Audiologist home loans: LMI waivers and deposit options

Westpac and St George, which are part of the same banking group, both list audiologists in their 90% professional waiver. Several other allied health waiver lists leave audiologists out, so your choice is narrower than in some health roles. Before you set a budget, I'd confirm the lender accepts your qualification evidence and that you earn at least $90k from audiology work. Then we can compare the repayments and the cash you'd have left after buying.

Our LMI waivers guide explains the wider options. You can use the LMI calculator for an estimate, then compare the rate and fees as well as the upfront saving.

On a $900k home with a $90k deposit, an eligible waiver could save you about $17k in LMI. You're borrowing $810k in both options below.

The comparison assumes the bank values the home at $900k and you pay the estimated LMI upfront. Adding LMI to the loan instead increases the balance and the interest you pay.

The rounded premium comes from our LMI calculator using a $900k price and $90k deposit. The premium varies by lender.

Audiologists aren't registered with Ahpra yet. Health ministers agreed in September 2025 to bring audiology into the national scheme, with registration not expected before 2030, so lenders currently rely on your qualification and professional body evidence.

A tax return, university qualification or Audiology Australia register entry may help confirm your profession. Check which evidence the lender accepts. Audiometrists, hearing services assistants and other hearing roles do not automatically qualify for an audiologist waiver.

Westpac and St George require at least $90k a year from eligible professional work for the offers compared here. Qualifying income from 2 eligible applicants may be combined.

Your partner's salary may help cover repayments. It only counts towards the $90k minimum if their work also qualifies. I'd check these income sources separately before setting your buying budget. If there's still a gap, we can compare the other options below.

Separate base salary, commission and incentives, especially after a job or hours change. Westpac's usual casual assessment needs 6 months of continuous work with the same employer or agency and annualises income over 52 weeks. Include busy and quieter periods.

The $90k test determines waiver eligibility. Your accepted income, debts and expenses determine the loan amount.

If your clinic has completed 1 full financial year, Westpac or St George may be able to use that year's tax returns under the group's medical profession package. That can help when you don't yet have 2 years of business financials.

The lender checks your latest personal tax return to see whether your professional income meets the minimum.

Our self employed home loan guide explains the records to have ready.

If your partner is self employed in a different line of work, their business income is assessed under the lender's usual self employed rules.

Westpac and St George are part of the same group. Existing secured loans above 80% of the property value without LMI can count towards the shared waiver limit. We’ll check which of your loans count.

Compare repayments, application, valuation and settlement charges, plus account, offset and package fees. For refinancing, include discharge and fixed rate break costs.

Eligible buyers may use the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme to buy a home to live in with a smaller deposit and no LMI. On a $900k home, a 5% deposit is $45k before buying costs, with an $855k loan.

That's $45k less towards the price and $45k more to repay. At an illustrative 6% over 30 years, the extra debt costs about $270 a month in principal and interest, before fees. Your eligibility and the property's local price cap still matter.

The lender also decides how much of your savings must go into the purchase. Some allow money to be retained for living expenses and, in some cases, loan repayments. We'll work out the amount allowed for your situation before you rely on keeping that cash.

See our 5% Deposit Scheme guide for buyer eligibility and property price limits.

You can also read the government eligibility rules.

A general loan without LMI at 90% may fit if you can afford the repayments but miss the profession rules. Check the purchase and refinance limits separately; they can differ.

A family guarantee may also reduce or avoid LMI. It puts the guarantor's property at risk. We'd work through the amount and how the guarantee could be released. Saving more or paying LMI on another suitable loan may also be worth comparing.

Send the records you have; we can check the property and final cash needed when you find a home. Tell us about leave, changed hours, a new clinic or a planned business purchase, as these can affect income and debts.

The lender pays us commission, which we disclose before you proceed. We compare the waiver with other suitable loans so you can weigh up the repayments, features and total cost.