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GP Locum Program

GP Locum Program

The RWAV Locum Program supports the retention of doctors by providing locum relief for holiday, sickness and education leave. We work with solo and group practices, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and community health services within rural and regional Victoria.

INFORMATION FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

INFORMATION FOR PRACTICES AND HEALTH SERVICES

Information for General Practitioners

As a locum GP with RWAV you will provide care and support to rural communities in some of Victoria's most treasured destinations, giving you a chance to explore stunning beaches, ski fields, inland and coastal areas.

RWAV works with solo and group practices, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and community health services (providing primary health services) within rural and regional Victoria.

There are two available options to work as a locum GP with RWAV:

RWAV Employed Locum Program

This option is ideal for a GP looking for variety within general practice, while still having a sense of longer term stability. As an RWAV Employed Locum, your contract will be with RWAV, which will see you undertaking multiple placements across country Victoria. 

Additionally:

  • Benefits of this option include a generous fortnightly salary plus superannuation, access to salary packaging and travel allowance per placement.
  • You will be remunerated as per the RWAV locum contract and RWAV will invoice the practice for your services.
  • Contracts are one month minimum.
  • You will be provided with accommodation where required and reimbursed for travel expenses.
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RWAV INDEPENDENT Locum Program

This option is ideal for a GP seeking to work on an independent basis. The GP can opt to work as much or as little as they want, depending on availability.

Additionally:

  • As an independent locum, you are able to negotiate your sessional rates of pay or percentage of billings with the practice.
  • VMO and on-call rates are paid in addition and vary between health services. 
  • You will be provided with accommodation where required and reimbursed for travel expenses.
  • All fees and invoice terms must be agreed between the host practice and locum GP.
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What are the benefits of joining the RWAV GP Locum Program?

  • RWAV is a not-for-profit government funded organisation and does not charge fees to GP locums, unlike commercial agencies.
  • We will assist you with placement negotiations, paperwork, credentialing provider numbers and induction guidelines for each placement.
  • We will provide you with a detailed summary before each placement, including town and orientation information.
  • You may also be eligible to receive locum grants.

Who is eligible to join the program?

We place RACGP and ACRRM fellowed GPs (or equivalent) across rural and regional Victoria. While experience providing short-term rural GP placements is desirable, it is not essential.

In Victoria, GPs who have not achieved fellowship are ineligible to locum due to supervision and mentoring requirements.

We also welcome referrals if you have a friend, family member or colleague who is a fellowed GP.

How long are locum placements?

A locum placement can range from one to six weeks or more; be full-time, part-time or weekend cover. Placements may include requirements for any of the following:

  • GP sessional work
  • Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) rights
  • Hospital and nursing home visits
  • After-hours and/or on-call

How can I find out about upcoming GP locum opportunities?

The RWAV website has a complete list of available GP locum vacancies across rural and regional Victoria. Click here to see the full list.

We also encourage you to subscribe to the GP Locum Vacancies Newsletter so that you can receive updated positions straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

How can I apply to be a locum GP?

Fellowed GPs can apply to be part of the GP Locum Program by filling out their details on the 'Apply Now' web page, emailing locum@rwav.com.au or calling 03 9349 7800 to speak to our dedicated Recruitment Team. 

What are the next steps after I submit my application?

After you application has been submitted, we will arrange a phone discussion with you, complete reference checks and request relevant documentation from you. This documentation must be provided prior to confirmation of placement.

What documents do I need to provide RWAV as part of my registration?

There are standard documents and background checks required by practices and health services in Victoria before you can start your first locum placement. You will only need to provide these documents once or until validity expires.

The checklist of documents are:

  • Current resume
  • Photo ID (passport and drivers licence only for 100 point check)
  • Current Working with Children Check (Victoria)
  • Current Police Check
  • Current Indemnity Insurance Certificate
  • FRACGP/ACRRM Certificate
  • GPs that fellowed in the last five years must provide a copy of their medical degree
  • Current CPD statement
  • RWAV application form
  • Unconditional Medical Board registration
  • Overview of prior experience in general practice and up to date emergency skills

What is required before I can do work outside general practice - i.e. on-call, VMO, aged care work?

For each locum placement, you may have the opportunity to do on-call, VMO or aged care work to support the community. You will need to be credentialed with the relevant health service in order to do this for each new location.

Credentialing requirements are managed independently by the health service, not RWAV. You can set up an account online via e-credentialing or complete a paper application for the health service.

What else is required before I commence a locum placement?

You are required to obtain a provider number for each location worked. To do this, register with the PRODA Health Professional Online Service to receive your provider numbers. Click here for more information.

