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More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Relocation Incentive Grant: Practice managers brochure

Brochure for practice managers: Need help recruiting doctors?

The Relocation Incentive Grant
How much is the grant worth?
Is my practice eligible?
How can doctors moving to my practice qualify for the grant?
GP Registrars
How can the grant help recruitment?
Need more information?

The Relocation Incentive Grant

Many outer metropolitan areas in Australia's capital cities have grown rapidly in recent years, increasing the pressure on services that medical practitioners provide. This has made it difficult for some outer metropolitan practices to attract doctors.

The Relocation Incentive Grant is part of the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas measure, an initiative to encourage doctors to work in places where there are medical workforce shortages. It provides a financial incentive for doctors to move from an inner metropolitan practice to one in an outer metropolitan area.

The incentive grant is available to general practitioners and specialists. It is also available to GP Registrars completing the General Pathway of the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPTP) who want to practise in an outer metropolitan area. Top of page

How much is the grant worth?

Doctors who join your outer metropolitan practice and work full-time for a minimum of two years could qualify for a Relocation Incentive Grant of $30,000. The grant is paid directly to the doctor. Grants are available on a pro-rata basis for doctors who wish to work part-time (less than 30 hours per week).

Is my practice eligible?

If your practice is situated in the outer metropolitan zones of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, or in any part of Darwin, then it is an eligible location for the grant. Check the maps of eligible areas on our web site at www.health.gov.au/outermetro.

How can doctors moving to my practice qualify for the grant?

Conditions do apply. Doctors can qualify for the grant if they:

• 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 from a practice that is at least three kilometres from your practice.

GP Registrars

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.

GP Registrars who complete their final placement at an accredited outer metropolitan training practice are eligible for the grant if they stay beyond their last term for a minimum of two years.

GP Registrars who wish to remain at, or relocate to, your practice must apply for the grant within three months of gaining Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. After this time they will be assessed against the normal eligibility criteria that apply to general practitioners and specialists. Top of page

How can the grant help recruitment?

If you're in an eligible area, you can use the grant to help recruit unrestricted doctors to work in your practice. When recruiting, doctors can be advised that your practice is in an eligible location under the More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Measure and that they may qualify for a $30,000 grant. They will need to submit an application before they start working at your practice, and then work there for at least two years.

Advertising material for practices in outer metropolitan areas can state that eligible doctors can apply for the Relocation Incentive Grant, and may receive a grant of up to $30,000 for joining your practice.

You will need to make sure that doctors starting at your practice know about this and submit their application before they start working at your practice, because retrospective applications are generally not approved.

Need more information?

To obtain the application form and further information on how to attract more doctors to your outer metropolitan practice:

• go to www.health.gov.au/outermetro or
• e-mail us at outermetro@health.gov.au Top of page