Registrars in the first year of the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) who choose to relocate and work in a rural community will now benefit from a sensible accommodation allowance thanks to College negotiations with the Ministry of Health.

From 1 April 2022, registrars living within 30 kilometres of a rural practice in which they work will receive $350 a week towards accommodation.

The College proactively approached the Ministry to substantially increase the existing allowance as a way to make working in rural locations more attractive to registrars. The approach, and ask, was recently ratified by the Resident Doctor’s Association (RDA) members.

Rural matters

About 20 percent of College-employed GPEP year 1 registrars do one rural attachment a year. Encouraging registrars to live closer to their rural practice means better understanding the culture and community they work in but also ensuring the health and safety of our people by cutting down long commutes at the start and end of busy days.

Encouraging our registrars to work in rural communities helps address some of the shortfall in some of New Zealand’s most remote locations, that really benefit from community doctors. We know more registrars would like the opportunity to work in rural communities but the financial barriers hinder many in making the move.

Eligibility

Any College-employed GPEP year 1 registrar who relocates to live within 30 kilometres of the rural practice they are attached to is eligible. With College pre-agreement it may also be possible in future to remain in a single rural practice for the whole of a first GPEP year.

Rural (or urban) practices wanting to sign up to become a teaching practice can do that on the College website.

Our voice is important for making change

The College is constantly advocating to make improvements to the workforce and conditions for registrars and Fellows. We do this through relationships, surveys to the membership, meetings with politicians, media messages, and direct advocacy to the Ministry of Health.

We believe this initiative will entice more GPEP year 1 registrars to live and work rurally and that will benefit both our members and our rural communities.

Nāku noa, nā

Lynne Hayman

Chief Executive