Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)

About the program

The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) allows doctors with placements in Distribution Priority Areas to access items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

As a 3GA approved workforce program, doctors on this program satisfy section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with provisional or limited registration will also receive funding support for supervision and learning and development.

The Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) in each state and the Northern Territory administer the program.

Goals

The program aims to:

help doctors gain valuable general practice experience
improve access to general practitioners (GPs) in Distribution Priority Areas
give general practices the opportunity to recruit from a pool of previously unavailable doctors.

Who we work with

The Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) administer the PFP on our behalf. RWAs operate in each state and the Northern Territory.

Eligibility

To receive a placement on the PFP, the doctor and practice must meet minimum requirements.

Doctors

The PFP is open to IMGs and other non-vocationally registered doctors who are:

Australian citizens
permanent residents
temporary residents.

Doctors can have general, provisional or limited registration.

Eligible doctors must:

hold current registration with the Medical Board of Australia
have an offer of employment and the necessary skills and experience to perform the role
provide evidence of appropriate support in place to meet supervision requirements if applicable
undertake GP professional development activities, including compulsory modules
review readiness for fellowship training, in conjunction with their medical adviser every 3 months
take active steps to join a GP College-led Fellowship pathway within the defined period.

A doctor is not eligible to join PFP if they:

have previously been on a 3GA program
are currently on MDRAP
are vocationally registered.

Once a doctor leaves the PFP to join a GP College-led Fellowship program, they are not eligible to return to the PFP.

Locations

Eligible locations include practices that are either:

located within a Distribution Priority Area,
classified as an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), or
classified as an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service subject to Ministerial direction under s19(2) or a s19(5) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Medical practices who employ a doctor participating in the PFP must be:

accredited as a general practice against the RACGP Standards for general practices, and
be accredited or working towards accreditation as a training practice with either the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine or Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

To find eligible locations, search the Health Workforce Locator.

Ongoing requirements for participants

If you participate in this program, you must show you are working towards GP Fellowship. You must:

review your readiness for GP Fellowship training with your RWA every 3 months
apply to a GP College-led Fellowship training program with either the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) or the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) at least once a year. This includes the:
Australian General Practice Training program (through ACCRM and RACGP)
Independent Pathway (through ACRRM)
Fellowship Support Program (through RACGP)
Remote Vocational Training Scheme (through Remote Vocational Training Scheme Ltd)
complete foundation general practice training modules within 3 months of commencing the program. The RACGP and ACCRM determine the training modules
meet AHPRA’s requirements for continuing professional development.

Apply

To apply for the PFP, contact the Rural Workforce Agency in your state.

Status

The PFP is currently open for applications.

Guidelines

For more details about the program, see the Pre-Fellowship Program guidelines.