A program that will boost regional and rural healthcare was announced at Port Lincoln Hospital on Friday, 10 May.
Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton announced the Single Employer Model (SEM), which gives GP and rural generalist registrars the option of being employed by SA Health as salaried employees.
This means medical graduates won’t have to change employers with each new 6-12 month placement, and will have access to guaranteed income and leave entitlements.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has thanked the Albanese Government for adopting the new model.
“The Malinauskas Government is very supportive of any initiative that helps to attract and retain doctors to regional South Australia,” Premier Malinauskas says.
This new trial is in addition to the successful ‘Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence’ program in the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network.
Minister Picton says the SEM in the Riverland has increased the region’s workforce by more than 25 per cent since it commenced in 2022.
“I am thrilled this is now rolling out across the rest of South Australia and supporting up to 80 GP and rural generalist registrars training in the community,” the Minister says.
The program will cover five Local Health Networks: Eyre and Far North, Flinders and Upper North, Yorke and Northern, Barossa Hills and Fleurieu, and Limestone Coast.
The trial will start next year and run until 2028.
