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  1. Our GP programs
  3. Rural generalist pathway

Rural generalist pathway

Career benefits

Working rurally provides you with a broad and fulfilling training experience. MCCC offers places in rural communities within the large regional cities – Warrnambool, Mildura, Ballarat, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Albury Wodonga and a host of rural and regional communities, including coastal towns.

Living and working rurally gives you the opportunity to further develop skills in a range of special interest areas such as obstetrics, anesthetics and emergency care.

Read about our accredited training practices, highlighting the training clinical and procedural training opportunities provided by different towns.

We believe the ideal training post is a rural area where you can work in a general practice treating a broad range of ages and medical needs.

You may admit into the local hospital, provide inpatient care or work after hours care in their emergency department – experiencing true life and death situations.

Being a key member of the local health service results in diverse presentations, continuity of care and career variety.

Find out about the lifestyle and financial benefits of a rural career below!

Lifestyle benefits

There are many lifestyle benefits to choosing a rural or regional area to start your career.  Additionally, a close-knit regional or rural town may mean you have far greater:

  • Work-life balance
  • Family activities and lifestyle options
  • Diversity in clinical cases and patients
  • Connection with the community
  • Support by your colleagues and the community
  • Continuity of care with your patients
  • Flexibility with your career and personal life
  • Personal and professional growth
  • Advanced procedural skills and other academic opportunities.

Podcasts

Listen to MCCC Medical Educator Dr Angela Stratton on Medfem – the University of Melbourne’s medical student podcast aimed at amplifying the voices of inspirational females in medicine.

Angela is an Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) GP and the Statewide Clinical Lead for the Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP); hear her talk about why she loves being a GP and the genuine connections you make in rural communities plus how she grew as a clinician by choosing general practice as her specialty.

Financial Incentives

Grants

A number of grants are available to GP registrars working in rural and remote Victoria. These include:

Health Workforce Scholarship Program

Bursaries and scholarships to support an increase in skills, capacity and scope of practice while you are working in private practice or non-state government primary healthcare. For GPs registrars and fellowed GPs in MMM 3 – 7.

Medical Professional Development Program

This grant supports the ongoing professional development and education of medical practitioners in rural and regional Victoria. The program aims to encourage trainee doctors to complete rural and regional placements by providing access to professional development subsidies. For GPs, registrars, graduates, interns in MMM 2 – 7.

Find out more about these grants and eligibility criteria by visiting the RWAV website or emailing grants@rwav.com.au.

Workforce Incentive Program

The Department of Health has established the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) to encourage health professionals to deliver services in rural and remote areas.

Targeted incentives aim to improve workforce distribution, giving communities access to quality and comprehensive healthcare in disciplines of need.

The WIP uses the Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2019 geographical classification to determine categories of remoteness – with incentive payments paid accordingly. Doctors residing in MM3-7 areas may receive between $4,500-60,000 depending on location. Payments are made based on the services provided in the eligible location and the length of time the doctor has been on the WIP program.

Please note: Those previously participating in the GP Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) will automatically transition to the WIP – Doctor Stream.

See the table below for WIP payment figures from the Department of Health website.

Additional information can be found in the following resources:

Click here for more information.

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