Practice support

• The Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification identifies locations in Australia with a shortage of general practitioner (GP) services.
• International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who want to work in general practice and are subject to the 10-Year Moratorium (19AB section of the Health Insurance Act) must work in a DPA location to access Medicare.

The 10-Year Moratorium applies to two groups of international medical graduates:

• obtained your degree outside of Australia or New Zealand.
• enrolled in a degree in Australia or New Zealand as a temporary resident.

• IMGs who already hold Fellowship of an Australian GP College (RACGP or ACRRM) but are still subject to the 10-YearMoratorium.
• IMGs who are eligible for the Expedited Specialist registration pathway.
• IMGs who have not yet worked in Australia or are not yet on a GP training pathway and are eligible for the standard registration pathway or Competent Authority registration pathway.
• IMGs who are eligible for the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP).
• Doctors who trained in Australia, were a Temporary Resident at the time, hold general registration and are not yet on a GP training pathway (Foreign Graduate of an Australian Medical School or FGAMS).
• Note that doctors who obtained their primary medical degree from New Zealand are not considered an IMG.
• Note that doctors who obtained their primary medical degree from New Zealand and were not New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents at the time of enrolment into primary medical degree studies are considered an IMG and require a DPA location.
• Note that doctors who do not yet hold Fellowship may need to move location when they join a GP training program.
• IMGs on the PFP must enter a college-led training program and move to a MMM2 or above within their 2-year time limit on the PFP – the guidelines state a doctor must apply for a college pathway once they are eligible.

• Understand the needs of your workforce and what type of GP they require.
• Advertise position on relevant job boards.
• Research and education on IMG recruitment including PFP (if applicable).

• Medical Registration application.
• Ensure the practice can meet any supervision requirements.
• Visa sponsorship and nomination applications, if required, (this step should be in consideration when determining a doctor’s eligibility).
• Visa application, if required.
• Medicare provider number application. Consult with Rural Health West if the doctor requires the PFP.
• On arrival, orientation to Australian general practice.
• Apply for GP training pathway as soon as they become eligible.

• FRACGP / FACRRM or VR recognition.
• Holds registration with the Medical Board of Australia but is not on a GP training pathway.
• OR is an IMG with a current English language test pass, a pass in the AMC CAT MCQ and previous GP experience.
• OR is an IMG with the relevant qualifications to be deemed eligible for the Expedited Specialist Pathway.
• Note that IMGs who are eligible for the specialist registration pathway are not eligible to work in MM1 locations due to College eligibility criteria. With the exception of Substantially Comparable doctors on the RACGP Practice Experience Program Specialist.
• Note that doctors who have previously been on a 3GA program (refer to Section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973) but who do not hold Fellowship are not eligible to apply for a provider number on the Pre-Fellowship Program (see provider number section).

• Holds DPA. You can find out if your practice holds DPA status by entering your address on the DoctorConnect website here: Health Workforce Locator and selecting the filter “Distribution Priority Area for GP’s”.
• MMM1 or MM1 refers to the Modified Monash Model remoteness classification, with suburban locations being MM1. (inner and outer metro). Using the Health Workforce Locator select Modified Monash Model and choose “2023” to see MM1 locations.
• Supervisor/practice accreditation.

• Standard pathway – limited or provisional registration.
  • Requires a Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI).
• Competent Authority pathway – provisional registration.
  • Requires a Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI).
• Specialist pathway – not eligible in MM1 locations (except RACGP Practice Experience Program Specialist).
• Expedited Specialist pathway – specialist registration.
• Note that all IMG registration pathways require formal supervision.
• https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/

• The IMG will need a visa with full working rights.
• Discuss with the doctor which visa they wish to apply for or may already hold.
• It is recommended to speak to a registered migration agent about visas and their requirements: https://www.mara.gov.au/

• Temporary Resident doctors can access Medicare using the A2 schedule (60%) with no 3GA placement necessary.
• Permanent Resident doctors must – and Temporary Resident doctors may – access Medicare via the Pre-Fellowship Program (the PFP, a 3GA program) using the A7 schedule (80%).
• An application for the PFP requires a placement letter issued by the Rural Workforce Agency in your state: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/pre-fellowship-program.
• PFP placements are for a maximum of two years, during which time the doctor must apply for a GP training program.
• Doctors who do not hold Fellowship of a GP college are not eligible for the A1 schedule until they commence on a GP training program.
• Doctors may need to leave MM1 to commence on a GP training program.
• IMGs who have entered practice via the Expedited Specialist Pathway are not required to hold Fellowship of a GP College and are deemed eligible for the A1 schedule based on their specialist registration status.

• Medicare eLearning provides doctors with resources to assist them in becoming familiar with the Australian healthcare system.
• AHPRA’s Orientation Report (Form ORIG-30) contains topics which should be covered during an IMG’s first three months.
• Contact Rural Health West for details on local orientation modules or programs offered.
• On the back of the Kruk Review – recommendations 15 & 23, an online orientation module will be available for all International Qualified Health Professionals. Expected to be released between July and December 2025.