GP Grants

TRANSITION GRANTS

From 1 July 2010, doctors making the transition to live and work as GPs in many NSW rural and remote towns have the opportunity to apply to the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) for a Transition Grant.

Transition Grants offer financial support to GPs and their families who relocate to RA 2 Priority Towns, RA 3, RA 4 and RA 5 towns, and to those who have moved from a location with a lesser medical need and lower RA classification.

GPs relocating to some RA 2 towns not included as Priority Towns as well as GPs who qualifiy for the Australian Government's Rural Relocation Incentive Grants (RRIG) are not eligible to apply. 

If you are a GP who has applied for RRIG, you may also be eligible for a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Orientation Voucher for GPs new to NSW rural general practice. Go to CPD Voucher application form.

Transition Grants are valued at:

• $2,000 for RA 2 Priority Towns
• $3,000 for RA 3 Towns
• $5,000 for RA 4 and RA 5 Towns
• plus a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) orientation voucher for GPs new to NSW rural general practice

How to apply:

For more information on how to apply, download the Transition Grant application form

Before you apply:

Please check the following:

• The ASGC RA classification of your town at www.doctorconnect.gov.au
• If your town is one of the included RA 2 Priority Towns
• If your town is one of the RA 2 towns (not included)
• If you qualifiy for RRIG at www.doctorconnect.gov.au

CLINICAL ORIENTATION GRANTS

RDN Clinical Orientation Grants recognise the value of clinical and professional orientation for GPs new to rural general practice in NSW. Orientation is important to facilitate a smooth transition for a GP to their new working environment.

Eligibility:

• GPs who require Emergency Medicine training as a "stated condition" of their Medical Registration, and GPs who require Emergency Medicine training as a prerequisite to credentialling as a Visiting Medical Officer (VMO), have the opportunity to apply for an RDN Clinical Orientation Grant, and
• Clinical Orientation Grants are valued at $2,000 for eligible GPs in RA 2 Priority Towns, RA 3, RA 4 and RA 5 towns, and
• RDN Clinical Orientation Grants are only applicable to Emergency Life Support (ELS) courses hosted by RDN and held in Balmain each year.

How to apply:

For more information on how to apply, download the Clincial Orientation Grant application form

Before you apply:

Please check the following:

• The ASGC RA classification of your town at www.doctorconnect.gov.au
• If your town is one of the included RA 2 Priority Towns
• If your town is one of the RA 2 towns (not included)
• ELS course information

CPD ORIENTATION VOUCHERS

Doctors new to general practice in eligible rural NSW towns may apply for a CPD voucher. Applications must be made within six months from commencement of practice.

CPD vouchers are for GPs new to general practice in RA 2 Priority Towns, RA 3, RA 4 and RA 5 towns.

A CPD voucher offers $500 towards travel and accommodation costs as well as conference registration costs for a GP and their family after attending. RDN CPD Conferences are held twice each year in February and November. CPD vouchers must be redeemed within 24 months from commencement of practice in rural NSW.

How to apply:

For more information on how to apply, download the CPD Orientation Voucher application form

Before you apply:

Please check the following:

• Check the ASGC RA classification of your town at www.doctorconnect.gov.au
• If your town is one of the included RA 2 Priority Towns
• If your town is one of the RA 2 towns (not included)
• CPD Conference eligibility information

RURAL AND REMOTE PROCEDURALIST TRAINING GRANTS

Please note: From 1 July 2010 eligibility includes GP Proceduralists working in RA 2 - RA 5 locations. Some GP Proceduralists in RA 1 locations may qualify.

The Rural and Remote Procedural GPs Program is an initiative of the Australian Government's Strengthening Medicare package.

The Program has two components for proceduralist training and all rural and remote GPs can apply. Some special conditions apply to RRMA Category 2:

• Emergency Medicine Services: Training grants up to a maximum of three days training at $2,000 per day or a total of  $6,000 per GP per financial year. Available to GPs including Visiting Medical Officers (VMO), practising emergency medicine in a public facility which offers 24 hours emergency services in rural and remote areas RRMA Categories 3-7 to attend approved skills maintenance and upskilling activities.

• Surgical, Anaesthetics and Obstetrics: Training grants of $2,000 per day to a maximum of $20,000 per GP per financial year. Available to rural and remote procedural GPs practising in Surgery, Anaesthetics or Obstetrics in RRMA Categories 3-7 in approved skills maintenance and upskilling activities.

For applications and eligibility criteria for the Rural and Remote Procedural GP Program training grants, please go to either of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine or Royal Australian College of General Practitioners websites (of which you are not required to be a member to apply).

For more information about grants for rural GPs, contact the RDN Project Manager - Medical Retention on 02 4924 8060 or email gpgrants@nswrdn.com.au