Victoria joins the single employer model club

The state is offering 15 single-employer places for rural generalist registrars in Mildura, Bairnsdale and the Grampians.

---

Rural generalist registrars all down Australia’s east coast can now remain state health employees throughout their community and hospital-based placements, as Victoria rolls out a trial of the single employer model.  

There are 15 places on the state trial, which will be offered across Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Grampians Health and Mildura Base Public Hospital.  

Under the model, which has rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years, registrars training for fellowship with either ACRRM or the RACGP are employed by a local hospital or health service and simply seconded to other workplaces as they rotate training posts. 

Training practices are normally granted an exemption until Section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, allowing them to bulk bill while drawing a state-based salary.  

The upshot for trainees is that they are able to continue to accrue leave entitlements and remain on a state health salary throughout their training.  

The upshot for trainers is that registrars can move between hospital and general practice placements without the administrative headache.  

In the Victorian iteration of the program, the state health service will invoice the GP training practices for 50% of the registrar’s billings minus a $100 retainer per half-day session.  

The state department of health then makes a payment to the local health service to cover the remaining costs associated with the participating trainees.  

Victoria is the fifth jurisdiction to run a trial of the model, following early success in NSW, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.  

ACRRM president Dr Dan Halliday said the continued expansion of single employer models was a key step toward building a strong rural generalist workforce. 

“Where there is strong cooperation between participating [rural generalists], practices, and health services, it streamlines training, smoothing the way for registrars to focus on skills development rather than administrative burden,” he said. 

“The [model] also offers certainty of income and working conditions with registrars on the trial retaining their employment benefits such as leave, as they move through their placements.” 

Post fellowship, though, there are far fewer opportunities to remain with a single employer as a rural generalist working over both hospital and community roles. 

So far, central Queensland is the only place with an established single employer model for fellowed generalists.  

Training practices interested in hosting a single employer model trainee have until 15 September to register their interest with Health Victoria.