We understand that most health professionals are no longer taking CPD or recreation leave and are working overtime to ensure their local community continues to receive high quality care during this global pandemic.

With all hands on deck at health services across Australia, the casual pool is reduced to almost zero whilst the need for additional teams to fill vacant positions has increased. The demand for additional health professionals increases further if a team member is affected by COVID-19 and has to self-isolate for a 14-day period.

In response to this concern and the increased demand for more health professionals, the Australian Government Department of Health has approved our request to support rural and remote health services with vacant positions until 31 December 2020.

Our program will continue to support rural and remote health professionals that are required to take leave, especially for COVID-19 self-isolation. The eligibility criteria for leave support will extend to health services accessing the program for vacant positions.

Please share this news to any rural or remote health service that may need backfill support to cover vacant positions and have not used our program before. Our Refer a Friend program will apply for any new referrals who submit an application and are considered eligible for the program.

The health service may be eligible to apply for up to 14 days of support if they are located in categories 2-4*, as determined by the Modified Monash Model (MMM), or up to 28 days of support for MMM 5-7 category locations. If they are eligible for up to 28 days of support, this can be divided into two placements over the period.

As advised by the Department of Health, priority must be given to health services:

• located in MMM 5-7 categories
• backfilling a team member going on any form of leave.
   

For more information please contact us on 02 6203 9580 or enquiries@rurallap.com.au.