AMA VICDOC Autumn 2024 - Magazine - Page 79
T HE P O L I CY D ES K
we are concurrently
meeting with the
Victorian SRO to discuss
administration of laws,
with the goal of
transparent and open
interpretation
and compliance.
VICTORIAN SINGLE EMPLOYER
MODEL (SEM) TRIAL
---
Victoria is commencing the
design of a SEM trial for
rural generalist registrars.
The Department of Health
is designing the trial with
broad sector stakeholder
input to ensure the trial
is optimised for Victoria,
financially sustainable,
responsive to local area
need and focused on
attracting, developing,
and retaining the rural
generalist workforce.
Subject to Commonwealth
approval, the aim is for a
two-year trial for up to 15
rural generalist registrars
in up to three trial sites,
with an anticipated start
date of February 2025.
The SEM, which is
designed to remove
immediate economic
barriers and enhance
training conditions for GP
registrars toward Specialist
General Practice fellowship,
is an initiative for which
AMAV and ASMOF Victoria
have long campaigned.
We are pleased to see our
advocacy efforts rewarded
and look forward to
working closely with the
Victorian Government
and Department of Health
to ensure the trial’s
effectiveness for Victorian
GP registrars, practices,
and patients.
VICTORIAN GENERAL
PRACTITIONER (GP)
TRAINEE GRANTS
PROGRAM
---
The Department of Health
has released the longawaited guidelines for the
Victorian Government’s
GP grants program.
AMA Victoria has long
campaigned for such an
initiative, which will deliver
$30,000 top-up payments
for eligible trainee GPs,
ensuring they do not take
a significant pay cut when
entering GP training. It
will also cover the costs
of trainee GP exams in
their first year, investing
$10,000 per trainee.
Subsequent to the
Government’s initial
November 2022
announcement of the
program, and in the
context of a lack of
information provided
by the Department
throughout 2023, last
year AMAV met with the
Victorian Government
regarding whom would be
eligible for the payment,
and it was eventually
decided that a trainee
would need to have
applied, enrolled and
been accepted on or after
27 November 2022 into
a GP training program
in Victoria and have
commenced training in
2023. We acknowledge
the disappointment
of those who initially
believed that they were
eligible and have urged
the Department to ensure
that such information
is communicated
more effectively and
expeditiously in future.
These guidelines outline
the grant’s eligibility
criteria, payment
instalment dates and
application process.
We will continue
advocating for the
retention and extension
of such initiatives.
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