The Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Doctor Stream is a government incentive designed to encourage GPs to work in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
For Vocationally Registered (VR) GPs, WIP can provide a significant additional income stream on top of your normal locum earnings, particularly in MM 3–7 locations.
What is WIP?
The WIP Doctor Stream provides quarterly incentive payments to eligible doctors working in rural and remote areas classified as MM3 to MM7
The more remote the location, the higher the payment.
VR GPs receive:
Why WIP Matters for Locum GPs
If you're already doing:
…you may already qualify for WIP payments without realising it.
For some VR GPs, WIP can add: $12,000–$60,000+ per year in additional income.
Maximum Annual Payments (VR GP)
|
Location |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5+ |
|||||
|
MM 3 |
$0 |
$4,500 |
$7,500 |
$7,500 |
$12,000 |
|||||
|
MM 4 |
$0 |
$8,000 |
$13,000 |
$13,000 |
$18,000 |
|||||
|
MM 5 |
$0 |
$12,000 |
$17,000 |
$17,000 |
$23,000 |
|||||
|
MM 6 |
$16,000 |
$16,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$35,000 |
|||||
|
MM 7 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$35,000 |
$35,000 |
$60,000 |
|||||
What Does MMM Mean?
MMM = Modified Monash Model.
The model measures remoteness and town size across Australia, ranging from category MM 1 (major cities) to MM 7 (very remote).
This classifies locations based on remoteness.
|
MMM Category |
Description |
|
MM 1 |
Major cities |
|
MM 2 |
Regional centres |
|
MM 3 |
Large rural towns |
|
MM 4 |
Medium rural towns |
|
MM 5 |
Small rural towns |
|
MM 6 |
Remote communities |
|
MM 7 |
Very remote communities |
WIP only applies to MM 3–7 work.
How Do You Qualify?
To make a quarter “active”, you must meet ONE of the following:
Option 1 — MBS Billing Threshold (CPS)
Bill at least:
$6,000 in eligible MBS billings per quarter
OR
Option 2 — Session-Based Threshold (FPS)
Complete:
21 sessions per quarter
Where:
Minimum Hours Required:
21 sessions × 3 hours = 63 hours per quarter
Understanding the Payment Timeline
MM 3–5 Locations
You generally need:
8 active quarters (2 years) before your first payment.
MM 6–7 Locations
You generally need:
4 active quarters (1 year) before payments begin.
Example 1 — Rural Locum GP (MM 5)
Dr Khan works:
Because Dr Khan:
…their active quarters accumulate toward WIP payments.
By Year 5+, they could receive: Up to $23,000 annually in addition to locum income.
Example 2 — Remote FIFO GP (MM 7)
Dr Lee works:
Because MM 7 has the highest weighting: Dr Lee could receive up to: $60,000 per year through WIP incentives alone.
Working Across Multiple MMM Locations
Many locum GPs rotate across several sites.
Good news: WIP uses a weighted average calculation
This means: More remote work increases your overall payment.
Important Rules for Mixed Locations
This is extremely important.
Each location must use: The correct site-specific provider number.
Otherwise: Services Australia may not correctly calculate your MM activity.
Work in:
does NOT contribute toward WIP.
Maximum quarterly incentive thresholds are generally reached when you:
bill ≥ $30,000 per quarter
OR
complete ≥ 104 sessions.
What is the Flexible Payment System (FPS)?
FPS is designed for doctors doing:
This allows you to: “top up” your payment when Medicare billings alone do not reflect your actual workload.
Example — FPS Top-Up
Dr Patel:
Their MBS billings alone only reach 50% of the threshold.
However:
They also complete:
This can effectively top them up toward: 52 sessions x 3 hours = 156 hours
Result: Higher WIP payment eligibility.
FPS Application Tips
To use FPS you must:
Practical Tips for Locum GPs
Track Your MMM Locations:
Know whether your placements are MM3, MM4, MM5, MM6 or MM7.
Keep Records and track:
Think Long-Term:
Even occasional rural locums can build active quarters over time.
If you pause work:
WIP + Locum Work = A Powerful Combination
For many VR GPs, WIP can become:
Especially for doctors already doing:
Final Takeaway
If you are:
…it is absolutely worth understanding your WIP eligibility.
Many doctors are surprised to learn they may qualify for thousands, or even tens of thousands, in additional annual payments.
If you would like to find out more how WIP payments may work for you, please contact us for further information:
Amy Sullivan
Senior Consultant
National Locum GP & Rural Generalist Division
0416 370 196
amy.sullivan@dxcmedical.com.au
Search your next Locum opportunity.
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