Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS): Everything You Need to Know

Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) is a national training program for medical practitioners seeking General Practice and Rural Generalist Fellowship.

RVTS delivers distance training and remote supervision to doctors in rural, remote, and First Nations communities across Australia, as well as Aboriginal Medical Services.

So far, RVTS has supported over 500 doctors through to Fellowship (FRACGP, FRACGP-RG or FACRRM) via the three to four-year program – enabling them to continue to provide medical care to their local communities while training.

RVTS aims to:

• Improve access to vocational training for all doctors throughout Australia;
• Contribute to the recruitment and retention of rural and remote doctors; and
• Strengthen the continuity and quality of medical services in isolated areas.

Why choose RVTS

For over 25 years, RVTS has enhanced Australian health outcomes by educating and retaining medical practitioners in rural, remote and First Nations communities.

• Remote and face-to-face delivery – Stay in one place for the duration of your training thanks to flexible, remote supervision support and training.
• Personalised support – Receive guidance from a dedicated case manager, remote supervisor, medical educators, cultural educators and cultural mentors.
• Invaluable connections – Along the way, forge strong bonds with other doctors who are experiencing similar situations, challenges and training.
• No application fee – RVTS is fully funded by the Australian Government.
• A1 Medicare schedule – Rest assured knowing you will be eligible.
• High Fellowship rate – Succeed with a proven GP / RG training provider who holds RACGP and ACRRM accreditation. – 90% pass rate.
• Retention – 40% stay within their clinic past first year

Applying to the RVTS training program

Continue to care for your community while completing Fellowship training.

Achieve vocational recognition with Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and/or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

RVTS is an independent, Government-funded national vocational training program that facilitates access to medical education and training in circumstances where it may not otherwise be possible. With RVTS training, your community and patients retain their doctor as you advance your career.

RVTS conducts two intakes with training commencing in January and July each year.

Select from two training Streams:

• the Remote Stream for Doctors in remote and rural Australia (MMM4-7), and
• the AMS (Aboriginal Medical Service) Stream for Doctors in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (MMM2-7).

Some of the positions on the Remote Stream and the AMS Stream may be filled through the RVTS Targeted Recruitment process which is focused on designated locations of high workforce need. 

RVTS eligibility

RVTS offers two training streams:

• The Remote Stream for doctors working in rural and remote Australia in MMM4-7 locations.
• The AMS Stream for doctors working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in MMM2-7 locations.

Remote Stream Eligibility

The doctor must be working at the location prior to application.

Location: The location is in Modified Monash Model (MMM) Region 4 - 7, (Locations outside of these regions are not eligible).

Practice Status:  The position provides continuing comprehensive whole-patient medical care to individuals, families and their communities.

Medical Registration: The doctor must have General, Provisional or Limited Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

All doctors holding provisional or limited registration must be approved Level 2 or above supervision. Level 1 are not eligible for the RVTS Training Program.

AMS Stream Eligibility

The doctor must be working at the location prior to application.

Location: The location is in Modified Monash Model (MMM) Region 2-7 (Locations outside of these regions are not eligible).

Practice Status:  The position provides continuing comprehensive whole-patient medical care to individuals, families and their communities.

Medical Registration: The doctor must have General, Provisional or Limited Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

All doctors holding provisional or limited registration must be approved Level 2 or above supervision. Level 1 are not eligible for the RVTS Training Program.

RVTS Targeted Eligibility

The RVTS eligibility requirements for individual doctors via targeted recruitment will be consistent with the existing RVTS recruitment process.

Applicants must not be working in the location prior to application for the targeted recruitment location.

Medical Registration: The doctor must have General, Provisional or Limited Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Targeted Recruitment candidates must ensure they are eligible to work at the specified Targeted Recruitment location as per AHPRA requirements. 

Doctors with Limited Registration: Targeted Recruitment candidates with provisional registration must be able to provide evidence that they will have general registration by commencement of training.

Residency Status

Applications are accepted from Australian citizens, permanent residents and temporary residents. Temporary residents should have adequate time left on their visa to complete the training program.

Training with RVTS

The RVTS Program syllabus has been structured to address the practical issues faced by medical practitioners in rural, remote, and First Nations communities across Australia.

With RVTS you have an opportunity to pursue dual Fellowship as the RVTS syllabus incorporates the RACGP Curriculum and the ACRRM Primary Curriculum.

How does the RVTS differ from AGPT?

Remote Supervision is the hallmark of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is similar to the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT) in that it provides vocational training towards Fellowship of both ACRRM and RACGP. However, RVTS training is delivered under a remote supervision model which enables the doctor to stay in the one location.

AGPT registrars will usually experience working across several different practices over the course of their training, with support from the local and regional training program teams.

With RVTS, you can stay in your community for the duration of your GP or RG training.

For over 25 years, RVTS have facilitated access to educational opportunities for doctors where it may have otherwise not been possible.

Registrars training in the RVTS program enjoy:

• Collegiality: Peer support and a sense of belonging to a special group, with opportunities for regular contact with doctors in similar situations
• High-quality training support: All registrars are supported by:
• An experienced and committed remote supervisor
• An experienced team of Medical Educators
• A Medical Educator Mentor
• An individual training ‘case manager’ / Registrar Training Coordinator (RTC)
• A team of Cultural Educators and Cultural Mentors.
• Family support

The RVTS Training program includes:

• Live weekly webinars: 60-90-minute education sessions each week delivering core clinical content, interactive and peer learning.
• Remote supervision: Each registrar is allocated a supervisor who acts as a mentor, providing educational advice
• Face-to-face workshops: Twice a year, registrars attend a residential procedural skills workshop
• Onsite and tele Clinical Teaching Visits: An RVTS supervisor or experienced rural practitioner sits in on a registrar’s consultations to observe progress and provide constructive feedback.
• Cultural Education and Mentoring: Cultural safety training is provided by RVTS for registrars, supervisors and staff.
• eLearning resources: modules: Self-directed modules, study material and interactive discussion forums
• Exam Preparation
  

Become the best Doctor you can be

Upon successful completion of the RVTS Training program, you will:

• Have attained comprehensive knowledge, skills and attitudes for unsupervised general practice in Australia;
• Be awarded the FACRRM and/or the FRACGP and have had the opportunity to train toward the FRACGP-RG;
• Have remained in a rural, remote or First Nations community throughout your training; and
• Be confident and competent in providing sustainable healthcare services and leadership to rural, remote or First Nations communities.

Refer to FAQs here.

DXC Medical is a specialist rural GP recruitment and non-VR GP and GP/VMO recruitment. Our mission is to find the best practice, training pathway and location to suit our doctor’s personal and professional requirements.

With consultants across Australia the DXC Medical team are well placed to discuss opportunities in all states and territories throughout Australia.

Contact: Darren Compton
0405 234 852
Darren.compton@dxcmedical.com.au

To view the latest RVTS eligible GP and GP/VMO Jobs, please click HERE and search the keyword RVTS.