The association this week released a five-point plan about rural workforce initiatives, with the aim of encouraging more doctors to work in rural and remote Australia.

The plan – which outlines five key areas where governments and other stakeholders should focus their policies – includes a requirement that at least a third of all new medical students should be from rural backgrounds.

The blueprint also outlines education and training initiatives, the need for flexible work arrangements, financial incentives, and education and employment opportunities for doctors’ families.

Association president Michael Gannon said the country did not need more medical schools and medical study places, but targeted initiatives to increase medical, nursing and allied health workforces in rural areas.

“There has been a considerable increase in the number of medical graduates in recent years, but more than three quarters of locally-trained graduates live in capital cities,” he said.

“International medical graduates make up more than 40 per cent of the rural medical workforce and while they do excellent work, we must reduce this reliance and build a more sustainable system.

“Fixing rural medical workforce shortages requires a holistic approach that takes into account not only the needs of the doctor, but also their immediate family members.

“Many doctors who work in rural areas find the medicine to be very rewarding, but their partner might not be able to find suitable employment, and educational opportunities for their children might be limited.”