MDRAP transition to the Pre-Fellowship Program in 2023–24
In the 2023-24 Budget the Australian Government decided to replace the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP) with the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP).
The PFP will also support doctors working in areas of service access need who are seeking to move into fellowship training. Rural Workforce Agencies will deliver this trial from 2 April 2024. For more information, see the PFP program page.
MDRAP is no longer accepting applications.
If you are currently working under MDRAP arrangements, you will not be affected by the introduction of the PFP.
About the program
MDRAP allows doctors with placements working in rural areas to access Medicare items from group A7 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
As a 3GA approved workforce program, doctors on this program satisfy section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
For more detailed information refer to the MDRAP guidelines.
MDRAP is closed to new applicants.
Why it is important
Doctors who are Australian residents must become vocationally recognised. This ensures the quality of our health care system.
Doctors on this program get support and training towards joining a general practice (GP) college fellowship program to become vocationally recognised.
Goals
The program's goals are to:
- increase the number of vocationally recognised doctors
- improve access to health care for Australians living in rural and regional areas under the Stronger Rural Health Strategy.
Meeting our goals
If you participate in this program, you must show you are working towards fellowship. You must:
- apply to a college-led fellowship program that enables you to move to a program by the end of your MDRAP participation. The fellowship programs are:
- Australian General Practice Training Program (through ACRRM and RACGP)
- The Remote Vocational Training Scheme (through RVTS limited)
- ACRRM Independent Pathway
- RACGP Fellowship Support Program
- complete foundation general practice training modules within 6 months of commencing the program. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) determine the training modules
- ensure at least half of your annual professional development is relevant to general practice. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency requires you to complete annual professional development.
If you have less than 6 months general practice experience, you will be supervised. Read more about supervision requirements in the MDRAP guidelines.
You must also work in an area that is classified as:
Search the Health Workforce Locator to find eligible locations.
Who we work with
Rural Workforce Agencies administer the MDRAP on our behalf. Rural Workforce Agencies operate in each state and the Northern Territory.
Status
MDRAP is closed to new applicants.
Contact
Contact the Rural Workforce Agency in your state for more information on the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program.
