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Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)

The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) was announced as part of the 2023-24 Budget Strengthening Medicare Initiative. The PFP has replaced the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP).

The program aims to:

  • help doctors gain valuable general practice experience

  • improve access to general practitioners (GPs) in Distribution Priority Areas

  • give general practices the opportunity to recruit from a pool of previously unavailable doctors.

The PFP allows doctors with placements in Distribution Priority Areas to access items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

Health Workforce Queensland administers the program in the State of Queensland.

​Eligibility


Doctors

The PFP is open to IMGs and the other non-vocationally registered doctors who are:

  • Australian citizens

  • permanent residents

  • temporary residents.

Doctors can have general, provisional or limited registration.

Eligible doctors must:

  • hold current registration with the Medical Board of Australia

  • have an offer of employment and the necessary skills and the experience to perform the role

  • provide evidence of appropriate support in place to meet supervision requirements (if applicable)

  • undertake GP professional development activities, including compulsory modules

  • review readiness for fellowship training, in conjunction with their medical adviser every 3 months

  • take active steps to join a GP College-led Fellowship pathway within the defined period.

As a 3GA approved workforce program, doctors on this program satisfy section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

A doctor is not eligible to join PFP if they:

  • ​have previously been on a 3GA program

  • are currently on MDRAP

  • are vocationally registered.

​Locations

Eligible locations include practices that are either:

  • located within a Distribution Priority Area

  • classified as an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS)

  • classified as an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service

  • subject to Ministerial direction under s19(2) or a s19(5) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

To find eligible locations, search the Health Workforce Locator.

Medical practices who employ a doctor participating in the PFP must be:

  • accredited as a general practice against the RACGP Standards for general practices, and

  • be accredited or working towards accreditation as a training practice with either the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine or Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Funding

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with provisional or limited registration will receive funding support for supervision and learning and development.

Placement duration

  • placements are for a maximum of two years

  • there are no extensions available for extenuating circumstances

  • once a doctor leave the PFP to join a GP College-led Fellowship program, they are not eligible to return to the PFP.

​Guidelines

For more details about the program, see the Pre-Fellowship Program guidelines.

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Apply

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Contact

Should you have any questions about PFP please contact the Workforce Program Coordinator on: (07) 3105 7858 or email us here.