Yahoo Finance State's $200,000 offer to lure Aussie workers: 'Significant'
The Tasmanian government is hoping to lure doctors to the state through new financial incentives.
General practitioners who move to rural and regional Tasmania will be offered a $100,000 payment, plus wiped HECS debt. The GP Incentive Package aims to lure doctors to the state.
The Tasmanian Government announced the $100,000 settlement allowance would be spread over five years, with 10 per cent paid at the end of the first year. This will be followed by 20 per cent, 30 per cent and 40 per cent at the completion of the fourth year.
The government will also pay the HECS debt up to a maximum of $100,000 for GPs who have finished their training and decide to settle in outer urban areas.
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This is designed to help those not eligible for the federal government’s HELP debt reduction scheme, which wipes 100 per cent of eligible doctor’s debt if they work in rural, remote or very remote areas.
Health minister Guy Barnett said the $4 million package was designed to attract new GPs to practice in rural and regional areas of Tasmania and keep them here for five years.
“We are making record investments across all major hospitals, employing more frontline healthcare workers and making steady progress to ending ramping – but we know that attracting more GPs here is critical to supporting this work, especially in our regions,” Barnett said.
“I am confident that this significant incentive will begin to quickly attract GPs to our rural and regional communities, with Tasmanians to benefit as a result.”
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It’s hoped the incentive will attract up to 40 new GPs to Tasmania.
The final guidelines, including the specific areas the incentive will apply and how to apply, will be released by August 1.
What other incentive payments are available?
The federal government’s Workforce Incentives Program for Rural Advanced Skills payment is aimed at encouraging doctors to take their skills to rural towns.
Payments between $4,000 and $10,500 per year are available to doctors providing advanced skills services. You could get an additional $4,000 to $10,500 per year if providing emergency care.
Some doctors may be eligible for both payments, with the amount dependent on the how remote the location is, the skills delivered and how needed the services are.
Some states also offer incentive payments for workers who move. For example, Queensland currently offers payments of up to $70,000 for healthcare workers who move to rural or remote areas working for Queensland Health.
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