International Medical Graduates Underpin Increased Rural GP Numbers

10.07.08

Figures released by Australia’s Rural Workforce Agencies show that the number of general practitioners (GPs) working in rural and remote areas is increasing. CEO of Rural Health Workforce Australia, Dr Kim Webber says, “This is good news in the light of GP ageing and the retirement of older GPs and in sharp contrast to the trend observed last week for urban GPs in the report Australia’s Health 2008.”

“It is important to note that this increase in GPs in rural communities is largely due to the Rural Workforce Agencies’ recruitment and support of International Medical Graduates. Over the past ten years, the number of International Medical Graduates working in rural and remote Australia has more than doubled. They are an invaluable part of our workforce.” Dr Webber said.

“Rural Workforce Agencies have been able to successfully recruit international doctors at a time when there is intense recruitment competition for doctors from other countries such as Canada and the USA. Rural Workforce Agencies are funded by the Federal Government to recruit and support rural and remote GPs from both Australia and abroad. This program is a clear success and has proven invaluable for rural and remote communities.”

“The recent expansion of medical schools and undergraduate places in Australia is intended to make Australia more self-reliant but there is at least ten years until these graduates move into the workforce. We must continue to attract and support International Medical Graduates as well as continuing our efforts on ensuring that Australian trained medical graduates are attracted to rural general practice. This means creating an attractive workplace and career structure,” said Dr Webber.

Our success in increasing the number of GPs in our rural and remote communities brings new challenges. We need to continue to invest in the infrastructure to ensure that Australian and International Medical Graduates will continue to choose to live and work in rural and remote Australia.

Dr Webber stated “All the evidence shows that rural doctors of all ages – but especially younger graduates – want to work in a team environment with better work/life balance. The challenge will be to provide a workplace that can fulfil these expectations. This will be the litmus test of any of the reforms initiated by the Commonwealth.”

The data also shows a continuation of trends evident in previous years, in that:

• GPs are working fewer hours
• there are increasing numbers of female GPs in the bush; and
• solo doctor practices are decreasing.

 

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