OTD 5yr Scheme
What is the OTD Scheme?
In 1999 the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged care and Rural Workforce Agencies announced a scheme to help address, in the short term, problems of general practice workforce shortages in rural and remote Australia.
A stragegy to deal with general practitioner workforce shortages in rural and remote areas of Australia was developed, now known as the 5 year Overseas Trained Doctor Scheme.
International Medical Graduates (IMG) accepted to the scheme and who successfully achieve Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, will be entitiled to an unrestricted provider number allowing them to work anywhere in Australia. The IMG will have to work in a position that has been difficult to fill, otherwise known as an Area of Need position, for a minimum of 5 years and gain Permanent Residency during this time. It is also a requirement of the Scheme that the IMG have adequate and appropriate supervision for the duration of their employment.
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Overseas GP qualifications which are accepted as equivalent to the FRACGP are the:
Qualifications which are recognised but not accepted as equivalent to the FRACGP and require the applicant to sit the RACGP exam are:
OTDs with significant general practice experience may be eligible for the scheme but will require supervision and will be required to sit the RACGP exam within two years.
The joint assessment panel of RACGP and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) will determine suitability for the scheme. General Practice Network NT Northern Territory (GPNNT) will link applicants with prospective employers.
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Eligiblity
Overseas trained GPs who have general practice qualifications or significant experience (greater than five years full time) and training and who are assessed by a panel as being able to achieve the FRACGP within two years.
The scheme requires that the GP has been offered a position in the NT that has proved difficult to fill (area of need position).
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How will applications be assessed?
General Practice Network NT (GPNNT) Medical Adviser will receive the application. Primary degree and competence in English (if required) will be confirmed through the Australian Medical Council. The recognition of general practice qualifications will be confirmed with RACGP in South Australia.
Applicants will be assessed by a panel of NT general practice representatives from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, NT Department of Health & Community Services and GPNNT.
Assessment will be made of qualifications, experience and training of the GP. Notice will be taken of progress toward the AMC exams and of Australian experience relevant to general practice. If the GP has been offered a position or is being considered for a position in the NT this will be confirmed with the employer or sponsor.
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What follow-up will there be?
If the applicant is unsuccessful he or she will be notified of the panel decision.
If the unsuccessful applicant is registered with the NT Medical Board he or she will still be able to take up an area of need position. However the OTD scheme pathway to registration and provider number will not be available. The applicant is able to appeal to the National Standards panel and joint body of the RACGP and ACRRM.
If the applicant is successful he or she will be notified in writing. If the applicant is not yet registered with the NT Medical Board a letter of support from the panel, indicating the support provided by the scheme, will go to the Board.
Decisions to register a medical practitioner are at the discretion of the NT Medical Board. When registration and the position are confirmed, application for a provider number will be made by the GP to the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) under area of need 3GA and 3J legislation.
GPNNT will notify the Health Workforce Section of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA), who will issue a “contract” to ensure that after five years, and on gaining Fellowship of the RACGP and Permanent Residency, the applicant will be granted an unconditional provider number.
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Support for Overseas Trained Doctors in the NT
In November 2004, GPNNT successfully secured funding from the Commonwealth to assist OTDs on the 5 year OTD scheme to achieve Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).
GPNNT is contracted to provide case management support to eligible OTDs and engage appropriately skilled Medical Educators to develop individual learning plans for each doctor. GPNNT is working with specialist GP training providers to provide individually tailored training and revision courses to meet each doctor’s needs. Capped funding is being provided to improve OTD access to relevant learning materials, tutoring and courses.
For additional information visit:
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners at www.racgp.org.au, and
Australian Medical Council at www.amc.org.au
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Want to Apply?
Please click on this link to download the application form, OTD 5 Year Scheme - Application Package, complete and return to:
Mr Ken O'Brien
Workforce Programs Officer
General Practice Network NT
PO Box 2562 Darwin NT 0800
Phone - (08) 8982 1007 Fax- (08) 8981 5899
Email ken.obrien@gpnnt.org.au
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