Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce flew into Tennant Creek on Wednesday morning to deliver the good news for health in the region.
Tennant Creek has been listed as a targeted General Practitioner (GP) recruitment location under the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).
The pilot scheme provides more than $500,000 in income support over the course of each doctor’s training to make the Tennant Creek location more appealing to young doctors.
Mr Joyce was accompanied by Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud and CLP Senate Candidate Jacinta Price and CLP Candidate for Lingiari Damien Ryan.
Member for Barkly Steve Edgington welcomed the announcement and the visit from the Canberra politicians.
The announcement will be of great benefit for Tennant Creek and lead to more consistent number of doctors here at the Tennant Creek Hospital,” he said.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the RVTS is going from strength to strength in providing better access to doctors in the bush.
“To date, it has provided training to more than 400 doctors to over 300 rural and remote communities. Overall, 90 per cent of participants who have completed the program have attained GP fellowship qualifications,” Minister Hunt said.
“The RVTS has also supported doctors working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with more than 50 doctors enrolled in Aboriginal medical services since 2014. These doctors are providing primary care services in more than 40 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across the country.
“The past success of the program is why the Morrison-Joyce Government is investing an additional $20.9 million to extend a GP training program that is providing more doctors to rural and remote areas in Australia.
“This additional funding will enable the scheme to be extended for a further three years, enabling doctors to gain their specialist qualification in general practice – while living and working in a rural or remote area.”
The additional funding builds on $5 million previously provided by the Morrison-Joyce Government for a RVTS extended targeted recruitment pilot, which is providing income support for 10 doctors starting their training in 2021 and 2022.
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 14 April 2022.