Opportunities for Bonded Medical Scholars

Rural Health West and the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia are offering support services for Bonded Medical Program participants in order to prepare them for rural health work and facilitate placements in rural areas.

Rural Health West and the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia have designed a support program specifically for bonded scholars to:

prepare scholars for rural placements;
provide career advice and guidance;
provide professional development opportunities; and
assist with rural placement facilitation.

Through this support program, bonded scholars are able to:

access clinical upskilling webinars;
attend networking and career events;
apply for financial support to attend conferences and educational workshops;
receive cultural awareness training ... and more.

For more information about this program please contact Rural Health West on 08 6389 4500. If you have a specific query about rural practice please contact hubs@RCSWA.edu.au

Reforms to the Bonded Medical Program from 1 January 2020

New arrangements for the Bonded Medical Program

The Bonded Medical Program aims to provide more Australian trained doctors where there are workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote Australia.

There are two schemes under the Bonded Medical Program; the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship (MRBS) scheme and the Bonded Medical Places (BMP) scheme.

A new Bonded Medical Program commenced on 1 January 2020, with existing participants able to opt in to the new arrangements.

To support the new arrangements for the Bonded Medical Program, the Australian Government Department of Health has developed an innovative IT system, the Bonded Return of Service System (BRoSS).

Key features of the reforms are:

a consistent three year Return of Service Obligation (RoSO). BMP participants who have a 12 month RoSO will keep this under the new arrangements;
more options and flexibility so it is easier for participants to complete their RoSO;
replacement of the individual contract/deed of agreement with a statutory scheme;
a program specific online web portal (BRoSS) and mobile phone application to allow participants to self-manage their RoSO; and
support to all bonded participants through the Rural Workforce Agencies.

For further information on the new arrangements is available below:

Further information about the reforms can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships to attend the WA Rural Health Conference 2020 will be available soon. Stay tuned for more information.

Webinars

Bonded Scholars can access the Rural Health West "Distance is no obstacle" Podcast series aimed at providing medical education and information to rural health professionals.

Click here to access current episodes.
Click here to access the Rural Health West webinar library.

Bonded Scholars will have access to the Rural Clinical School Webinar series, more information to be released soon.

RHW-Bonded