Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed the announcement of new classification systems aimed at encouraging more doctors into rural and remote areas.

Mr Taylor said GPs in Hume had already indicated the changes were necessary and a strong step in the right direction.

“The major change the Government has announced is to the workforce classifications of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas Classification (ASGC-RA) which will be updated to a new classification system, the Modified Monash Model.

“The ASGC-RA classification system, implemented by the previous government, has been widely criticised by rural stakeholders as creating inequities between rural and regional locations and further exacerbating the issue of doctor shortages.

“The Modified Monash Model will allow resources to be focused on areas where there is the most need – in small rural and remote communities – as opposed to incentivising doctors to move to large coastal towns,” Mr Taylor said.

He said one of the first programmes to transition to the Modified Monash Model would be the General Practice Rural Incentives (GPRIP) Programme.

Mr Taylor also welcomed changes to the District Workforce Shortage (DWS) system which has been using outdated population data. “It will be changed to more accurately determine which rural communities are most underserviced in terms of workforce,” Mr Taylor said.

Assistant Minister for Health, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash, said she would be appointing an expert panel to provide advice on implementing these and other changes which will include an update to the Bonded Medical Places Scheme, a Government initiative to provide more doctors to areas experiencing greatest shortage.

Angus Taylor said the Government would continue to work closely with key stakeholders such as the Rural Doctors Association as new arrangements were phased in.

Caption: Angus Taylor with members of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.