DWS preliminary assessment

Employers must ensure that their vacancy is in an approved District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) if the overseas trained doctor (OTD) is required to have a Medicare provider number and therefore deliver services that attract Medicare rebates. DWS status is determined by the Department of Health and Ageing.

You can ascertain whether a particular general practice location is currently classified as a DWS by searching a database of localities. The database is updated quarterly and only applies to general practice vacancies.

This database requires you to search by a general locality, suburb or town, as well as the State or Territory. The database will ask you to choose from a list of specific localities if more than one exists in the area (called Statistical Local Areas or SLAs, which is a term used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics).

For example, if you search on the town ‘Brisbane’ in the state of ‘Queensland’, the result will be a list of areas (SLAs) with their postcodes. Select the appropriate area to find out if the position is located in a DWS.

You should be aware that roughly 5% of SLAs are split across localities. In these instances, after you select the postcode area, you will also be asked to provide a street name.

Using the information gained from searching the database, you can print a form to request a Preliminary Assessment of District of Workforce Shortage for a potential work location. This preliminary assessment form can help employers recruiting OTDs by providing some assurance as to the likely decision when an application for a Medicare provider number is lodged for the position. The assessment, valid for 3 months, is for a particular vacancy in one location. If there is more than one vacancy, this must be specified when completing the preliminary assessment form.

Employers who have a medical vacancy in a hospital or other setting are also able to request a Preliminary Assessment of District of Workforce Shortage by using the preliminary assessment form.

If the location is not listed as a DWS, employers may also use the preliminary assessment form to set out any special circumstances in support of their recruiting an OTD.

General practices located in metropolitan/outer-metropolitan areas may also obtain a preliminary assessment if they meet certain requirements.