Education Assistance for GPs
Our Rural Locum Education Assistance Program (Rural LEAP) provides valuable financial support for GPs who are seeking emergency medicine training. Eligible participants can engage in a fulfilling general practice locum placement in rural and remote Australia for a total of four weeks (20 working days) within a two-year timeframe.
Your locum commitment
As part of the Rural LEAP program, you’ll practice in locations that fall within Modified Monash (MM) categories 2-7. You have the flexibility to either arrange your own locum placement or seek support from the Rural LAP team. Once you’ve completed the initial 10 days of your locum commitment, please advise us as soon as possible.
Value and payment of the incentive
The Rural LAP payment provides generous support, with a maximum allowance of $6,000 per GP for three days of upskilling activities.
On completion of the initial 10 working days of your locum placement, Rural LAP will disburse 50% of the payment. The remaining 50% of your payment will be transferred to your designated bank account upon fulfilling the final 10 working days of your locum placement. Evidence of completion of each 10 day commitment will be required, prior to any payments. Evidence may include a Statutory Declaration or a formal letter from the supporting practice.
Payments will be conveniently made directly to your nominated bank account. Additionally, Rural LAP will send friendly reminders to ensure you meet your locum requirement by the specified date.
Please note that placements completed before the initiation of eligible emergency medicine training will not be considered towards fulfilling your locum commitment. While the four-week period (20 working days) can be divided into shorter intervals, it’s important to complete a total of two weeks (10 working days) within the first 12 months after completing the approved emergency medicine training.
Your eligibility
To be eligible for payment under the program, you are:
- a GP with general registration and Vocational Registration or Fellowship of either the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- currently practising in an urban locality.
Eligible locations for locum placement fall into the Modified Monash Model (MMM) categories 2-7. The MMM is the classification system used to define eligible areas, you can find out more about MMM here.
Eligible Training
Rural LAP, in consultation with relevant external agencies, assesses training eligibility for inclusion in the program. The list below provides examples of training courses. Other courses may be eligible and further information can be obtained from Rural LAP:
- Emergency Crisis Resource Management
- Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST)
- Emergency Life Support (ELS) Course
- Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS)
- Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST)
- Intermediate and/or Advanced Life Support
- Emergency Medicine Crisis Management
- Intermediate and/or Advanced Clinical Emergency Management Program (CEMP) workshops
- HWQLD Rural Emergency Medicine Workshop
- Soma Health Airway, CPR and Trauma Management Workshop
If the listed courses do not align with your requirements, you have the option to submit a personalised learning plan as part of your application for assessment. Any approved training must be completed within a 12-month period from the time of registering for education assistance. It’s important to note that failure to complete your training within this timeframe will result in your removal from the program.
