National Grants To Get City Doctors Working In The Bush

27th January 2010

National Grants to Get City Doctors Working in the Bush

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Warren Snowdon today launched a national program that will offer emergency training for up to 150 urban GP's in exchange for their undertaking a locum placement in a rural or regional areas.

The Rudd Government is providing $790,000 over four years for the Rural Education Assistance Program (Rural LEAP), which aims to give rural and remote doctors a break by providing increased locum services.

Speaking on a tour of Mt Isa and Cloncurry in north-west Queensland, Mr Snowdon said Rural LEAP will help give urban GPs the skills and confidence to undertake a rural locum placement.

"There is evidence that many urban GPs have an interest in rural locum work but do not always feel skilled or confident enough to carry out the many and varied tasks often required of GPs in rural and remote areas."

"Through Rural LEAP, urban GPs will be able to get training in emergency medicine in return for an agreement to undertake four weeks of paid locum work in rural and remote locations," Ms Roxon added.

Mr Snowdon said GPs working in towns such as Mt Isa and Cloncurry would benefit from an increased pool of doctors willing and able to be a rural locum, bringing improved opportunities to take a rest or undertake professional development.

"Our current rural workforce is ageing and needs opportunities to refresh; this initiative goes towards helping GPs in the bush get a well-deserved rest."

Rural LEAP is part of the Rudd Government's $134.4 million Rural Health Workforce Strategy, announced in the 2009-2010 budget, which aims to improve rural and remote health workforce shortages.

The program will be jointly administered by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) through the current Rural Procedural Grants Program.

Urban GPs interested in taking part in Rural LEAP can apply through either ACRRM or RACGP from 1 February 2010. Further information can be found in the attached fact sheet.

Media contact:

Alice Plate (Snowdon)
0400 045 999

Mark Ward (Roxon)
0437 125 938

Rural Locum Education Assistance Program (Rural LEAP)

FACT SHEET

Purpose
Rural LEAP enables 150 urban GPs to have access to emergency medicine training, which is a component of the Rural Procedural Grants Program, to gain the skills and confidence to undertake a rural locum placement.

Rural LEAP will increase the pool of doctors willing and able to be rural locums which will bring great benefits to the existing rural workforce, bringing improved opportunities for rural GPs to take a rest or undertake professional development.

Background
Rural LEAP has been developed as a result of the 2009-10 Budget, Rural Health Workforce Strategy announcement, regarding the expansion to the Rural Procedural Grants Program.

Budget
The Rudd Government is providing $789,800 (GST inclusive) over four years for Rural LEAP. In 2009-10 a total of $217,800 (GST inclusive) will be made available for the delivery of the program.

Implementation

Eligibility
To be eligible for payment under the Program applicants need to be:
* A General Practitioner; and
* currently practicing in an urban locality.

The Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) - is the classification system used to define eligible areas. Urban localities are classified ASGC-RA 1 and localities eligible for locum placements are in ASGC-RA 2-5 (inner regional to very remote). This is available at www.doctorconnect.gov.au

This is a one-off incentive with participants able to access and obtain financial assistance to undertake emergency medicine training up to a total of $6,000 for a maximum of three days.

How to Apply
To be considered for the program, urban GPs may apply to either the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) or the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) from 1 February 2010.

ACRRM and the RACGP are responsible for assessing the eligibility of GPs and of training.

Applicants will need to outline the following:
* When the applicant intends to undertake training;
* type of training the applicant intends to undertake; and
* when the applicant intends to fulfil their locum commitment.

Eligible Training
ACRRM and the RACGP, in consultation with relevant external agencies, assess the eligibility of training for inclusion in the program.

The list below provides examples of training courses. Other courses may be available and further information can be obtained from either ACRRM or RACGP:

* Emergency Crisis Resource Management
* Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST)
* Emergency Life Support (ELS)
* APLS
* Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST)
* Intermediate and/or Advanced Life Support
* Emergency Medicine Crisis Management
* Intermediate and/or CEMP workshops
* HWQLD Rural Emergency Medicine Workshop
* Soma Health Airway, CPR and Trauma Management Workshop

Locum Commitment
Participants in the program are to undertake a total of four weeks locum placements within two years of receiving their payment for undertaking emergency medicine training. The four weeks (20 working days) can be broken up into shorter periods; however a total of two weeks (10 working days) needs to be completed in the first 12 months since receiving their payment.

Participants are required to undertake practice-based GP locum positions located in ASGC-RA 2-5. These locum placements may be organised by the participant or the participant may seek assistance through various locum agencies.

Once a participant has fulfilled their locum commitment, they are required to advise Medicare Australia. This can be through a statutory declaration from the practice where the locum was provided or a letter from the locum agency as verification.

Administration of the Program
The administration of the program is jointly managed by ACRRM and the RACGP.

Medicare Australia is responsible for maintaining a register of eligible GPs and for making payments to GPs on completion of eligible training. Medicare Australia is also responsible for tracking the two-year period for participants to undertake their locum requirement.

Program Contact Details

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
GPO Box 2507
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Phone: 1800 223 226

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
National Rural Faculty
15 Gover Street
NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006
Phone: 1800 636 764


SOURCE: Minister for Rural and Regional Health Warren Snowdon, Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon