The Malinauskas Labor Government has secured a new four-year deal with rural GPs to provide greater recognition, remuneration and support for regional and remote doctors across South Australia, while also delivering new incentives to boost the country workforce.
As part of the SA Health Rural GP Agreement 2024-28 (GPA), there will be an increase of three per cent to the sessional rates, which reflects the significant work and contribution that rural GPs provide their regional communities.
The rural attraction payment of up to $50,000 for new GPs who are beginning practice and providing hospital services will be expanded, with a new payment of up to $10,000 to a wider range of regional sites.
A new payment of up to $10,000 will be offered to encourage new doctors into an additional 32 country towns including Mount Pleasant, Kapunda, Eudunda, Barmera, Meningie, Mannum, Renmark, Waikerie, Bordertown, Kingston, Millicent, Penola, Clare, Wallaroo, Peterborough, Laura, Port Broughton, Crystal Brook, Jamestown, Quorn and Hawker.
In addition, a recognition payment of $5,000 will be given to each current GP signing on to the new GPA to acknowledge their service and ongoing commitment to South Australian rural and regional communities.
A new Non-Clinical Engagement Plan (NCEP) will also allow GPs to be remunerated for a broad range of non-clinical commitments such as teaching, training, supervision, regional Local Health Network meetings, and other essential hospital-based activities.
More than 330 rural GPs and GP registrars are currently contracted by SA Health to deliver medical services in rural and regional hospitals, providing essential healthcare including emergency services, inpatient care, surgery, obstetrics and anaesthetics.
Contracted GPs deliver these services in addition to maintaining their private practices, which can result in a substantial workload.
The agreement has been negotiated between the South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA(SA)), the Rural Doctors' Association of South Australia, and the Rural Support Service on behalf of SA Health's six regional local health networks.
It represents the successful conclusion of formal negotiations that commenced in early 2023 and included months of consultation. Agreed actions will be overseen by a new joint working party.
The agreement will start from 1 February 2024.
This follows the welcome news earlier this month that from 2025 a new medical school program through Flinders University will be operated entirely in regional South Australia for the first time. Forty medical student places each year will be based in SA regions for their four-year studies.
As put by Chris Picton
I want to thank the AMA and the Rural Doctors' Association for the collaborative nature of this negotiation that enabled us to secure a four-year agreement.
This provides security to our regional doctors compared to the previous two-year deal signed under the former Liberal Government.
It also provides peace of mind to people who live in regional South Australia to know that their local doctor is being looked after for the incredible role they play in the community.
Combined with the capital works going on across regional hospitals and our For Work, For Life Incentives, this agreement demonstrates that there has never been a better time for GPs choosing to make a tree or sea change to a regional area.
As put by Rural Support Service Executive Director, Debbie Martin
GPs are the core of the rural medical workforce in South Australia and remain vital to delivery of future rural medical care.
This negotiation has been a collaborative and respectful negotiation from day one and we're delighted to now have a new agreement in place which will help provide more certainty to people in regional areas when they require healthcare.
As put by AMA(SA) President and rural GP, Dr John Williams
AMA(SA) and the Rural Doctors' Association of SA have been in negotiations with the RSS since early this year. As the year comes to an end, we are extremely pleased that the contract has been renewed for an additional four years, with conditions and compensation that will support doctors in providing their essential services for regional communities.
As was the case in 2021, the collaboration between AMA(SA) and the RDASA has been critical throughout the process.
Our members thank Minister Picton and Cabinet for attending to this issue in such a timely manner, and the RSS for its efforts in bringing the negotiated terms into this agreement.
The sustainability and growth of rural communities depends on the healthcare that families and individuals know they will receive in these communities. This agreement is a crucial step in establishing and retaining the clinical workforce we all need to deliver world-class care.
We are particularly appreciative that there is now a recognition and facility within the agreement to pay rural doctors to provide supervision and training for junior doctors in the regions.
This ensures the next generation of doctors will learn and understand what it means to serve our communities as rural generalists, and with this foundation are more likely to stay in the regions to pursue rural medicine as a career.
As put by Rural Doctors' Association of South Australia President and rural GP, Dr Bill Geyer
I would like to congratulate the negotiation team who worked together to achieve a good outcome for GPs in rural South Australia.
It is important to recognise that many lessons were learned after our last round of negotiations and the Rural Support Service has been able to work with us to deliver a contract in a timely fashion.
GPs in rural areas are the vital backbone of the medical workforce for regional communities. We believe that this contract will see a brighter future for GPs who live and work in rural and regional areas, with the new Agreement providing more support and recognition of their critical role.
We hope that this new contract will attract more GPs to come and enjoy the rewards of South Australia's rural and regional lifestyle.
