The proposal would provide additional funding to encourage more doctors and allied health professionals to work in regional and rural communities.

The proposal includes 7 elements:

• Element 1 provides $35 million over 4 years for an additional 2 rounds of the Innovative Models of Collaborative Care program across Modified Monash Model 3-7 regions.
• Element 2 provides funding to expand the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program (JFPDP) to support up to 1,000 rotations in rural Australia.
• Element 3 expands the Murrumbidgee single employer model trial to more regions across rural Australia, with nil additional cost to the budget.
• Element 4 provides funding to support 60 additional training posts outside of community general practice for rural generalists, GP registrars and fellowed GPs to undertake advanced skills training.
• Element 5 provides $87.5 million over 4 years through the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) to increase workforce incentives to GPs and allied health professionals and to provide further targeted support to rural generalists.
• Element 6 extends the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status of regions granted DPA status under the exceptional circumstances review process by 12 months, with nil additional cost to the budget.
• Element 7 provides funding to establish 3 new Regional Training Hubs in rural Australia.

Departmental costs associated with this proposal would be offset from within existing funding for relevant departments.

Elements 3 and 6 of this proposal would have effect from 1 July 2022. All other elements of this proposal would have effect from 1 January 2023.

Elements 2, 4, and 7 are ongoing.

This proposal is consistent with Coalition commitment ECR005 – Regional Health Package.