Information for Practices and health services

The Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV) GP Locum Program is a free service for rural general practices and Aboriginal Medical Services providing a personalised approach to matching locum GPs with practices in rural and regional Victoria. RWAV is dedicated to supporting the retention of doctors in rural practice by providing high quality locum relief for holiday, sickness or CPD needs.

RWAV offers the following support for health services seeking GP locum coverage:

  • Advertising your vacancy on the RWAV website, social media and other platforms at no cost to your service
  • Extensive screening and short listing of GPs according to your vacancy profile
  • Sourcing suitable GPs from our database
  • Assisting with administration of all GP locum documents
  • Supporting the process for obtaining Medicare provider numbers
  • Liaising and negotiating with your practice and the GP regarding fees and placement terms
  • Providing placement confirmation details to your practice and the GP outlining details of the locum period, practice information, terms discussed and town information
  • Providing handover orientation guidelines to your practice before the GP arrives
  • Checking in with the GP during the placement
  • Completing evaluations post placement
  • Financial subsidies – contribution toward travel and accommodation costs for eligible practices
  • Rural Area Bonus Grants for eligible practices

Which practices are eligible for the RWAV Locum Program?

The service is offered to solo, group practices and Aboriginal Health communities within Victorian RA2-5/MMM2-7 rural and regional areas.

What makes a GP eligible for locum work at RWAV?

RWAV locum GPs are RACGP and ACRRM fellowed GPs (or equivalent), and have solid experience in providing short-term placements. RWAV understands the specialised skills and requirements for locums who work in rural and regional Victoria, and will ensure that your practice is matched with a suitably qualified fellowed GP.

How long is a locum placement?

A locum placement can range from one to six weeks or more; be full-time, part-time or weekend cover. Placements may include requirements for any one of the following:

  • GP sessional work
  • VMO (Visiting Medical Officer) rights
  • Hospital and nursing home visits
  • After-hours and/or on-call

What support does our practice need to provide to the locum GP?

  • Your practice will be required to pay reasonable return travel costs for the GP at ATO rates, or an agreed reimbursement of the costs
  • Your practice will be required to provide the GP and their family (if required) clean, good standard self-contained accommodation when it is required

What post-placement support will RWAV provide for my practice?

RWAV will contact your practice and the GP after each placement for feedback. This is an ongoing effort to refine the GP Locum Program services. It is important to RWAV that our practices and GP locums feel supported, and the placement process is as straightforward as possible.

What is required before a locum GP can start at our practice for the first time?

  • An orientation checklist:

We request that your practice completes an RWAV Orientation Checklist before the GP commences their placement. Taking time to go through the checklist makes all the difference to their overall experience.

  • Screening and compliance documents: 

To be compliant for locum work through RWAV, we require certain documents to be maintained on our records. During confirmation of the GP's locum placement these documents will be provided to the practice. 

  • GP locum provider numbers: 

Before a GP can start a placement at your practice, the GP is required to obtain a provider number for each location they work at. All our GP locums are advised to register online with PRODA - Health Professional Online Service to receive provider numbers. Once set up with PRODA, the GP can apply for, and receive new numbers online.

  • Hospital credentialing: 

If you require our GP to be credentialed for any on-call, VMO and/or aged care work, you should ensure that the GP is credentialed with the relevant health service(s). Your practice and local hospital are responsible for completing the credentialing paperwork before the GP starts their placement. To be credentialed, the GP may need to be set up with an account via online credentialing or complete a paper credential application for each health service.

What are the locum GP's fees and rates of pay?

If your practice engages RWAV, there are two locum model options depending on whether the GP chooses to locum independently or as part of the RWAV Employed Locum Program.

If the locum GP is an RWAV Employed Locum:

  • RWAV will invoice your practice at the end of each placement
  • As the locum GP will be an RWAV employee they will work under RWAV conditions, as per the RWAV Locum Contract of practice

If the locum GP is an RWAV Independent Locum:

  • The practice and the GP will negotiate fees/rates of pay
  • The GP will determine their own rates and contract terms with your practice
  • The GP will invoice your practice at the end of the placement as per agreed terms

Can a health service request a locum GP return or complete a repeat locum placement?

Yes, many of our doctors do repeat locums at various practices. They often request to return or are requested by the practice. RWAV supports a number of practices that use a permanent model of rotating locum doctors as this can provide valuable continuity of care to solo practices.

What are the next steps?

If your practice would like to work with RWAV, please get in contact and tell us more about your GP locum vacancy. This will give us all the information we need to advertise the role, and support you in sourcing the right GP for your practice.

You can email locum@rwav.com.au or call 03 9349 7800 to speak to our dedicated Recruitment Team.  We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you.

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