Locum Program to boost Rural and Remote Medical Workforce
A new program will help give rural and remote doctors a break by providing locum services and subsidy assistance.
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21 December 2009
A new program announced today will help give rural and remote doctors a break by providing locum services and subsidy assistance.
The Rural GP Locum Program, which is part of the Rudd Government's Rural Health Workforce Strategy, will provide $6.1 million over four years to support rural and remote GPs.
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon launched the program at the Rushworth and District Community Medical Clinic, in regional Victoria today.
“It will deliver at least 403 locum placements over a four-year period and help improve the working conditions of medical professionals in rural and remote areas of Australia,” he said said.
Mr Snowdon said GPs working in rural and remote areas will be eligible to register for assistance under the program.
"Rural GP's will be able to access subsidies so they could take leave for recreation, professional development or personal emergencies.
“Like many of us, rural and remote GPs need to have time off, but many GPs don’t take leave as they don’t want to leave their community without medical services.
“This program will provide increased flexibility to rural GPs’ work-life balance and that factor will encourage greater recruitment and retention of the rural and remote medical workforce,” Mr Snowdon said.
The program will be administered by Rural Health Workforce Australia, the peak body for the seven Rural Workforce Agencies operating in each State and the Northern Territory.
Rural Health Workforce Australia's CEO Kim Webber said being able to access leave through a reliable locum service will provide great relief for rural and remote GPs.
“This is critically important as we focus on retaining this valuable workforce. We are delighted to see Minister Snowdon travel to a rural community to launch this important new program.”
Applications for locums will be received from 21 December.
Further information can be found on the attached fact sheet and at www.ruralgplocum.org.au
Media contact: Alice Plate 04000 45 999 or 02 6277 7380
Rural GP Locum Program Fact Sheet
Purpose
The Rural GP Locum Program will support rural GPs, and make rural practice more attractive to doctors considering rural practice, by providing locum services and subsidies to rural doctors to assist in meeting locum costs. Rural GPs will be able to access locum services and subsidies to allow them to undertake professional development activities, take leave and attend to personal emergencies.
Background
The program is a component of the National Rural Locum Program, which was announced in the 2009 Budget as part of the Government’s Rural Health Workforce Strategy.
Budget
The Government has committed $873,400 (GST Inclusive) for the delivery of the program in 2009-10, this will be expanded each year the program is in operation. In total, the Rural GP Locum Program will provide $6.1 million over four years.
Implementation
The program will be delivered by Rural Health Workforce Australia (RHWA) in association with the Rural Workforce Agencies in each state and the Northern Territory.
Applications for locums will be received by Rural Health Workforce Australia from 21 December 2009 onwards.
RHWA will (through state-based RWA network) act as a broker between rural host practices and doctors who wish to undertake a rural locum placement. RHWA will provide financial assistance in the form of subsidies for the cost of the locum’s services as well as travel expenses to practices.
GPs located in non-metropolitan areas are eligible. Eligibility is determined via the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RAs) 2 to 5 will be eligible to register for assistance under the program. This is available at www.doctorconnect.gov.au
Funding under the program will be used to subsidise:
- 50% of locum fees to a maximum of $500 per day for a total of 14 days per annum
- Travel time for locums at $200 per day to a maximum of $400 per placement
- Travel costs to a maximum of $2,000 per placement.
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