Workforce Incentive Program

The Workforce Incentive Program aims to encourage medical practitioners to practise in regional, rural and remote communities and to promote careers in rural medicine through the provision of financial incentives, ranging from $4,500 up to $60,000.

To be eligible, medical practitioners must have:

• provided minimum amount of eligible primary care services and/or undertake GP registrar training placements under an approved training pathway in regional, rural and remote locations (Modified Monash Model 3-7) within Australia;
• an eligible current Medicare provider number;
• provided current bank account details to the Department of Human Services specifically for the WIP – Doctors Stream; and
• completed the required number of active quarters for payment.

See the Workforce Incentive Program Guidelines for further details.

There are two payment systems used for incentive program: the Central Payment System (CPS) and the Flexible Payment System (FPS).

Medical practitioners who bill Medicare for eligible services receive automated payments from the Department of Human Services after completion of the required number of active quarters for an initial payment.

Medical practitioners who provide eligible non-Medicare services and/or undertake training that is not reflected in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) records can apply for payments under the Flexible Payment System.

Medical practitioners may apply for a ‘top-up’ payment under the FPS if they fit into the Alternative Employment Provisions and have not billed the MBS for all eligible services, or if they meet the eligibility requirements under the Special Top-Up Provisions.

If you who provide most of your services in the NT should apply for the incentive.

To apply under the FPS:

• read the WIP Guidelines;
• obtain a letter of support from your employer/practice manager, and
• complete the application form.

Submit

If you are a GP registrar, please make sure your training authority signs off on your application form.

The Workforce Incentive Program Rural Advanced Skills Stream (WIP-RAS) rewards investment in specialist qualifications and advanced skills and encourages more doctors to work in a variety of settings using these skills in regional, rural and remote areas.

To learn more about the WIP-RAS, including eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Department of Health website.