Frequently Asked Questions – PGPPP
How long do placements go for?
Placements generally go for a hospital term consisting of 10 – 13 weeks. Preference is given to doctors not already on the GP Training Program.
Am I in the community or practice on my own?
No, all placements must be in a fully accredited training practice with an accredited GP supervisor. Supervision must be available on site at all times.
What are my working hours while on placement?
In most Aboriginal Health Services, you will work a normal 8am to 5pm day with an hour for lunch. Some of the private practices may include after hours or weekend work. Your working hours must not exceed 38 hours per week. After hours on call is not allowed at any time.
How do I get paid?
You remain an employee of the hospital during your placement. All Medicare income earned during your placement goes back to the clinic you are working for.
Can I take leave during the program?
Placements must be for a minimum of 10 weeks duration in the community. If your placement is 11 – 13 weeks then a week’s leave may be taken. All leave must be approved prior to the commencement of the placement by your feeder hospital and forwarded to NTGPE. The cost of any travel for leave purposes is the responsibility of the program participant and will not be reimbursed by NTGPE under any circumstance unless the leave is for an emergency.
How do I get to my community?
All travel is paid for while you are on a placement including flights to and from Darwin and the community. NTGPE will organize all of this for you. You will travel to Darwin on a commercial flight and then via bus, charter or small commercial airline and clinic cars to get to the remote communities. In the event that you want to change your flights for personal reasons this will be at your own cost and will not be reimbursed by NTGPE.
Where do I live while on my placement?
Fully self contained accommodation is supplied to you free of charge. Most of the time you will be living on your own, but there may be some circumstances when you may have to share when community accommodation is full. NTGPE has purpose built accommodation to house medical students, prevocational doctors and in rare instances, GP Registrars.
Will I have a vehicle for private use while on my placement?
In most communities you will not have a car for personal use. You may be able to arrange this if they have a vehicle that is not being used. There are some communities that have made arrangements for junior doctors to have the use of a vehicle after hours.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, however this also depends on the type of accommodation available. We can arrange for them to come for the entire placement or part of it depending on your requirements. This cost of the travel will be at your expense. It is also worth noting that many communities only have primary schools that teach in English as a second language. Many schools in Aboriginal communities will not accept non-Indigenous students. At times, there may also be cultural ceremonies that may prevent non essential people coming to the community – we do need to seek approval from the community. In the event that the accommodation is shared with other program participants, family will not be able to stay in that accommodation and alternative accommodation will be at your own expense.
How do I apply?
To apply you need to complete an application form, and your hospital must notify us of the term you will be released to do your placement. Once we have confirmation, we will discuss with you the placement locations and send out the placement paperwork. This must be returned within 14 days of the offer.
What happens if I don’t like it when I get out to the community?
Our aim is to make sure you have the best possible experience. Things can go wrong and we would discuss your options if you really dislike your placement. Options would be to come back into Darwin or Alice Springs to a more supported environment, or return to your hospital.
Is there anything I have to read before I go out on my placement?
NTGPE will provide you with 3 days of orientation in our Darwin office before you head out to the community. This orientation includes cultural and medical topics, Medicare, Aboriginal Health Services, how your placement will work and a formative assessment. We also provide you with copies of key text books that are used in Aboriginal Health Services. This is a mandatory component of the program. We request that no time be taken off during this period.
Is there anything else I need to know about my placement?
During your placement, you will be required to call in to the weekly teleconference for junior doctors on placement. This teleconference is run by one of NTGPE’s medical educators and goes through a range of topics over the course of the term. This is a mandatory component of each placement and is designed not only as a learning tool, but as a chance to share your experience with your peers and ask questions on new experiences. Our cultural educators also attend this meeting so it is a fantastic opportunity to gain knowledge through them.
What do I do at the end of my placement?
All participants are bought back into Darwin at the end of their placement for a debrief session. This gives NTGPE a chance to discuss the placement and any issues that you may have had while on placement. We talk about what worked and what didn’t. The cultural educator will talk to you about the cultural aspects of your stay in the community. We will also do another formative assessment. This is a mandatory component of the program and we ask that you do not make travel arrangements or appointments on that day without seeking prior approval from NTGPE. In the event you do not attend the debrief, your hospital will be notified and a leave form will be required by NTGPE.
How do I know if I am eligible?
All Australian trained doctors are eligible for the program. If you are already on a training program, you can still do a placement as long as you are doing hospital terms. International Medical Graduates must have passed both parts of their AMC exams and have unconditional registration to be eligible.
For further information, please contact the NTGPE Education Coordination Assistant on 08 8946 7015 or email education@ntgpe.org
