[2020 entry and beyond] Guide to Bonded Medical Places

[brownpanda69]

What do you mean paying back tuition? It is the same for BMP and CSP students through the HECS system, if that’s what you mean?

As in, if I decide that I do not wish to continue medicine while pursuing the degree, do I need to pay back tuition under the BMP scheme or are course fees under HECS regardless? Thanks

 

[Crow]

As in, if I decide that I do not wish to continue medicine while pursuing the degree, do I need to pay back tuition under the BMP scheme or are course fees under HECS regardless? Thanks

It’s the same as any other degree - any HECS debt that you’ve accumulated, you’ll need to pay back. You won’t owe money separately because you had a BMP or anything like that, if that’s what you are concerned about?

 

[A1]

It’s the same as any other degree - any HECS debt that you’ve accumulated, you’ll need to pay back. You won’t owe money separately because you had a BMP or anything like that, if that’s what you are concerned about?

Under BMP if you graduate med then fail to complete the RoS, on top of the HECS debt you also have to pay back the gov subsidy which is around $18k per year of med studies. I guess Panda69's concern relates to this, but I think we already found info that if you do not graduate the payback penalty won't apply.

 

[brownpanda69]

Under BMP if you graduate med then fail to complete the RoS, on top of the HECS debt you also have to pay back the gov subsidy which is around $18k per year of med studies. I guess Panda69's concern relates to this, but I think we already found info that if you do not graduate the payback penalty won't apply.

Thanks for your helpful reply!
One of the specialties I'm considering is neonatology (although I know specialties shouldn't be decided upon before / during med school) and the NICUs that exist are not in regional / rural areas. Does this mean that I have to choose a different specialty should I wish to pick neonatology?

 

[Crow]

Thanks for your helpful reply!
One of the specialties I'm considering is neonatology (although I know specialties shouldn't be decided upon before / during med school) and the NICUs that exist are not in regional / rural areas. Does this mean that I have to choose a different specialty should I wish to pick neonatology?

I’d recommend reading through this thread before asking more questions - this has been discussed already.

 

[Oorja Verma]

Hi All,

Have heard a lot about Bonded Medical Programme (BMP). I am a bit confused whether this is a choice I need to make at the time of application of after securing admission to Medicine? I wrote to the department of Health who coordinate the programmme and they said -
" Please liaise with the participating university and advise them should you wish to receive a place via Bonded Program"
I have contacted a few universities but their response is ambiguous and they asked me to contact the Department of Health. So basically going round in circles.

My question is simple - Do I need to do anything at the time of submitting applications to universities or is it something that has to be decided after admissions?

Thanks

 

[A1]

My question is simple - Do I need to do anything at the time of submitting applications to universities or is it something that has to be decided after admissions?

Some TACs provide you with two course codes, for example one for Adelaide unbonded one for Adelaide bonded. If you are willing to accept a bonded offer put both codes into your SATAC pref list.

UAC provides only one code for each of UNSW JMP WSU. Then in the supplemental applications to UNSW & JMP you tick a box Yes for bonded. WSU I think doesn't ask you this, if you only qualify for bonded they offer to you anyway and if you don't want it you can decline the offer.

Griffith offers don't specify unbonded/bonded. It's decided when you complete the two-year undergrad degree before starting MD.

 

[ucatboy]

Hi All,

Have heard a lot about Bonded Medical Programme (BMP). I am a bit confused whether this is a choice I need to make at the time of application of after securing admission to Medicine? I wrote to the department of Health who coordinate the programmme and they said -
" Please liaise with the participating university and advise them should you wish to receive a place via Bonded Program"
I have contacted a few universities but their response is ambiguous and they asked me to contact the Department of Health. So basically going round in circles.

My question is simple - Do I need to do anything at the time of submitting applications to universities or is it something that has to be decided after admissions?

Thanks

Some unis have different course codes for bonded and unbonded spots, some unis ask you to tick a box in their application to let them know that you would take a bonded spot if you were eligible for one, and others simply don't differentiate: if you're in the top 70% of place offers, you get unbonded, if you're in the bottom of 30%, you get bonded.

