Rural Registrar Incentive, Reimbursement and Support Policy
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RURAL REGISTRAR INCENTIVE, REIMBURSEMENT AND SUPPORT POLICY Purpose This Policy describes the incentives, eligible reimbursements and supports offered by General Practice Training Queensland (GPTQ) to Registrars undertaking training in a rural General Practice setting. Scope This Policy applies to GP Registrars enrolled in Australian General Practice Training with General Practice Training Queensland who undertake training in a rural training practice commencing GPT/PRRT1 in 2021. Policy Background GPTQ provides specific financial support to its GP Registrars while undertaking a placement in a rural general practice setting within the GPTQ training region. The GPTQ Rural Registrar Incentive, Reimbursement and Support Policy considers the rurality of training places, the distance of the practice from a large referral centre and data collected from the Australian Government Health Workforce Locator. Eligible payment amounts under the GPTQ policy can be found in Appendix 2. GPTQ training practices are grouped geographically within the training footprint. Rural and Remote training affords registrars the opportunity to improve access for rural Australians to quality medical services as well as addressing workforce maldistribution concerns for rural and remote communities. GP Registrars who confirm rural practice employment will be eligible for the GPTQ Rural Registrar Incentive and Support Payments and may also be eligible for additional financial support through added GPTQ support and Australian Government initiatives such as the Workforce Incentive Program. The GPTQ Rural Incentive Policy has been designed to support registrars to relocate to the more rural and remote locations within the training region. GPTQ strongly encourages registrars undertaking rural placements to integrate into their community by residing and working in the area. There are some conditions placed on the reimbursement payments available for specific items such as rental payments and lease agreements. These conditions can be found in the terms and conditions on page 5 of this document. The GPTQ support policy has also been designed to complement the Australian Governments Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Doctor Stream. The WIP incentivises rural medical practitioners to remain practicing in rural locations by increasing the eligible incentives by location and amount according to duration of rural practice. GPTQ has recognised a potential financial gap for the initial relocation expenses for a registrar to consider training in a more rural location and therefore will work to have initial supports available to registrars prior to WIP payments being available. More information can be found DoH - WIP - Doctor Stream This document is maintained electronically. The current version of this document is located on MyGPTQ. Page 1 of 9 It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this copy is of the latest version. FORM0501 (03/21) 1. Available Support GPTQ's financial support for a GP Registrar under this Policy is primarily to encourage and support registrars to relocate to rural communities to undertake an Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) placement. There are 3 main supports available to GPTQ Rural Registrars: • Rural Registrar Reimbursements • Course Cost Reimbursements • Registrar Education and Expense Support 1. Rural Registrar Reimbursement i. GPTQ’s Rural Registrar Incentive and Support payments are offered over two years of General Practice Training. Registrars will be eligible for reimbursement up to and including the allocated amount (Appendix 2) during First Year Placements. The second payment is conditional on the registrar continuing to fulfil both the requirements of the AGPT program and have confirmed placement in a rural or remote training practice for the start of Second Year Placements. ii. This financial support is limited to two eligible payment amounts (GPT/PRRT1/2 year and GPT/PRRT3/4 year) per registrar for the duration of the AGPT training. iii. GP Registrars are encouraged to remain in a rural location for longer than 12 months. Supports through both GPTQ and the Australian Government are available to assist registrars undertaking rural training placements. 2. Course Cost Reimbursement i. GPTQ training registrars are entitled to an additional $500 Course Cost reimbursement to assist with college regulated compulsory courses during training. ii. Other support may be made available throughout the training period at the discretion of the Director of Medical Education. 3. Registrar Education and Expense Support i. Financial support for travel, accommodation and other associated workshop expenses mandated or approved by GPTQ will be paid by GPTQ, providing these are arranged and endorsed prospectively. This document is maintained electronically. The current version of this document is located on MyGPTQ. Page 2 of 9 It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this copy is of the latest version. FORM0501 (03/21) 2. Claiming an Entitlement 1. Rural Registrar Reimbursement i. Registrars who confirm rural placement in a GPTQ approved rural training practice will complete an electronic Registrar Incentive, Reimbursement and Support – Contact Details Form during orientation in term 1 of GP training. Once GPTQ have received Confirmation of Employment Agreement (CEA) and confirmed registrar contact details Registrars will be eligible to submit evidence for reimbursement claims at any time during the GPT/PRRT1/2 terms for that training period and in GPT/PRRT3/4 terms for that training period. ii. Unclaimed amounts for GPT1/2 will be forfeited if claim form and evidence has not been submitted by the final day of the registrars GPT2 training term. iii. Unclaimed amounts for GPT3/4 will be forfeited if claim form and evidence has not been submitted by the final day of the registrars GPT4 training term. iv. Examples of claimable reimbursements are included in Appendix 1 of this document. v. Claims under this policy can be accessed using the Rural Registrar Reimbursement Claim and Evidence Form. 2. Course Cost Reimbursement i. GPTQ can assist rural registrars by providing specific financial assistance for compulsory Advanced Life Support and/or emergency skills courses. Detailed information regarding Course Cost Reimbursement and associated required documentation can be found in the Course Cost Reimbursement Policy. ii. Course Cost reimbursement Claims are to be submitted no later than 2 months after completion of course. iii. Claims for Course Cost Reimbursement can be accessed using the Rural Registrar Reimbursement Claim and Evidence Form. 3. Registrar Education and Expense Support i. Where GP Registrars attend GPTQ provided workshops required for the AGPT program which attract financial support for travel, accommodation and other associated workshop expenses, these expenses will be paid by GPTQ, providing these are arranged and endorsed by GPTQ prospectively. Where GP Registrars make their own arrangements, their expenses will be reimbursed only as negotiated and pre-arranged with GPTQ. ii. GPTQ will only reimburse registrars for expenses incurred that have been prior approved by the District Administration manager with delegation from the Director of Medical Education – Rural and once completed documentation and evidence has been submitted in accordance with Guidelines - GP Registrar Expense Claims. iii. Claims can be accessed using the Rural Registrar Reimbursement Claim and Evidence Form. This document is maintained electronically. The current version of this document is located on MyGPTQ. Page 3 of 9 It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this copy is of the latest version. FORM0501 (03/21) Terms and Conditions • Rural Registrar reimbursement payments are conditional and approved at the discretion of GPTQ. Reimbursements are subject to the outlay of expenses being related to registrars training or being incurred within the community or surrounds in which the registrar is employed. • Claims under this policy for GP terms 1 and 2 are to be submitted along with adequate supporting evidence by no later than the final day of the registrars GPT2/PRRT2 term. Unclaimed amounts at the end of the registrars GPT/PRRT2 term will be forfeited. • Claims under this policy for GP terms 3 and 4 are to be submitted along with adequate supporting evidence by no later than the final day of the registrars GPT4/PRRT4 term. Unclaimed amounts at the end of the registrars GPT/PRRT4 term will be forfeited. • GPTQ reserves the right to request additional information from the registrar should insufficient evidence not satisfy the above terms and conditions. • GP Registrars who do not commence their training in a rural location but choose to relocate and undertake placement in a more rural location at a later point during training may be entitled to reimbursement support on application to GPTQ. This eligibility is discretionary to GPTQ and subject to availability of funds. GP Registrars may submit a letter of request for consideration of payment of financial entitlements for rural placements that are outside of the placements outlined in this policy. • Entitlements for registrars wishing to undertake rural placement later in their training will be available but limited to a maximum of half of the usual GPT/PRR1/2 entitlement. • GP registrars who are employed in concurrent placements across multiple facilities during the same terms will be eligible to one entitlement only. This will be in the practice/facility location that attracts