NUMBER 2 • 19 JULY 2010 MJACareers THE MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA Beating the pull of bright lights, big city MONEY can buy a lot of things but it “bundling” incentives was likely can’t always buy long-term commitment. to yield better results. Despite programs to tempt doctors to Co-author of the report, C1 take up posts in far-fl ung locations, the Professor John Humphreys, lure of big dollars to work in remote from the School of Rural Health rural practices is often not suffi cient to at Monash University, says it is retain health care workers once they important for health services to have fulfi lled the initial terms of their help strike a balance for doctors, appointment. allowing them to be productive Indeed, there are lessons to be learnt and happy. Better work–life from other industries, such as mining, balance had become a mantra to entice doctors and other health for all. workers to stay on. Improving day-to- “Because doctors are intelligent day living comfort and job satisfaction by people, they look for packages Professor Humphreys also says it is maintaining access to professional support, that meet their greater needs. Retention often not the most remote communities offering city visits and access to childcare grants are a starting point. But there need that have the biggest trouble retaining and air-conditioned housing can be as to be options beyond those,” he says. doctors, but country towns that are in important as a substantial pay packet. The report, a project of the Australian overall decline, with empty shopfronts So say the authors of the report, Retention Primary Health Care Research Institute, and an air of despair about them. strategies and incentives for health workers part of the Australian National University’s The most remote postings were often in rural and remote areas: what works? They College of Medicine, Biology and the perceived to have some professional found that although most schemes to retain Environment, found that less tangible glamour to them, but the more marginal employees were based on remuneration, a and often quite subtle factors were just as towns dotted throughout regional areas more comprehensive approach based on important in enticing doctors and other had less to offer longer term unless the health care workers to stay on. health services helped invest in them with quality housing, infrastructure such ... Retention These include the sense of community and level of integration for the doctors, as decent computer access, and even grants are how well the needs of their families child care provisions, to provide relief a starting are met, and opportunities for further to a spouse who was stuck at home with point. But training and professional development. young children when the partner was “Evidence suggests that non-fi nancial called away frequently. there need Key fi ndings of the report include: to be options incentives, such as housing and improved working conditions, have ɼ no one measure alone is likely to beyond those the potential to improve retention,” the be suffi cient to improve retention, Professor John Humphreys report says. ɼ a wide range of individual, continued on page C8 X In this issue Careers C1 Keeping doctors in the bush C9 – C10 Locums C3 Q&A with GP researcher Helena Britt C11 Hospital Appointments C4 More money, fairer tax for rural doctors C12 – C13 GP Opportunities C5 One Day goes to Borroloola C14 University Appointments C7 Top jobs for Michael Kidd and Claire Jackson C15 Marketplace HOT JOB C2 General Practitioner QUIRINDI - NSW 26 - 31 July Clinics Mon - Fri 9:00 - 18:00 Sat 08:00 - 12:00 non onerous - 24 hour on call Travel and Accommodation provided $1600p/d neg GEN SURG VMO O&G VMO EMERGENCY GP Northern QLD South Western NSW North Coast NSW Sydney Region NSW ASAP - Ongoing 3 - 12 Sept REG - Aug - Nov ASAP $1900p/d $2000p/d (pro rata) $135p/h $150p/h neg Northern TAS Country NSW Rural NSW Inner West Sydney NSW 26 Jul - 2 Aug 9 - 10 Aug REG - Ongoing Full Time Position $2000p/d $1800p/d (24 hrs) $120p/h $% billings Coastal QLD Rural NSW Central Coast NSW Tasmania 20 Sept - 4 Oct 16 - 23 Aug CMO - Ongoing Various Locations $2000p/d $1800p/d (pro rata) $145p/h $POA MJA Careers www.mjacareers.com.au • Number 2 • 19 July 2010 Associate Professor Helena Britt trained as a research psychologist, and once considered being a writer. Q&A But her ongoing academic work to support the role of general practitioners as primary health care givers MJA Careers profi les allows her to combine these interests with elements interesting and important of other loves, namely, theatre and statistics. jobs and the people who do them Name Helena Britt What have been the biggest surprises in your working life? That the FMRC still survives after 20 years; the Job title Associate Professor and Director of the continued