From January 1, 2022, there will be automatic access to the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification for regional and larger rural towns, to make it easier for areas to recruit more doctors.
The Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification identifies locations in Australia with a shortage of doctors. If access is under the benchmark, a town is classified as a DPA and clinics in that area can employ doctors subject to a moratorium, such as those who have trained overseas.
Currently, only rural and remote communities receive automatic DPA status. This change gives automatic priority classification for larger towns to make it easier to recruit more doctors.
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the move would provide a real difference to patients in her electorate.
“Short term, it means nearly every local GP practice in Farrer can begin reaching out to new and graduating doctors who want to move to our region and practice here,” Ms Ley said.
“We are also investing in a significant incentive for eligible doctors and nurse practitioners to come to rural Australia, by eliminating all or part of their Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) debt.
“We’ll cover 100 per cent of the debt if a new doctor works for at least half of their degree (around 2 or 3 years in a more remote council area, for example in the Balranald, Hay or Wentworth shires.
“For a graduating nurse, the length of time will be about one year. And we’ll also cover 100 per cent of costs for the full length of their degree (around six years) in more populated towns and communities such as Moama, Deniliquin, Finley, Barham or Mulwala. For half of that length of time, we’ll pay 50 per cent of that debt,
“This is all about implementing a range of policies to get more GPs, nurses and allied health professionals to areas where they are actually needed,” Ms Ley said.
Practice Principal at Corowa Medical Centre Dr Ayon Guha said while he welcomed the changes, he is concerned that students may elect to work in “larger” regional towns such as Albury rather than places like Corowa.
“It’s a great initiative and it will definitely help the younger doctors consider rural placement which in turn will help us gain more doctors,” Dr Ayon said.
“From my perspective, the problem is most of these youngers doctors will look for larger regional centres. Places like Albury, Wodonga and Wagga will be covered under the same DPA plan.
“Given that preference, why would a doctor want to come and work in Corowa or Mulwala?
“Traditionally, these major towns haven’t had a problem attracting doctors anyway.”
Dr Ayon said assigned regional training providers hadn’t provided a doctor to Corowa for almost two years.
“It’s disappointing and I’m not sure if it’s because young doctors don’t want to come here,” he said.
“This new initiative is good news but if the option is there to be placed in major regional centres, we won’t see much change.
“If doctors came out and worked here for six months, they would see what a great place these smaller towns are.”
Dr Ayon said the clinic was considering putting a doctor in Mulwala but would need a doctor and appropriate infrastructure at a reasonable rent.
“First you need a doctor but at this stage but also with the options available, we can’t cover five days a week from a financial viewpoint.”
