General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP)

Important announcements

  • Following a number of enquiries, the Department would like to confirm that GPRIP incentive payments are intended for the individual medical practitioner providing the medical services in eligible locations. Incentive payments are not intended for the practice at which the practitioner is providing services. For further information regarding this issue please contact the Department at GPRIP@health.gov.au
  • Registrars that have not submitted outstanding RRIPS claim for payment forms for training that began prior to 1 July 2010 must do so by 31 December 2011 in order to receive payments. Forms submitted after this date will not be processed.

The General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) commenced on 1 July 2010. GPRIP was funded in the 2009-10 Budget as part of the Rural Health Workforce Strategy.

The program aims to encourage medical practitioners to:

  • practice in rural and remote communities
  • promote careers in rural medicine.
It combines 2 previously separate retention incentive programs available to General Practitioners (GPs) and Registrars, and provides a relocation grant.

GPRIP comprises three components:
  • GP Component (previously known as the Rural Retention Program-RRP)
  • Registrar Component (previously known as the Registrars Rural Incentive Payment Scheme-RRIPS)
  • Rural Relocation Incentive Grant (RRIG).

GP Component


The GP Component aims to increase the number of general practitioners working in rural and remote areas through the provision of financial incentives.
GPRIP: GP Component: FAQs
GPRIP: GP Component: Guidelines
GPRIP bank details form (PDF 102 KB)
GPRIP: Flexible Payments System application form (PDF 221 KB)

Registrar Component


The Registrar Component aims to increase the number of registrars training in rural and remote areas through the provision of financial incentives.
GPRIP: Registrar Component: FAQs
GPRIP: Registrar Component: Guidelines

Rural Relocation Incentive Grant (RRIG)


The RRIG aims to increase the number of medical practitioners in rural and remote areas through the provision of relocation grants.
GPRIP: Rural Relocation Incentive Grant: FAQs
GPRIP: Rural Relocation Incentive Grant: Guidelines
GPRIP: Rural Relocation Incentive Grant application form (PDF 91 KB)

GPRIP Advisory Body


The GPRIP Advisory Body undertakes an advisory role on policy and implementation issues related to GPRIP.
The Advisory Body comprises:
  • Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
  • General Practice Education and Training Ltd
  • General Practice Registrars Australia
  • Department of Health and Ageing
  • Medicare Australia
  • Rural Health Workforce Australia
  • Rural Doctors Association of Australia.