More GPs ‘sorely needed’ in the NT

Offers of housing and childcare, scholarship grants and cutting red tape for international medical graduates were among the workforce incentives discussed to boost the Northern Territory’s general practice workforce, at the inaugural NT Rural & Remote Medicine Conference.
 
Held in Darwin on Larrakia Country from 12–14 September, the conference focused on ways to create a sustainable Northern Territory workforce by meeting the needs of existing doctors, and attracting more registrars and GPs, particularly to regional centres and remote communities.
 
The RACGP and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine were partners in presenting the conference, as well as other sponsors including the NT PHN, the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
 
Hosted by the Rural Doctors Association of Australia – NT Chapter, it attracted key primary care professionals from around the country, as well as Assistant Minister for Rural Health, the Hon Emma McBride, who addressed conference-goers on Saturday morning.
 
While the conference focused on the NT, conversations also covered broader issues such as workforce, building training capacity and Rural Generalist recognition, as well as some clinical skills updates.
 
RACGP Northern Territory Provost, Associate Professor Emma Kennedy, stressed the benefits of working as a GP in the Territory and encouraged more junior and future doctors to do the same.
 
‘We’re making headway, but at the conference I spoke to many people who agreed GPs are still sorely needed in regional and remote communities Territory-wide and so boosting the Territory’s GP workforce must be a priority,’ she said. 
 
She said the RACGP has long called for the Territory and local governments to work together to attract and keep GPs, with incentives such as housing, childcare and support for GPs’ partners to find work.
 
‘Our remote communities, and our regional centres like Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek offer such rewarding opportunities for GPs, and sometimes they just need a little extra support to get them there,’ she said. 
 
RACGP Rural Chair, Associate Professor Michael Clements, who also attended the conference, said action is needed to address the ‘bureaucratic headache’ that is impeding doctors from overseas from working in Australia. 
 
‘We’re working closely with the Federal Government to keep cutting red tape that is holding back international medical graduates from working in Australia,’ he said.
 
‘Despite recent progress, the pathway for these doctors moving to Australia and starting work remains a bureaucratic headache. It’s just far too complicated and costly, and if we don’t act, these doctors will opt for other countries.
 
‘We need to streamline the entire process … so that applicants only have to submit their paperwork once. The Kruk report recommendations zeroed in on these impediments that are holding us back, and now we need action.’  
 
The RACGP and General Practice Registrars Australia currently offer scholarship grants ranging from $5000–$20,000 to attract GP registrars to train and work in the Territory, which Associate Professor Kennedy encourages registrars to take full advantage of, particularly in rural and remote areas. 
 
‘As a GP working outside of a major capital city, you’ll be immensely valued and supported by your community, and the scope of practice is so far-reaching – no two days will be the same,’ she said.
 
She said 52 registrars were training in the Territory this year – an increase of more than 30% compared to last year – including three who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
 
‘Looking ahead to next year, the results look positive, we’re ahead of schedule in terms of registrars accepting offers, particularly outside of major cities where GPs are needed most,’ she said.
 
‘So, let’s keep up the momentum and go even further.’
 
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