What is a DPA?
In your first job in Australia, you will need to work under supervision in an area that needs GPs. These areas are called Distribution Priority Areas (DPAs). A DPA identifies areas where people don’t have enough access to doctors, based on the needs of the community. If the position that you are going to is not in a DPA you cannot access Medicare and bill patients for the medical services that you provide them.
There are some exemptions, but these are quite limited. I would recommend that you contact me for a confidential discussion about this if you have been offered a position in a non-DPA location.
Will I have to work in the middle of nowhere?
No, you won’t.
Personally, I do not place any doctors who are new to Australia into clinically, or socially, isolated positions. Once you have settled into working within the Australian context and achieved your specialist recognition you may decide to spend some time working in a remote community. Many doctors do and they find the medicine, and working within the outback communities, extremely rewarding.
What is MMM?
The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is how the Australian government determines whether a location is a city, rural, remote, or very remote.
The model measures remoteness and population size on a scale of Modified Monash (MM) category MM 1 to MM 7. MM 1 is a major city and MM 7 is very remote.
The MM that you can work in is restricted by the registration pathway that you apply on and whether the MM holds DPA status. Typically you will start in a MM2 to MM6 location.
Confused?
Don’t be. Let us do the hard work and sort through the legislation for you. We are here to guide you through all the requirements that need to be met when you to relocate to Australia.
Contact us for a confidential discussion on the options available to you; sarah@gp2oz.com
