Mildura and the Grampians’ selection as trial sites for a ‘single employer model’ is a boost for local doctor recruitment, Member for Mallee and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Dr Anne Webster MP said today.

“Within months of being appointed Shadow Minister, in March 2023 I organised the national Regional Health Workforce Summit in Mildura to address dire regional health workforce shortages. One of the clear policy proposals from those at the coalface and peak bodies grappling with the lack of doctors was the single employer model,” Dr Webster said.

The single employer model (SEM) provides a single employment contract for trainee doctors preparing to become rural generalist doctors while they conclude their training.  One major benefit of the model is that doctors employed in the public sector retain their income and entitlements while training in private practice. The SEM addresses an inequity in trainee salaries and entitlements for General Practice registrars and their hospital-based peers.

“I visited the first SEM pilot side at the Riverland Regional Hospital in Berri last year and they told me they have no doctor shortage in their region thanks to this model,” Dr Webster said.

Five rural generalist positions per annum will be offered in 2025 and 2026 in both Mildura and at Grampians Health, with Bairnsdale the third site to benefit from the SEM trial.

The SEM has been so successful across the border that is now being rolled out in 5 further South Australian local health networks.

“The single employment model’s success in regional Australia builds upon The Nationals’ efforts for many years to develop the Rural Generalist Pathway, through the National Rural Health Commissioner, a role which was itself another initiative of The Nationals.  In fact, I met the first Commissioner, Professor Paul Worley, in Berri last year about the SEM initiative because he has been working there ensuring its success since his term as Commissioner ended.”

Dr Webster said The Nationals are developing further regional health policies to improve regional Australia’s health workforce, which she looked forward to announcing as the Federal Election approaches.