The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) is designed to support doctors working in areas where there is a shortage of medical services. It allows doctors to access items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) while gaining valuable experience in general practice.

Who Can Participate? The program is open to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents who are doctors. This includes International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with provisional or limited registration. Doctors can have general, provisional, or limited registration, but they cannot be vocationally registered.

How Does It Work? The program is administered by Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) in each state and the Northern Territory. Doctors and medical practices must meet certain requirements to participate. Doctors must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia, have an offer of employment, and be ready to join a GP College-led Fellowship pathway within a defined period.

Benefits of the Program The PFP helps doctors gain valuable experience in general practice, improves access to GPs in underserved areas, and gives general practices the opportunity to recruit from a pool of previously unavailable doctors.

How to Apply To apply for the PFP, doctors can contact the Rural Workforce Agency in their state. The program is currently open for applications. List of rural workforce agencies is here

Conclusion The Pre-Fellowship Program is an important initiative that helps doctors gain experience in general practice while providing much-needed medical services to communities in need. If you are a doctor interested in participating in the program, contact your state’s Rural Workforce Agency for more information.

More information and program guidelines are here

Practices can advertise for their GP job vacancies on our website at a very nominal cost. If your practice is located in Distribution Priority Area (DPA), you may want to mention about Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) in the job description to attract some better response. You can post your GP job advertisement

Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) FAQ

What is the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)?

The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) is an Australian Government initiative designed to help International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and other non-vocationally recognised doctors gain general practice experience in areas with limited access to healthcare services. The program offers placements in Distribution Priority Areas, Aboriginal Medical Services, and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services.

Who is eligible to participate in the PFP?

To be eligible for the PFP, doctors must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary resident
• Hold current registration with the Medical Board of Australia
• Have an offer of employment in an eligible location
• Possess the necessary skills and experience for the role
• Have appropriate support in place to meet supervision requirements (if applicable)
• Commit to undertaking GP professional development activities
• Review their readiness for fellowship training every three months
• Actively seek to join a GP College-led Fellowship pathway within the defined period

Doctors are not eligible if they:

• Have previously participated in a 3GA program
• Are currently on MDRAP
• Are vocationally registered

What are the location requirements for PFP placements?

Practices eligible to participate in the PFP must be located in:

• A Distribution Priority Area
• An Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS)
• An Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service

Additionally, these practices must:

• Be accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practices
• Be accredited or working towards accreditation as a training practice with either ACRRM or RACGP

What support does the PFP provide to doctors?

The PFP provides doctors with:

• Access to a Medicare provider number: This allows them to offer services under Medicare.
• Financial support for supervision: IMGs with provisional or limited registration will receive funding for supervision.
• Funding for learning and development: IMGs with limited or provisional registration will have access to financial support for learning and development opportunities.

What are the ongoing requirements for PFP participants?

Doctors participating in the PFP must demonstrate their commitment to pursuing GP fellowship by:

• Reviewing their readiness for GP Fellowship training with their RWA every three months
• Applying to a GP College-led Fellowship training program at least once a year
• Completing foundation general practice training modules within three months of starting the program
• Meeting AHPRA’s requirements for continuing professional development

What support does the PFP provide to practices?

Practices employing a doctor through the PFP may receive financial support for supervising IMGs with limited or provisional registration. This funding aims to offset the cost of supervision and administrative work.

How do I apply for the PFP?

Interested doctors should contact the Rural Workforce Agency in their state or territory.

Where can I find more information about the PFP?

Detailed information about the program, including guidelines and fact sheets, can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.