Edit: dammit A1 you beat me!

 

[greenespeon]

Does ticking the box that I'd accept a bonded spot increase my chances of getting a spot in a med program?

 

[Crow]

Does ticking the box that I'd accept a bonded spot increase my chances of getting a spot in a med program?

Yes

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Does ticking the box that I'd accept a bonded spot increase my chances of getting a spot in a med program?

~28.5% of Commonwealth supported places in Med are BMPs. If you say no to considering a BMP, then you’re opting out of over a quarter of all places on offer.

ETA: obviously you can still do that, and it’s important to understand exactly what a BMP entails and whether that’s something you’d be interested in, but long story short, I’ll quote Crow: “Yes.”

 

[honeybunsugar]

Hello, in selecting an expression of interest for a bonded medical place, would you also be considered for a non-bonded place as well?

 

[Crow]

Hello, in selecting an expression of interest for a bonded medical place, would you also be considered for a non-bonded place as well?

Yes!

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hello, in selecting an expression of interest for a bonded medical place, would you also be considered for a non-bonded place as well?

Just note that some unis (UAdel, off the top of my head, and also UTAS seem to flip flop on this a bit) need you to formally apply for both the bonded and unbonded when you do your preferences. This has tripped people up before, so make sure you do both when it's necessary.

 

[YeahTrueHey]

Just note that some unis (UAdel, off the top of my head, and also UTAS seem to flip flop on this a bit) need you to formally apply for both the bonded and unbonded when you do your preferences. This has tripped people up before, so make sure you do both when it's necessary.

Do you know where to find the bonded code for UTas since I can only seem to find on online.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Do you know where to find the bonded code for UTas since I can only seem to find on online.

As I said, they flip flop a bit (year to year) on whether this is needed. If you can’t find it, it might be because it’s not necessary to apply to both.

 

[Jake.01]

Hey guys,

I am most probably going to be receiving a BMP offer for Griffith Med (am second year B.medsci).

While I'm still extremely grateful to have an opportunity to study med, I was wondering if anyone has any experience serving their ROS that they could share with working in rural hospitals and the possible impact on career progression/networking (though I am aware that the current graduated med students only have a ROS of 1 year compared to the relatively new 3 years introduced)?

Additionally, as the new ROS states that only 18 months of work before specialisation will count for ROS (unless you don't specialise), would you guys recommend getting those 18 months out of the way as an intern and junior medical doctor and then complete the rest of the 18 months after specialised? Or would it be more advisable to build connections in metro hospitals and complete the 3 years ROS once specialised and with a (more) established network?

Thanks heaps!

 

[chinaski]

Get as much ROS done as possible before you complete your post-graduate training. This probably isn't hard to achieve, given that junior medical officers are routinely seconded to rural hospitals as a part of their contractual obligations.

 

[Jake.01]

Get as much ROS done as possible before you complete your post-graduate training. This probably isn't hard to achieve, given that junior medical officers are routinely seconded to rural hospitals as a part of their contractual obligations.

Thanks chinaski for your reply!

Would it be more difficult for someone to come back to a metro area after internship and JMO in rural locations? would it perhaps be a better idea to do internship metro and then do the 18 months during PGY2and3? (so you have affiliation with hospitals/doctors in metro locations for once you can return back)

 

[chinaski]

Depends on the training program you wish to enter. Rural connections aren't necessarily that huge a stumbling block when applying for training positions, but you might want to apply as soon as PGY2 so that's something to consider. It's also important to bear in mind that you won't be remembered that much as an intern. There's a rapid turnover of PGY1 doctors, so it's not really essential that you get out an hustle and "make affiliations" ASAP. I honestly wouldn't remember who we had as an intern 12 months ago unless you reminded me (and even then, my recollection might be vague).

Look at the secondments available in metro-based PGY1 and 2 jobs. You can probably knock over some time on secondments from your urban hub.