Important Update on RLRP in Victoria
The Department of Human Services has made changes to Section 3A of the Health Insurance Act 1973 as part of the Stronger Rural Health Strategy. Under these reforms the Rural Locum Relief Program (RLRP) will not accept new applications after midnight, 30th June 2019. We would like to assure all current RLRP participants, and practices with RLRP participants that:
- Existing RLRP participants may continue on the program until the end of their placement as determined by RWAV;
- The legislation that provides RLRP participants with access to Medicare will not be withdrawn until existing doctors achieve general practice fellowship or transition to a Fellowship pathway;
- There is no requirement for RLRP participants to move to other 3GA programs (e.g. More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP) or RACGP Practice Eligible Pathway (PEP) or ACRRM Independent Pathway (IP)).
The new 3GA program, More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP) is now open for applications. MDRAP supports non-vocationally recognised doctors to gain valuable general practice experience in rural and remote communities before joining a college fellowship program.
To find out more about MDRAP, please contact the GP Programs team on 03 9349 7800 or GPprograms@rwav.com.au.