generosity of GPs in providing data Family Medicine Research Centre (FMRC) for our research by participating in BEACH; the and of the Australian General Practice unending energy, enthusiasm and diligence of our Statistics and Classifi cation Centre research team. (AGPSCC) — a collaborating Centre of the University of Sydney and the Australian What do you hope to be doing — or have achieved — Institute of Health and Welfare in fi ve years’ time? We hope to have established the fi rst stage of a 20,000 patient-based electronic, longitudinal, Time in position national study in general practice, of the care Director (FMRC), 20 years, Associate provided in our health care system. As usual, lack Professor, 12 years, Director (AGPSCC), of funding is the only obstacle. 12 years The person/people who have had the greatest infl uence on your career — mentors, sources of inspiration or What aspect of this job appealed to you most when unexpected opportunities C3 you applied or were appointed? And now? There have been many, but being selective: I grew into this job — from a part-time Professor Charles Bridges-Webb, one-time boss, (6 hours/week) research assistant position one-time PhD supervisor, long-term friend, and with the University of Sydney’s Discipline of colleague who encouraged me to do my PhD in General Practice in 1977, when I had small a time when part-time non-MBBS RAs did not do PhDs in general practice; Professors Stephen children, through half-time, to full-time Leeder and Glenn Salkeld who have always been senior research positions, a late PhD, Senior extremely supportive; A/Professor Graeme Miller, Research Fellow/Director and then Associate colleague, friend and mentor for 20 years, who Professor. Now? It brings together my love (in particular) has taught me to play the long of theatre as I enjoy presenting; writing, my game, curb my often too honest tongue and has original career choice; editing, something imparted to me the ethos of general practice. else I considered; and statistics. What more could one ask? Any career tips or suggestions for young doctors or others interested in this fi eld? Career highlights? Any lowlights/disappointments Be willing to ride the tide of employment you’d like to share? uncertainty; read the literature before planning a new project that you think has never been thought Highlights are of before; and for non-MBBSs, never forget your frequent — seeing research and its interpretation need input from policy or patient the profession so it is in tune with the realities of care implications general practice. of our research If I could change one thing in the world of medicine or gives me a buzz Careers research it would be … every time. However, the biggest highlight was launching the BEACH (Bettering the The Australian health care system: from an increasingly disease-centred approach as seen Evaluation and Care of Health) program in education, guidelines, funding models, grant in 1998, after searching for funding for 8 funding and patient care, to facilitating GPs to years. The lowlights? They are pretty regular better provide a multimorbidity, holistic, patient- too, and usually involve funding shortfalls centred care approach. and their implications. It’s hard surviving Professor Charles Bridges-Webb’s obituary is on page 123 without infrastructure support. MJA MJA Careers www.mjacareers.com.au • Number 2 • 19 July 2010 Government boosts incentives to doctors in remote rural posts DOCTORS are being wooed through generous package of fi nancial and non- of incentives that were intended to sharply increased incentives to consider fi nancial incentives for doctors who increase funding to rural general working in remote rural locations, with relocate to rural areas,” Mr Snowdon says. practitioners. payments increasing in tandem with the “The more remote you go, the greater Payments under the General degree of remoteness. Payments of up the reward.” Practice Rural Incentive Program, to $47,000 a year are part of the Rural The government also plans to designed to bolster fi nancial Health Workforce Strategy to boost the implement locum programs for rural incentives to doctors in country rural health workforce. Previously, doctors doctors to give them adequate time away areas, were to be subject to 46.5% were offered up to $25,000. from work, and to improve access to Pay As You Earn withholding tax In summary, the government says 2400 professional development. — until the recent decision by the doctors will become eligible to receive Another component of the scheme federal government to overturn the retention payments and support to remain includes fast-tracking for 3600 overseas- Australian Taxation Offi ce’s ruling. in rural and remote areas as part of its trained doctors with restrictions on where Incentives will now be treated $134.4 million incentive scheme.