GP/VMO - Bicheno Health & Medical Centre

Bicheno Health & Medical Centre

If your ideal commute to work involves a spot of whale watching or a stroll along a white sandy beach with azure waters lapping at your feet, then you can’t go past this magnificent East Coast Tasmania location. As a GP/VMO you will be committed and hard-working, but the rewards will be well worth it.

The Position

Bicheno Health & Medical Centre at Bicheno is operated by Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, which also operates a practice at Triabunna, to the south. The two practices work in very successfully with the practice at Swansea (which sits in the middle) to cover the VMO roster at May Shaw Health Centre in Swansea, which operates a range of services, including A&E, aged care and community health facilities. The hospital has 2 acute care beds, 2 high care beds and 50 aged care beds.

Due to the impending departure of one of the two doctors from the Bicheno practice in December 2020, Council is looking for a GP/VMO with current emergency qualifications (preferably vocationally recognised) to join the practice. Council is flexible as to how this would work and is open to the position being filled by either a full-time or two part-time doctors.

You must have recent emergency experience and be able to work independently. You will be required to work Monday to Friday and participate in the weekend VMO roster (currently 1:4). Weeknight on-call is minimal and is triaged by After Hours Doctors. There are no weekend clinics or nursing home visits at Bicheno, however you will be required to conduct the weekend clinics at Swansea when on call for the weekend.

The Organisation

Located just north of the world-renowned Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast of Tasmania, Bicheno has a population of around 950. Less than 2.5 hours’ drive from either Hobart or Launceston, the popular tourist town is known for its beautiful beaches, outdoor lifestyle (including some of the best diving spots in Australia), fairy penguins and whale watching. Superb seafood awaits you, with crayfish, abalone and fresh fish coming in regularly on the local fishing trawlers.

Bicheno Health & Medical Centre is owned by Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, which is responsible for the employment and management of the nursing and reception staff at the practice. The new doctor will be engaged as an independent contractor.

You will work alongside another doctor three days per week, plus the practice hosts University of Tasmania medical students. The practice is supported by a registered nurse three days per week along with a practice manager, receptionist and visiting allied health professionals. The ambulance is located in Bicheno and has a fulltime paramedic supported by local volunteers.

There are two consulting rooms and a well-equipped procedure room. Operating a mixed billing model, the practice is fully computerised using Best Practice and maintains QPA accreditation. The practice hours are 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday with the doors closed from 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm and appointments are 15 minutes long.

What's on offer?

• Excellent earnings potential and other benefits, including:
• 75% of billings for a VR doctor, 70% for non-VR
• Rural Medical Practitioner payments
• Workforce Incentive Payments ($16,000 after 1 year increasing to $35,000 per annum after 5 years ongoing)
• Eligibility for Rural Procedural Grants Program
• $10,000 incentive grant from HR+
• Eligible location for the HR+ Health Workforce Scholarship Program, which offers generous funding for health professionals looking to extend the skills and services they can offer their community
• Reduction in your moratorium (to 4 years by participation in the Five Year Scheme)
• Eligible location for RACGP PEP, RVTS and ACRRM IP
• HR+, in conjunction with the practice, will organise a comprehensive orientation program on arrival, tailored to your needs

Application Instructions

Please contact Fran Robinson at HR+ for more information frobinson@hrplustas.com.au or apply now.