ACRRM welcomes new Rural Advanced Skills incentives to support Rural Generalist practice

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the new incentives to encourage doctors with advanced skills to work in regional, rural and remote communities.

Eligible Rural Generalists (RGs) and rural General Practitioners (GPs) can apply for incentives of up to $21,000 per year, through the Workforce Incentives Program (WIP) Rural Advanced Skills payment.

ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says that the College strongly advocated for these incentives, which support and reward Rural Generalists and their specialised scope of practice.

“The payment recognises the critical importance of the Rural Generalist scope of practice and  supports services in areas including obstetrics, mental health, and emergency care to people in rural and remote areas which may otherwise forgo vital medical care.
 
“National data shows that the further from major cities Australians live, the fewer medical services they receive, and this is especially true for consultant specialist services. Per capita, the number of (non-GP) specialist services received by people in outer regional areas was 25% lower than in major cities, and 59% lower for people in remote and very remote areas. 
 
“The incentives reflect and offset the significant additional efforts of Rural Generalists in providing these services including additional training and skills maintenance, additional administration and compliance, and additional professional expectations and clinical responsibilities. 
 
"The program represents another key step forward in achieving ACRRM’s vision to build a National Rural Generalist Pathway and a strong national Rural Generalist workforce. 

“The College has been pleased to work with the Minister and the Department in the development of the new policy and funding stream.”
 
The new Workforce Incentives Program (WIP) – Rural Advanced Skills payment is open to eligible RGs with advanced skills in mental health, obstetrics, surgery, emergency medicine, First Nations health and anaesthetics, who can apply for incentives of up to $21,000 a year. Between $4,000 and $10,500 per year is available to doctors providing these advanced skills services, with a separate payment of $4,000 to $10,500 per year also available to eligible doctors providing emergency care. Doctors may be eligible for both payments.
 
More information on eligibility and how to apply for the new payment, is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.