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More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Relocation Incentive Grant: GPs brochure

Brochure for general practitioners: Have you ever considered working in an outer metropolitan area?

On this page:
Set up your own practice
Or join an outer metropolitan practice
The Relocation Incentive Grant
How much is the grant worth?
Am I eligible?
Where is outer metro?
When will I get paid?
Need more information?

Set up your own practice

Have you ever wanted to set up your own general practice and become a practice principal? The More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Relocation Incentive Grant offers up to $40,000 to help set up your own practice in an outer metropolitan area. Getting away from the busy inner-city life has never been so appealing. Be your own boss and set your own hours. Beat the rush-hour traffic and enjoy a better lifestyle!

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Or join an outer metropolitan practice

Prefer to be part of a larger practice? Then join an existing practice and let someone else run the business. You could be paid up to $30,000 for relocating to an existing outer metropolitan practice.

The Relocation Incentive Grant

The Relocation Incentive Grant is part of the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas measure, an initiative to encourage doctors to work in outer metro areas where there is a medical workforce shortage.

The grant is available to both general practitioners and specialists. It is also available to GP Registrars who complete their training via the General Pathway of the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPTP) who want to practise in an outer metropolitan area.

How much is the grant worth?

Doctors may be entitled to $40,000 if they set up their own outer metropolitan practice and work full-time at their new approved location for at least three years.

Doctors who want to set up a group practice can apply for a grant, but must make concurrent, individual applications and specify that they are setting up the practice jointly. The grant amount payable to each doctor will depend on whether he or she intends to practise in the outer metropolitan area full-time or part-time.

Doctors who join an existing outer metropolitan practice and work full-time at their new approved location for at least two years may be entitled to $30,000.

Grants are available on a pro-rata basis for those who want to work part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

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Am I eligible?

Conditions do apply. You may be eligible for the grant if you:

• have worked in an inner metropolitan practice in the 12 months before applying
• have not worked in a rural or outer metropolitan area in the 12 months before applying
• are not subject to any Medicare provider number restrictions and
• are relocating to a practice that is at least three kilometres from your present practice.

GP Registrars who complete their training via the General Pathway of the AGPTP are eligible for the grant, even if their final training placement is in a rural or outer metropolitan area.

Where is outer metro?

It may be closer than you think. The catchment area for this incentive now includes the outer metropolitan zones of all capital cities, and all of Darwin. Check the maps of eligible areas.

When will I get paid?

You will be paid in three instalments:

1. 40 per cent when you sign an agreement with the Department of Health and Ageing
2. 40 per cent when the department has verified that you have started working in your new approved location and
3. 20 per cent 12 months after you became eligible for the second grant payment, subject to verification that you have met the conditions of your agreement during that year.

Need more information?

To obtain an application form and further information about the Relocation Incentive Grant:

• go to More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Relocation Incentive Grant web page. health.gov.au/outermetro or
• email us at outermetro@health.gov.au
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