[2020 entry and beyond] Guide to Bonded Medical Places

[dotwingz]

This is explained in Crows post on the first page.

 

[Sokka]

Previously not iirc, the new BMP does allow FIFO.

Isn’t this a better option as it gives u the flexibility of working in both rural and urban settings? (You wouldn’t be tied down in a rural area for your career)?

 

[Hulk123]

rst

This is explained in Crows post on the first page.

Yeah sorry I misinterpreted their tone on the Vic health website hahaha, thanks! Thought when they said you can do 1.5 years pre fellowship it was used an example.

let’s say I get a bonded contract in Monash, does that mean I’m bound to do the bonded contract in Victoria or can I practice in a rural area in another state?

 

[dotwingz]

Not to sound like an asshole, but this is answered on the first post of the second page of this thread...

 

[Hulk123]

Not to sound like an asshole, but this is answered on the first post of the second page of this thread...

Lmao okay sorry my bad, thank you!

 

[bigyikes]

I am a part of the new scheme, its alot more flexible and is a welcome change... but it still suffers the inherent flaw in the idea. Youre right, these places are MMM2-7 for now... its only a matter of time before these places go up a few ranks and will no longer count (although we will probably be fine).

Also just wanted to mention I'm pretty sure this isn't true, the bonded area requirements are based on the year you enter into the program - i.e. areas that were MMM2-7 in 2020 are the areas you can complete your RoS, even if they are no longer MMM2+ when you start working there

 

[dotwingz]

Yes actually, you are right. Thats a good point

 

[Crow]

Isn’t this a better option as it gives u the flexibility of working in both rural and urban settings? (You wouldn’t be tied down in a rural area for your career)?

It might be better for you but the ROS isn't about you (I don't mean you specifically here by the way!), it's about addressing workforce maldistribution issues. For time to count towards your bond you need to be working full time for a minimum of 3 months in a DWS area. If you're only there for half the week then this wouldn't meet the requirements.

 

[jayson]

“If you choose not to complete all of the obligations under your BMP Deed of Agreement, you will breach the Agreement. You will be required to repay a portion of the Commonwealth’s contribution amount for the years that you were at university.”
So how much should you repay?People say it is about 300k.Is this true? I could not believe there are more than 95% participants breach agreement and repay.

 

[dotwingz]

https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-st-bmp-recovery-course-funding-amount

Its more like 18k for every year in medical school. Personally I’m not aware of any 16 year medical programs that would make the cost $300k

ETA: Also the 95% is the older, longer, and less flexible scheme. I think the numbers should be a less in this new scheme.

 

[Tomato]

If you are a BMP, can you do the RoS in either the MMM2-7 (which may not be the DWS) or the DWS areas? Some specialty positions seem in the urban regions according to the "RoS map". Is that true?

 

[dande]

Is it possible that by the time one were to finish medical school the buyout clause would be removed and hence you are forced to work rural even if you have changed your mind?

Its more like 18k for every year in medical school.

and also this adds to 90000$ overall which is different to the 115000$ figure I saw earlier. which one would be more accurate?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Is it possible that by the time one were to finish medical school the buyout clause would be removed and hence you are forced to work rural even if you have changed your mind?


and also this adds to 90000$ overall which is different to the 115000$ figure I saw earlier. which one would be more accurate?

No, you will sign the contract this year. The details of the contract will be set from that point. Changes of that nature would require the Government to breach the contract, which they wouldn’t do because of the legal mess it would create for them.

Those accepting Griffith and USC offers, where bonded status is not determined until the completion of the undergrad degree, are the only 2021 entry students who could have a different set of contract rules applied. I don’t think we’ve ever confirmed how this works with any degree of certainty.

 

[chinaski]

No, you will sign the contract this year. The details of the contract will be set from that point. Changes of that nature would require the Government to breach the contract, which they wouldn’t do because of the legal mess it would create for them.

That said, this is why you should seek legal advice before committing to a contract. This is not about a "buy out clause" - it's a penalty for breaching the terms of contractual agreement. However, some contracts may have fine print about penalties or conditions changing over the course of the agreement, which is why you need to read it over and have someone show you what is set from the point of signing and what (if anything) has potential to change.

 

[A1]

Those accepting Griffith and USC offers, where bonded status is not determined until the completion of the undergrad degree, are the only 2021 entry students who could have a different set of contract rules applied. I don’t think we’ve ever confirmed how this works with any degree of certainty.

Not only Griffith & SC but all provisional offers too, they will sign the BMP contract before starting MD in 2-3 years time which could change again by then.

A guy at my high school got UWA BMP the year after me when the RoS was 1 year. When he was due to sign it had changed to 3 years. He argued that he accepted the BMP on the understanding of 1 year RoS at the time, I haven't asked him what the outcome was.

On the flip side, when the RoS changed from 4-6 years to 1 year the gov made it effective immediately for the provisionals who had accepted earlier on the basis of 4-6 years.

 

[dotwingz]

and also this adds to 90000$ overall which is different to the 115000$ figure I saw earlier. which one would be more accurate?

Where’s the 115k figure you saw? Obviously the primary source government website is going to be more accurate than that. If you were to do a 6 year degree it would be about 110k

If you actually read the page i linked you could see exactly how much it would of cost (although the page needs updating)

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Not only Griffith & SC but all provisional offers too, they will sign the BMP contract before starting MD in 2-3 years time which could change again by then.

A guy at my high school got UWA BMP the year after me when the RoS was 1 year. When he was due to sign it had changed to 3 years. He argued that he accepted the BMP on the understanding of 1 year RoS at the time, I haven't asked him what the outcome was.

On the flip side, when the RoS changed from 4-6 years to 1 year the gov made it effective immediately for the provisionals who had accepted earlier on the basis of 4-6 years.

Yeah, good point about the other provisionals. I didn’t realise they don’t sign now, but that makes sense. dotwingz have you had any correspondence?

Re. ‘The flip side’, it would definitely be easier for the government to make favourable to the doctor changes as legal challenges would be highly unlikely. That said, I seem to recall official documents stating that there were people who still fell under multiple iterations of the contract and that’s why they tend to use sweeping statements about years involved (ie. 1-6). A friend of mine had a 6 year BMP back in the day and had to return service on the whole 6 years despite changes that occurred for new students.

 

[A1]

Re. ‘The flip side’, it would definitely be easier for the government to make favourable to the doctor changes as legal challenges would be highly unlikely. That said, I seem to recall official documents stating that there were people who still fell under multiple iterations of the contract and that’s why they tend to use sweeping statements about years involved (ie. 1-6). A friend of mine had a 6 year BMP back in the day and had to return service on the whole 6 years despite changes that occurred for new students.

Yes, anyone who signed the BMP contract when it was 4-6 years will still have to serve 4-6 years. The flip side I mentioned refers only to the time gap between accepting a BMP *provisional* offer (1 year RoS at the time for my friend) and signing the BMP contract (RoS changed to 3 years). Or 4-6 years changed to 1 year for some earlier provisional offers.

 

[dotwingz]

I’m a bonded provisional and haven’t signed my deed. They said on orientation that it would be sorted out when we actually matriculate

 

[DrDrLMG!]

I’m a bonded provisional and haven’t signed my deed. They said on orientation that it would be sorted out when we actually matriculate

But did they give you any indication of whether you’d be tied to 2020 rules as per what @A1’s mate (apparently incorrectly) assumed or (currently unknown) 2023 rules?