What a pre-employment medical involves — what's checked, whether you can "fail", how to prepare, who sees the results, and who pays.
A pre-employment medical is a health check an employer asks you to have before, or around, starting a job. Its purpose is to assess whether you are medically suited to the physical and safety demands of that particular role. It is done for the employer's fitness-for-work decision — it is not a check-up for your own healthcare.
They are common in roles with safety-critical or physically demanding duties, including:
The exact contents depend on the role and the standard it follows, but a pre-employment medical often includes:
It is not pass-or-fail like a test. The doctor assesses whether you are medically fit for the specific requirements of the role, and the outcome is usually one of: fit; fit with adjustments or restrictions; or not fit for those particular duties. The employer then makes the employment decision. A finding for one role does not necessarily apply to another.
Bring your glasses or hearing aids if you use them, a list of your current medicines, and photo ID. Fasting is usually not required unless specific blood tests are part of the assessment — the provider or employer will tell you in advance. A normal night's sleep and being hydrated can help on the day.
Privacy: the assessment is done with your consent, and the employer is generally given the fitness-for-work outcome — not your full medical record. What is shared is usually limited to whether you meet the role's requirements.
Cost: a pre-employment medical is usually arranged and paid for by the employer, because it is their requirement. It is not a Medicare service — pre-employment screening is billed privately rather than rebated by Medicare.
No. A pre-employment medical is for the employer's fitness-for-work decision against the role's requirements. It is separate from your own ongoing healthcare with your GP.
Not necessarily. Many conditions are compatible with work, sometimes with adjustments. The assessment looks at fitness for the specific duties, and the outcome can include "fit with adjustments." Discuss any concerns with the assessing clinician.
Those follow their own national standards (for example, the commercial driver standard, the rail safety worker standard, or CASA for aviation). See the driver medical guide for the commercial-driving side.