INCENTIVES to encourage more doctors with advanced skills to work in regional communities has been welcomed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Eligible rural generalists and general practitioners with advanced skills can now apply for incentives of up to $21,000 a year through a new payment known as the Workforce Incentives Program – Rural Advanced Skills payment.The new Federal Government payments were for doctors with qualifications in areas such as mental health, obstetrics, surgery, anaesthetics and First Nations health, working in regions that have struggled to attract doctors with these skills.
Between $4000 and $10,500 per year was available to doctors providing these services, with a separate payment of $4000 to $10,500 per year was available to eligible doctors providing emergency care.
RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins said access to GPs was essential for people living in small towns and more remote settings.
“A well-staffed general practice is one of the essential elements of a small town,” she said.
“Without a GP, it’s hard to keep a community healthy and a town viable.
“Making the decision to move to a small community, and the increased expense of practice further from the city, can push GPs to work closer to cities.
“Improving incentives for GPs and rural generalists to work in outer regional, rural and remote communities can be the difference between a community thriving with a GP, or not.
“General practices in small towns and rural communities will need more support, particularly in cutting red tape for doctors who received their medical training overseas and improving support so GPs who join these communities are helped to settle and build lives there.
“The RACGP has committed to making that journey as easy as possible while maintaining Australia’s strong medical standards, and we urge the government to do the same.”
Dr Higgins also said the inclusion of a broad range of disciplines would help ensure communities outside cities have access to a greater breadth of services that can be delivered by GPs.
“Rural GPs wear a lot of hats,” she said.
“They’re often found staffing the emergency department in their local hospital, conducting surgery and anaesthesia, providing obstetrics and postnatal care for local mothers and paediatric care for young children, working closely with aged care homes, and being the first line for mental health in their community.”
