$146m rural health package to train and lure doctors to regions

The policies - which revolve around training doctors in the bush or incentivising them to go rural - were revealed by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Regional Health Minister David Gillespie revealed the policies in Shepparton, Victoria.

The government committed $15m to create an additional 1000 junior doctor placements in rural Australia per year by 2026, along with $9m for rural GPs to undertake advanced skills training in areas such as obstetrics, paediatrics and mental health.

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Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said it was well known that positive rural training experiences lead to more doctors and trainees staying in rural areas.

"As a former regional doctor, I am focused on increasing access to services, reducing costs for patients and training a local medical workforce that is part of our regional and rural communities," Dr Gillespie said.

The government will attempt to lure general practitioners and health professionals to the regions with $87m in workforce incentives, including additional education and skills to work in the regions.

A further $35m will be used to expand the Innovative Models of Collaborative Care program across regional Australia, to attract, support and retain rural health professionals.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the government had already invested $550m in the Stronger Rural Health Strategy since 2018, with another $300m committed in the most recent budget.

"Geography shouldn't be a barrier to health care," Mr Joyce said.

The new policy will also see the Murrumbidgee single employer model trial expanded to more regions.

Dr Gillespie said that would allow more doctors training to be rural generalist GPs to work to the full scope of their skills and services such as anaesthetics, obstetrics, mental health and emergency medicine.

Rural GP catchments that were deemed temporary priority areas, allowing them greater access to overseas trained doctors and bonded medical program participants, will have their status extended for a further 12 months.