This recording took place on Wednesday 25 March 2020, hosted by Lauren Day (RWAV Future Workforce Program Officer) and Rural Health Clubs OUTLOOK (Melbourne University), WILDFIRE (Monash University) and NOMAD (Deakin University) to discuss the changes from the old to new scheme and how RWAV supports bonded medical students.
The Bonded Medical Program was established in 2001 and is a critical component of the Government’s Stronger Rural Health Strategy to ensure that the Australian trained medical workforce is well-distributed, flexible and targeted to areas of most need.
The Program provides students a commonwealth Supported Place at an Australian university in return for a commitment to work in eligible regional, rural and remote areas for a specified period once they have completed their medical degree. Under this Program, there were two schemes: Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme and Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship (MRBS) Scheme.
These two schemes are now closed to new participants and a new program (the ‘Program’) is in place and anyone on the old program, providing they are not in breach of their current contract, can chose to opt in.
Key Focus Points:
- Participants of the BMP scheme from 2016-2019 who have a 12 month Return of Service Obligation (RoSO) will keep this under the new arrangement.
- Participants with a 12 month RoSO retain flexibility in how and where they complete their RoSO but they must work full-time.
- The participant can start and complete their RoSO at any time across the 18 year period provided under the Program.
- Attaining Fellowship is not compulsory
For any questions regarding the BMP and changes, contact Lauren Day at laurend@rwav.com.au.
