State’s $200,000 offer to attract Australian workers ‘significant’

GPs who relocate to rural and regional areas of Tasmania will be offered a $100,000 incentive, as well as HECS debt forgiveness. The GP Incentive Package is aimed at attracting doctors to the state.

The Tasmanian Government has announced that the $100,000 settlement payment will be spread over five years, with 10 per cent paid at the end of the first year. This will be followed by 20 per cent, 30 per cent and 40 per cent payments at the end of the fourth year.

The government will also pay the HECS debt up to a maximum of $100,000 for general practitioners who have completed their training and decide to settle in peripheral urban areas.

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This program is designed to help those who do not qualify for the federal government’s HELP debt reduction program, which forgives 100% of the debt of eligible physicians if they work in rural, remote or very remote areas.

Health Minister Guy Barnett said the $4 million program was aimed at attracting new GPs to practice in rural and regional areas of Tasmania and keeping them here for five years.

“We are making record investments in all major hospitals, employing more frontline healthcare professionals and making steady progress to halt the rise in cases – but we know that attracting more GPs here is essential to support this work, particularly in our regions,” Barnett said.

“I am confident that this significant incentive will quickly begin to attract GPs to our rural and regional communities, benefiting Tasmanians.”

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It is hoped the incentive will attract up to 40 new GPs to Tasmania.

Final guidelines, including the specific areas in which the incentive will apply and how to apply, will be published by August 1.

What other incentive payments are available?

The federal government’s Rural Advanced Skills Workforce Incentive Program aims to encourage doctors to bring their skills to rural towns.

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Doctors who provide specialty care services can earn between $4,000 and $10,500 per year. You could earn an additional $4,000 to $10,500 per year if you provide emergency care.

Some physicians may be eligible for both payments, with the amount depending on the remoteness of the location, the skills provided and the need for the services.

Some states also offer incentives for workers who relocate. For example, Queensland currently offers incentives of up to $70,000 to health professionals who relocate to rural or remote areas to work for Queensland Health.

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