What is different about BMP students is that they have agreed to work for a period of time equal to the

length of their degree in a District of Workforce Shortage.

What is the Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme?

The Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme offers students a greater chance of entry into medical school by providing funding to universities for over 600 additional medical school places each year. These extra places are intended to provide more doctors for areas of doctor shortage. By accepting a Bonded Medical Place, students agree to work in a District of Workforce Shortage of their choice for a period equal to the length of their degree upon completion of their medical studies. Districts of Workforce Shortage are located in outer metropolitan areas of the capital cities, regional and rural Australia.

What is a District of Workforce Shortage?

Districts of Workforce Shortage are regional, rural or remote areas and outer metropolitan areas in capital cities that are experiencing doctor shortages.

Bonded Medical Places Scheme

If you would like to find out more about the BMP Scheme please visit

YOU choose where to work

General Practitioners Many outer metropolitan areas in the capital cities and most rural and regional areas are Districts of Workforce Shortage for general practitioners. If you decide to work as a general practitioner, you will be able to choose to work within any of these areas. Specialists If you decide to take up a specialty, then you may work anywhere outside the capital cities. If you wish to work in a capital city, you will need to work in that part of the capital city that has a shortage of the specialty you choose. To gain an idea of the areas currently defined as a District of Workforce Shortage go to the BMP web site www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme

www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme
Or if you have any further questions please email BMPScheme@health.gov.au or phone 1800 987 104 (freecall)

Are you interested in studying medicine?

Consider applying for a Bonded Medical Place

What will it mean for me?

All Australian medical schools providing publicly funded medical degrees enrol a number of BMP Scheme students each year. Medicine is a highly competitive field of study and as a BMP Scheme student you are selected through the same competitive process. On completion of your degree you will choose which specialty you will pursue. There is no scholarship attached to the scheme and you will have a HECS-HELP debt.

P3-2566 (0709)

How do I apply for a BMP Scheme Place?

All Australian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for a BMP Scheme place. To receive a Bonded Medical Place, you first need to apply to study medicine through the normal process. Universities manage the application and selection process for the BMP Scheme. If a university offers you a bonded medical place, and you accept, this arrangement will be formalised in a written Deed of Agreement between you and the Australian Government. The admission process differs at each university, so you should contact the university of your choice directly for more information on the application process. A list of university contact details is available at the BMP web site www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme

Options available under the scheme

OPTIONS TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE RETURN OF SERVICE
You can now elect to start completing up to half of your return of service during your pre-vocational training, or vocational training. Pre-vocational training completed anywhere outside the inner metropolitan areas of RRMA 1 can be counted towards the return of service. Vocational training completed in a District of Workforce Shortage for either specialists or GPs can count towards the return of service.

Summary
CAN I APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP AS WELL AS THE BMP SCHEME?
Yes. Accepting a BMP Scheme place does not exclude you from applying for scholarships and other financial assistance including the HECS Reimbursement Scheme. More information on some of these scholarships, particularly those available from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, is available at the BMP Scheme web site www.health.gov.au/bmpscheme The Bonded Medical Places Scheme:
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Provides over 600 additional commencing medical places each year, across all existing medical schools. Includes a support scheme that provides funded attendance at health conferences, mentoring and networking opportunities. Involves signing a legal Deed of Agreement agreeing to work for a period of time equal to the length of your degree in an area where there is a medical workforce shortage. You can complete up to half of the return of service while undertaking either pre-vocational training, or vocational training in a District of Workforce Shortage. Allows exibility you can choose where you want to work within Districts of Workforce Shortage, with options if circumstances change. Opportunity for continuity tenure provides the ability to remain in the same location while undertaking your vocational training and completing your return of service.

WHAT IF MY CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE?

Generally, you are required to commence work in a District of Workforce Shortage as soon as you finish your training. However, you can defer this if you need to take time to have a family, undertake postgraduate study overseas, or in other special circumstances.

IS THERE AN OPTION FOR PART-TIME WORK?

Yes, the BMP Scheme allows part-time work. During the return of service period you are required to work a minimum of only 20 hours per week for at least nine months of each year.
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BMP Student Support Scheme

The support scheme enables BMP students to access online medical educational resources, newsletters and mentoring opportunities. It also funds students to attend national conferences of key health and medical associations.

CAN I CHOOSE WHERE I WORK?

Yes, as long as you choose an area that is a District of Workforce Shortage for your chosen specialty.

CAN I REMAIN IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR THE DURATION OF MY VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND MY RETURN OF SERVICE?
Yes, if you apply for, and are granted tenure. This means that if you undertook your vocational training in a District of Workforce Shortage, you can remain in the same location to complete your return of service, even if that location later ceases to be a District of Workforce Shortage.

Who is Eligible
To be eligible, students must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are entering the first year of a medical course. If you are a New Zealand citizen, you will require an Australian Permanent Resident Visa to be eligible for the BMP Scheme.