Better health and ageing for all Australians

Incentive Programs

National Rural Locum Program (NRLP)

The National Rural Locum Program was an element of the Rural Health Workforce Strategy to improve rural and remote health workforce shortages.

The program comprises the Specialist Obstetrician Locum Scheme (SOLS), the GP Anaesthetist Locum Scheme (GPALS) and the Rural GP Locum Program (RGPLP). These programs have been developed to ensure rural doctors are able to obtain adequate time for rest and professional development.

There are two elements to each of the programs:

  1. Funding of a managing agency to implement a brokerage type service to match locums with rural doctors; and
  2. Providing subsidies to doctors to cover the cost of locums.

Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Executive Summary

Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Final Report - Executive Summary (online)
PDF version: Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Final Report - Executive Summary (PDF 47KB)

*Note: As recommended by the Review, the administration for SOLS and GPALS has now been streamlined. As of 4 October 2012 the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) administer both these programs, which combined will be known as the Rural Obstetrician and Anaesthetist Locum Scheme (ROALS).

Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Final Report

Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Final Report (online)
PDF version: Review of the National Rural Locum Program - Final Report (PDF 1.1MB)

Further Information

More information is available on: Rural and Regional Health Australia (external) website

Page last reviewed: 13 February 2013


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