Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Support Scheme

The Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Support Scheme is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and managed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), and provides support, communication and networking mechanisms for BMP Students.

The BMP Support Scheme will:

• Provide BMP Scheme participants with the opportunity to attend conferences and seminars regarding health issues, particularly relating to practising in rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas;
• Provide professional, web-based mentoring for BMP Scheme participants;
• Provide BMP Scheme participants with information through regular newsletters and a dedicated website;
• Provide BMP Scheme participants with networking opportunities; and
• Provide support programs for BMP Scheme participants who have completed their university studies.

The BMP Support Scheme enables student participants to view a database of conferences available via the ACRRM BMP Support Scheme website.

Scholars can access online medical education resources via ACRRM's RRMEO online learning platform, participate in secure discussion forums, and access information on outer metropolitan, rural, and regional area placements. The program also provides information on career pathways to rural generalist and specialist medical practice, support schemes, outer metropolitan, rural, and regional medical education resources, clinical discussion forums, and an electronic learning planner.

Included in the program are the e-mentoring forums via the BMP Virtual Community on RRMEO, which can be accessed through the ACRRM website. And don't forget the BSP Newsletter which contains interesting articles on rural, regional and outer metropolitan medicine and education, and stories from fellow BMP students on conferences, placements and travel experiences.

National Conference Program

BMP Student Support Scheme Pilot participants are provided with a national conference program, to attend interesting and informative presentations on medical education and training, and medical practice. Contact Sean Hipkins for further information about the conferences. 

Selection Criteria & Appeals

1.      Student attendance and selection criteria

1.1.     Policy

·          Applications are open to Junior Doctors and final year medical students (e.g. Year 5 & 6 of a six year program, Year 3 & 4 of a four year program.

·          Preference will be given to BMP participants who have not previously received support to attend a conference/event.

·          Preference will initially be made to junior doctors followed by final year medical students.

·          A maximum of three events per BMP participant per year will form the general policy for attendance.  However, BMP participants who have been to one or more conferences/events may not be offered subsequent opportunities should BMP conference allocations be oversubscribed.

·          A reasonable proportionate allocation of opportunities to attend conferences will be made across States and medical schools where numbers are larger than the allocation.

·          Allocation will reflect principles of gender equity where possible.

·          BMP participants must have completed one rotation in the relevant specialty area before applying for a place at a fellows meeting of a specialist college (e.g. RACS, RANZCOG, ACEM etc).

·          A ballot system to be used in cases where applicants have equivalent standing in terms of the preference criteria and when there is an oversubscription for conference/event places.

1.2.     Appeals

·          Applicants may appeal only on the grounds of lack of fairness.

·          Applicants are required to submit their appeal in writing to ACRRM within 21 days of the date of notification that they were unsuccessful, stating the reasons why they consider the decision to be unfair.

·          ACRRM will organise for the appeal to be reviewed and assessed by the Chair of the BSP National Advisory Committee and the Department of Health and Ageing.

Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

District of Workforce Shortage search

http://www9.health.gov.au/dws/cf/

BMP Scheme

http://www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme

Important Links

Click link to see links to other important medical organisations, student groups and training bodies.

Want to know more?

If you’re interested in joining the BMP Support Scheme , contact:

Sean Hipkins 
Program Co-ordinator Bonded Support Programs
Phone: 07 3105 8200 / Fax: 07 3105 8299
Email: bmpsupportacrrm [dot] org [dot] au
Postal Address: GPO Box 2507, Brisbane QLD 4001
Web: www.acrrm.org.au / www.rrmeo.com.au