June 2002

Country practice suits this doctor perfectly

By Karen Carmichael

Dr Cathy Woolner and her husband, David, arrived in Australia from the UK in October 2000 after Cathy responded to an advertisement for the Victorian Overseas Trained Doctors Rural Recruitment Scheme.

Like many overseas-trained doctors currently practising in Victoria, Dr Woolner was drawn by the extensive recruitment campaign for the State Government Scheme addressing the ongoing difficulty attracting qualified General Practitioners to rural Victoria.

She left behind her practice—thriving after nine years—in Southampton and her husband sold his business.

She was recruited to Portland Medical Group, one of three Scheme doctors working in the city, settling into her new work environment with commitment and determination.

Her passion for her work with the Portland Medical Group—she was a key figure during its successful accreditation process—and at Portland Base Hospital has made her popular with staff and Medical Officers throughout the Western District as well as with patients.

Dr Woolner gained her Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) in November last year and has kept up with her Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements.

The Scheme requires all overseas-trained doctors attain their FRACGP qualification within two years.

This year Dr Woolner set up her own practice—Portland Bay Practice—and continues to see patients at Portland Hospital.

As well, she is part-time occupational physician for Portland Aluminium, carrying out medical examinations and consultations for work-related illness and injury.

Portland Aluminium promotes good general health among its workforce and places great value in contributing to the improved health of the broader community.

Dr Woolner has been instrumental in helping Portland Aluminium achieve its community health goals.

She plans to continue to contribute to the Portland community—she has applied for permanent residency.

The Victorian Overseas Trained Doctors Rural Recruitment Scheme aims to attract general practitioners by providing special incentives offered by the Commonwealth Government.

These include streamlined immigration procedures, facilitating Medicare access for participating doctors and a reduction in the 10-year moratorium on provider numbers—under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973—to five years.

Section 19AB sets a minimum period of 10 years after recognition as a medical practitioner under the Act before a doctor becomes eligible to provide professional services that attract Medicare benefits.

Once doctors have satisfied the requisite criteria under the Scheme, attained the FRACGP qualification and worked for five years in a rural/remote location agreed to by the Commonwealth as having significant workforce shortage under this Victorian Scheme they are no longer restricted to country practice.

The Department of Human Services funds the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria to administer the Scheme.

The agency provides recruitment, assessment and mentoring services to scheme participants.

It places advertisements in international medical journals to attract well-qualified and experienced general practitioners to work in areas of greatest need.

Photographs depicting typical Australian scenes in rural areas are included in the advertisements.

The Scheme, now in its second year, has successfully placed more than 57 doctors in Victorian rural practice.

There are another 20 approved doctors ready to be matched to pre-approved Scheme locations.

• For further information on the Victorian Overseas Trained Doctors Rural Recruitment Scheme contact the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria on 9349 4899 or visit http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/pdpd/vicgovdocs/index.htm.