Main navigation

More information on rural training grants

Definition of procedural GP

The definition of rural and remote procedural general practitioner adopted by the Commonwealth is one who:

“provides non-referred services normally in a hospital theatre, maternity setting or other appropriately equipped facilities, that in urban areas are typically the province of a specific referral based specialty.

Most commonly this refers to the fields of surgery, anaesthetics and obstetrics. Elements essential to procedural medicine include the use of appropriately equipped facilities and resources and involve a team of health professionals and the active engagement of the practitioner in an appropriate skills maintenance program in the relevant procedural areas.”

Definition of emergency medicine GP

For the purpose of the emergency medicine component of the Rural Procedural Grants Program, the definition of a rural and remote emergency medicine GP is

“a rural and remote practitioner who provides emergency medicine cover for non-referred services in an accident and emergency facility which is available for 24 hours triaging (hospital or other appropriately equipped facility – which provides a minimum equipment list of, but not restricted to : intubation, cannulation and defibrillation equipment), rapid diagnosis and management of the acute and urgent aspects of illness and injury such as those typically brought to the door by ambulance”.

Medical officers undertaking rural hospital based emergency medicine work may be eligible for this incentive.

Grant approved training

The training must

a) involve a minimum of 6 hours of F2F learning or equivalent. This can be undertaken in a block or spread out over 2 or more days.

b) be relevant to the discipline pertaining to the specific type of grant :

• anaesthetics or emergency/radiological aspects of anaesthetics for procedural grants in anaesthetics
• obstetrics and gynaecology and emergency /radiological aspects of O&G for procedural grants in obstetrics
• surgery (wide range of surgical procedures and emergency / radiological aspects of surgery for procedural grants in surgery
• emergency medicine (any skills required when working in an ED whether they be physical or psychiatric, diagnostic or therapeutic)  for emergency medicine grants

c) ensure 6 hour blocks of training are completed in one financial year .  For example, if the activity involves 2x 3 hour sessions, both sessions need to be held in the same financial year. A daily grant of $2,000 can't be split across 2 financial years

Within the framework of the above criteria, non-procedural aspects of obstetrics & gynaecology (women's health), anaesthetics, emergency medicine and surgery can be included in grant approved training. For example, management of post natal depression and menopause can be included in grant approved obstetric training. Patient safety and risk management in emergency medicine can be included in grant approved EM training and dermoscopy and non-surgical options for management of skin cancer can be included in grant approved surgical training.

A wide range of training can qualify for a grant, including conferences, seminars, workshops, Small Group Learning activities and supervised clinical attachments.

Claiming for a grant

When you are registered in the program and have attended grant approved training, you can access a grant by following the steps below:

• Tick the box on the QA attendance sheet provided for you at an educational event organised by someone else, which asks if you would like to access a grant.
• Fax your certificate of attendance or clinical attachment application to Pauline on 08 8267 8359.
• If you do not receive a certificate of attendance at the conclusion of the activity, please contact Pauline on pauline.curtis@racgp.org.au or 08 8267 8351 and advise her of the title and dates of the activity and the name and contact number of the provider. She will then contact the provider to confirm your attendance.

Keeping A Record

How will you know how much of a program funding you have used, and how much you have left? This is also simple. After each electronic funds transmission (EFT) to your nominated bank account, Medicare Australia will send you a statement indicating the transmission details, and how much of your annual allocation you have used to date, and how much you have left. This statement will also be copied to the Colleges, so that they can cross-check with their records. That way, we hope to ensure that no payments ‘slip through the cracks'.

In the event, however, that a payment for which you are eligible fails to eventuate, please keep your own record of CPD certificates so that you can re-submit a missed claim. Before you do this, however, be sure to confer with the National Rural Faculty (1800 636 764) to ensure payment is not still in process.

Last Modified: 15 June 2011
Authorised By: National Rural Faculty