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Discover Financial Incentives for General Practice: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover Financial Incentives for General Practice: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover Financial Incentives for General Practice: A Comprehensive Guide

As a General Practitioner (GP) or medical practice in Australia, you might not be aware of the wide range of financial incentives available to support both practitioners and healthcare facilities. To help you navigate these opportunities, we’ve compiled key programs and grants designed to enhance access to healthcare in rural and remote areas, as well as provide support for GPs throughout their professional journey. Here’s a breakdown of the top incentives available:

Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) Incentives

If you’re an International Medical Graduate (IMG) with Limited or Provisional Registration under the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP), you have access to financial support. Supervisors overseeing these IMGs also benefit from additional payments, particularly in small rural areas. Practices with doctors under level 1 supervision may receive supplementary payments depending on location and supervision level, offering significant financial assistance for rural healthcare providers.

Fellowship Support Program Supervisor Incentives

Supervisors of Fellowship Support Program (FSP) registrars can earn $150 per hour (plus GST) for supervision and an additional $150 per report for submitting six-monthly supervisor reports. If you're overseeing multiple registrars, you'll be paid for each report, which can significantly increase financial support for your practice.

Workforce Incentive Program (WIP)

The Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) is an Australian government initiative designed to strengthen access to healthcare in rural and remote areas. It offers financial support to general practices and medical services to encourage practitioners to work where they are needed most.

WIP – Practice Stream

This stream provides financial incentives to help practices cover the cost of employing nurses, allied health professionals, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. You can apply anytime via Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) using a PRODA account, or by submitting the Practice Incentives application form.

WIP – Doctor Stream

This stream offers financial incentives to doctors working in eligible rural and remote areas. From January 2024, Non-VR doctors not on an approved training program working in MMM 3-7 locations will receive 80% of the value of WIP – Doctor Stream payments. Applications must be submitted to the Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) in the state where you provide services.

WIP – Rural Advanced Skills Stream

This stream provides financial incentives for doctors to use advanced skills and serve emergency and primary care needs in rural areas. Separate applications are required for Stream 1: Emergency Medicine and Stream 2: Advanced Skills.

General Practice in Aged Care Incentive

To ensure elderly patients in aged care homes receive continuous care, this incentive offers $300 per patient per year for responsible GPs, and $130 per patient per year for the practice. It encourages practices to regularly visit aged care facilities and coordinate care through MyMedicare.

 

Practice Incentives Program (PIP)

The PIP supports general practices by providing financial incentives to enhance the quality of care. With streams focusing on quality improvement, capacity building, and rural support, PIP encourages improvements in areas like eHealth, after-hours care, teaching, and Indigenous health. Practices located in rural areas automatically receive a rural loading for added financial assistance.

Australian Government Grant Connect

Grant Connect is an online hub where you can search for available government grants. It lists current opportunities, including healthcare-specific grants to support medical practices.

Available Grants for Rural General Practitioners

Both the ACRRM and RACGP offer several grants to support GPs in rural and remote areas, including procedural training support and emergency medicine grants. RACGP also has foundation grants focused on research and innovation in healthcare.

Local Primary Health Network (PHNs)

Your local PHN may offer additional financial support and grants. These grants can help cover recruitment costs, relocation expenses, and professional development. Check your local PHN’s website for specific opportunities available in your region.

How We Can Help

At Health Jobs Hub, we’re passionate about helping medical practitioners navigate their career pathways. Whether you're looking for assistance with PESCI documentation, fellowship applications, or recruiting doctors for your practice, we offer tailored services to meet your needs.

For more information or to book a consultation, contact us today, and let us support you on your journey to success in Australian healthcare!


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