Need some time out? If you are a resident rural GP, the RWAV Locum Program can help organise a short-term locum.
RWAV offers a range of locum options including salaried, full and part-time or casual locum GP positions.
How it works
- All RWAV-employed locums have passed a stringent application process including screening, assessment,
credentials and reference checks
- Once a suitable GP is found, RWAV and the practice sign an Engagement Agreement. This outlines the agreed
provision of service, price, accommodation and vehicle arrangements
- RWAV organises the locum’s Medicare provider numbers
- RWAV pays the GP locum and bills the practice (the practice bills the hospital for VMO fees)
*Where a RWAV employed locum is not available we offer a "brokerage" type service with
casual locums. The arrangement between a practice and a casual locum is a
private arrangement. RWAV may not have
attempted to ascertain skill levels, medical registration, medical defence
details or referencing.
Free services and support
RWAV facilitates the Locum Program at no cost to the practice host or the locum. Solo
practices may be eligible for a subsidy to assist in the cost of the locum fee
under the RWAV Locum Program or the RGPLP Rural GP Locum Program.
Solo practices and group practices that may not be eligible for a
subsidy will still have access to the RWAV Locum Program and free administration
support.
Cost of locums varies but the average locum fee currently in Victoria
is between $400-$600+GST per session. VMO, on-call and after hours rates are usually
negotiated separately.
All Medicare billings relating to a locum in your practice are paid into the
practice bank account unless otherwise agreed.
What is the Rural GP Locum Program?
RWAV in partnership with Rural Health Workforce Australia is pleased to provide
rural and remote GPs with support through the Rural GP Locum Program. The Rural
GP Locum Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing. The program is a new Australian Government program that was announced in
the May 2009 Federal Budget and launched December 21, 2009.
The Rural GP Locum Program is designed to supply affordable, quality locum relief
to rural and remote GPs.
The Rural GP Locum Program has two elements. First the Rural GP Locum Program will recruit doctors who are willing to support
their rural and remote colleagues by providing a locum service.
Secondly, the Rural GP Locum Program will provide eligible rural and remote GPs
with a subsidy to offset the costs of engaging a locum.
Apply for a RGPLP locum
Applying for a locum under the Rural GP Locum Program
The Rural GP Locum Program provides rural and remote GPs with access to
locums and to a subsidy to offset the costs of engaging the locum. The Rural GP
Locum Program is administered by Rural Health Workforce Australia in partnership
with the Rural Workforce Agencies that include RWAV.
To be eligible to apply for a rural GP locum service, you need to be working as a
GP in a rural or remote area (RA 2-5 location). Please note that locum
availability is limited and therefore we will target rural and remote GPs in
most need. To check the RA rural classification of your town, visit
DoctorConnect.
What is the RGPLP subsidy?
The locum subsidy is paid by the Rural Workforce Agency to the GP host. The locum
subsidy is available for each day the locum is paid to work in the host
practice, up to 7 days to an individual GP host. The GP host may choose to have
the locum subsidy as 7 continuous days or as a series of days up to 7 days.
These days may be used at the discretion of the practice but are dependent on
available coverage.
The RGPLP will provide the host GP with the following locum subsidies per
financial year to offset the costs of engaging the locum:
- 50% of locum fees to a maximum of $500 per day for up to 7 days per host
GP per financial year
- $200 per day to a maximum of $400 per placement for locum travel time –
this subsidy is passed on to the locum
The locum subsidy will be provided only to replace a GP who will be away from
their practice. Locum placements are not available for vacancies or to provide
additional workforce.
Note: Subsidies are only payable once an evaluation has been completed
and returned to RWAV.
Enquire now
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Use this enquiry form to apply for
GP locum relief under the RWAV Rural Locum Program. We will respond within 24 hours to discuss
your requirements and register your vacancy request.
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If your practice is elegible for the RGPLP subsidy program, use this enquiry form to apply for
GP locum relief. We will respond within 24 hours to discuss
your requirements and register your vacancy request.
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Or call Angela Phillips, GP Locum Program Coordinator on 03 9349 7800.
Further information
Find out
more about the role of a practice/clinic in the appointment of a rural GP locum
Read the RWAV Practice Guidelines and Responsibilities Manual