Rural Locum Relief Program

The Rural Locum Relief Program (RLRP) allows overseas trained doctors (OTDs) who have:

• permanent residency or citizenship of Australia; and
• not yet attained Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners;

to provide general practitioner services in rural and remote areas for which Medicare rebates are payable.

RLRP positions are usually located in RRMA classifications 4 to 7 although some RRMA 3 locations may be approved. Aboriginal medical service positions can also be approved as an RLRP position, irrespective of their RRMA classification.

As overseas trained doctors (OTDs) are subject to Medicare provider number restrictions, you will need to obtain an exemption which enables you to be issued with a Medicare provider number, for the identified position. An exemption is generally only available for positions that are in RRMA classifications 4 to 7, although some RRMA 3 locations may be approved.

Another advantage to this program for OTDs is that it can be used to achieve General Practice (GP/family physician) recognition, if used as part of the 'Area of Need assessment pathway' for general practitioners.

Doctors on the RLRP are also eligible for higher Medicare rebates through the Rural Other Medical Practitioners Program (ROMPP) if the RLRP position is in RRMA classifications 4 to 7.

RLRP is administered by individual Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs), so you should check with the agency of the State or Territory in which you wish to work for more information about their specific requirements or other assistance they may be able to provide.