employee of the Tasmanian State Service. 11-level scale (SMP1–11) plus 3 Senior levels. Entry base from $163,005 (SMP1); Senior SMP3 above $288,000. 20 days sick leave per year.
Jump to Specialist Medical Practitioner ↓Visiting Medical Officer (VMO)
Sessional contractor paid per session. No leave, no employer super. Suits doctors working across multiple facilities.
Jump to VMO ↓Specialist Medical Practitioner — salary
SMP Level 1 is entry for a newly Fellowship-qualified specialist; progression is annual by default. Not all specialists start at Level 1 — years of prior specialist experience may allow entry at a higher level. Selected levels shown; intermediate levels are interpolated.
| Grade | Base Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 1 | $163,005 | Entry level (confirmed, effective 5 Jan 2025). |
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 3 | $179,957 | Interpolated — not from Award. |
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 5 | $196,909 | Interpolated — not from Award. |
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 7 | $213,861 | Interpolated — not from Award. |
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 9 | $230,813 | Interpolated — not from Award. |
| Specialist Medical Practitioner Level 11 | $247,768 | Top of SMP scale (confirmed). |
| Senior Specialist Medical Practitioner 1 | $261,000 | Approximate — contact TAS Health for the current Senior SMP schedule. |
| Senior Specialist Medical Practitioner 3 | $288,000 | Approximate — contact TAS Health for the current Senior SMP schedule. |
Level 1 and Level 11 confirmed from Award S099 No.1 of 2025 (effective 5 Jan 2025). Intermediate levels interpolated with uniform ~$8,476 annual increment. Senior SMP levels are estimated. Superannuation: 11%.
Private practice
On-call, callback & penalty rates
| Payment type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime (weekday) | 150% for first 2 hours, then 200% | After ordinary shift hours. |
| On-call (rostered) | 5–15% of ordinary rate per on-call hour | Percentage varies by roster intensity per the 2025 Award. |
| Saturday | 150% of ordinary rate | |
| Sunday | 150% of ordinary rate | |
| Public holiday | 250% of ordinary rate |
VMO — sessional rates
Tasmania has a dedicated Visiting Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement with rates updated periodically. Sessional rates effective 6 July 2025 are published by the Tasmanian Department of Health on their Visiting Medical Practitioners salary rates page.
| Service type | Rate per session (4 h) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General / non-procedural | Per VMP Agreement (updated Jul 2025) | Published on TAS Dept of Health Visiting MP salary rates page. |
| Procedural / specialist | Per VMP Agreement (updated Jul 2025) | Higher rate; see TAS Dept of Health rates page for specialty amounts. |
- One session = 4 hours. TAS VMP rates were updated effective 6 July 2025.
- Current rates are published on the Tasmanian Department of Health Visiting Medical Practitioners salary rates page — check there for the full specialty breakdown.
- Penalty rates and Award overtime do not apply to VMP sessions — the sessional rate is the full payment. Any on-call obligations are specified in the individual VMP contract.
- Fee-for-service VMPs billing Medicare directly are not covered by the VMP Agreement.
- Leave, superannuation, and insurance are the VMP's responsibility.
- TAS has 20 days sick leave per year for salaried SMPs — VMPs do not receive sick leave.
Specialist Medical Practitioner vs VMO
| Feature | Specialist Medical Practitioner | VMO |
|---|---|---|
| Employment type | Salaried employee (Tasmanian State Service) | Sessional contractor |
| Progression | 11 annual levels + 3 Senior levels | No set progression |
| Annual leave | Paid | No — self-funded |
| Sick leave | 20 days/year — highest nationally | No |
| Superannuation | 11% employer contribution | Self-funded |
| On-call | 5–15% loading for rostered on-call | Negotiated |
| Private practice | Via TAS Health arrangement | Independent billing |
| Insurance | WorkCover covered by employer | Self-funded medical indemnity + income protection |
| Governing instrument | Award S099 No.1 of 2025 | VMP Agreement (updated Jul 2025) |
| Salary packaging | ~$9,010 FBT-free (EPHA — standard public hospital) | Not applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there really 11 annual salary levels? Do I progress through all of them?
Yes — TAS has the most granular specialist progression scale in Australia: 11 annual increment levels (SMP Level 1–11) followed by 3 Senior SMP levels. Progression is annual and generally automatic. A specialist entering at Level 1 reaches Level 11 after 10 years. Prior specialist experience can allow entry at a higher level — confirm with the appointing Tasmanian health service.
What is the Visiting Medical Practitioners Agreement and where do I find the rates?
TAS has a dedicated Visiting Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement governing sessional specialists. Rates were updated effective 6 July 2025. Current rates by specialty are published on the Tasmanian Department of Health's Visiting Medical Practitioners salary rates page — go there directly for the full schedule.
Is private practice available for salaried SMPs in TAS?
Private practice arrangements are available for eligible salaried SMPs through TAS Health. Specific terms depend on the health service and specialty. Contact TAS Health Medical Workforce or the AMA (Tas) for the current private practice policy applicable to your specialty.
I'm coming from interstate — what level would I start at?
Entry level is assessed at appointment — you don't automatically start at Level 1 if you have prior specialist experience. Relevant post-Fellowship years of specialist practice can allow entry at a higher level. Discuss entry level directly with the appointing Tasmanian health service or TAS Health Medical Workforce.
TAS lists 11% superannuation — is that below the current national rate?
The statutory employer super rate rose to 11.5% from 1 July 2024 and to 12% from 1 July 2025. The 11% figure reflected the rate at Award publication. Verify the current super rate applicable to your position with the appointing health service — it should be at least the statutory minimum.
Does TAS really have 20 days of sick leave for specialists?
Yes — 20 days per year is the confirmed sick leave entitlement for salaried Specialist Medical Practitioners under the 2025 Award, the highest of any Australian state for specialist doctors. Most other states provide 10–15 days. This is a genuine differentiator for TAS salaried positions.