Federal Member for Calare, the Hon John Cobb has announced a change to the District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) system seeing Parkes, Tullamore, Peak Hill and Trundle now listed as DWS locations.
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Mr Cobb said it is fantastic news for small, isolated, rural and remote towns in Australia ensuring they are automatically considered DWS for General Practice.
“By granting our towns DWS status, we make it easier to recruit GPs and can undertake workforce planning to ensure our communities’ continued access to health services,” Mr Cobb said.
“The Coalition Government is working hard to improve access to health services for regional Australians especially those living in small, isolated, rural and remote communities”.
“The Federal Government will continue its commitment to overcome challenges of recruiting and retaining GPs in these areas”.
Areas which are considered DWS are able to attract doctors who would otherwise be restricted in their ability to provide Medicare subsidised services. This includes overseas trained doctors while they are subject to the 10-year moratorium on Medicare provider numbers under the Health Insurance Act (1973).
Changes to the DWS system mean 220 communities will now be considered DWS, including Wallerawang, Portland, Bathurst, Perthville, Canowindra and Eugowra.
A location is deemed to be a DWS for a medical specialty if it falls below the national average for the provision of medical services for the specialty, based on the latest Medicare billing statistics. DWS classifications are updated annually in February for all medical specialities (including general practice) by the Department of Health.
