The Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Doctor Stream is a government incentive designed to encourage GPs to work in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
For Locum 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.
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 100% of the incentive payment and Non-VR doctors generally receive 80%.
If you're a VRGP already doing rural locum placements, FIFO work, AMS work or Urgent Care 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 |
|||||
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: 1 session = 3 hours (maximum 2 sessions per day)
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.
Do You Need to Work Permanently at One Clinic? No. You can work short tern locum contracts, FIFO arrangements, multiple clinics, different MMM locations and different states.
The program is based on eligible work completed during each quarter, not permanent employment.
What Are “Active Quarters”? An “active quarter” is a quarter where you meet the minimum activity threshold. You generally qualify by either:
Do Quarters Need to Be Consecutive? No, your active quarters accumulate over time. This flexibility makes WIP particularly attractive for locum GPs.
What If You Work Across Different MMM Locations? Your WIP eligibility can still continue if you work across multiple MMM locations. For example: 2 quarters in MMM7, 1 quarter in MMM6 and 1 quarter in MMM5. Each eligible quarter contributes toward your WIP progression.
Generally:
Example 1 — Rural Locum GP (MM 5)
Dr Khan works 1 week per month in MM5 and bills $8,000–$10,000 per quarter
Because Dr Khan exceeds the $6,000 minimum threshold and consistently works in MM his active quarters accumulate toward WIP payments. By Year 5+, he could receive: Up to $23,000 annually in addition to locum income.
Example 2 — Remote FIFO GP (MM 7)
Dr Lee works FIFO in a remote MM7 community, 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and bills well above $30,000 per quarter. Because MM7 has the highest weighting Dr Lee could receive up to $60,000 per year through WIP incentives alone.
Important Rules for Mixed Locations
Use the Correct Provider Number: This is extremely important. Each location must use: The correct site-specific provider number, otherwise Services Australia may not correctly calculate your MM activity.
The $30,000 Cap: 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: Bills $15,000 via Medicare and also works hospital shifts.
Her MBS billings alone only reach 50% of the threshold. However, she also completes: 52 eligible sessions. This can effectively top her up toward 52 sessions x 3 hours = 156 hours, resulting in 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, your progress is paused not reset.
WIP + Locum Work = A Powerful Combination
For many Locum GPs, WIP can become:
✅ a substantial secondary income stream
✅ an incentive to explore rural Australia
✅ a way to increase flexibility and earning potential
Final Takeaway
If you are already working rural locums OR considering MM3–7 work it is absolutely worth understanding your WIP eligibility.
Always confirm your individual eligibility with Services Australia or your accountant/advisor.
Many doctors are surprised to learn they may qualify for thousands, or even tens of thousands, in additional annual payments.
To find out more about WIP and what job opportunities are available in suitable locations, please contact DXC Medical’s Locum Specialist, Amy Sullivan.
Amy Sullivan
Senior Consultant
National Locum GP & Rural Generalist Division
0416 370 196
amy.sullivan@dxcmedical.com.au
Dr Rotimi completed his medical training in Nigeria before relocating to Australia, where he successfully completed the required examinations to practise locally. His international training has provided a strong clinical foundation and a broad perspective, which has translated well into working across a range of Australian healthcare settings.
For many doctors, locum work is a temporary solution. For others, it becomes a powerful way to explore medicine, communities, and the country itself. For Dr Shoaib, locum life evolved into an experience that shaped his approach to general practice in Australia.
