Ten year moratorium
Doctors who gained their medical qualification overseas or enrolled in a degree in Australia or New Zealand as a temporary resident, are affected by the ten-year moratorium, as per section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act).
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About the ten year moratorium
Doctors who obtained their medical qualification overseas or were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time they enrolled a degree in Australia are affected by section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973, also known as the ten-year moratorium.
Under this legislation, these doctors will only be issued a Medicare provider number if they work in a priority area for ten years from the date of medical registration to access Medicare benefits.
Important points about the moratorium
The ten year moratorium starts from the first day of your medical registration in Australia.
If you are affected by the moratorium, you can only apply to train under the rural pathway on the AGPT program. Both RACGP and ACRRM offer rural pathway training.
Doctors on the rural pathway are required to undertake their GP term training in rural areas classified as MMM2-7.
Doctors can apply for an exemption to the Department of Health.
Moratorium time can be reduced depending on where you train/work
FAQs
Doctors affected by the moratorium are only eligible to train on the rural pathway and will undertake their GP term training in rural areas classified as MMM2-7. Both the RACGP and ACRRM offer rural pathway training on the AGPT program.
For a map of MMM2-7 locations, see the Doctor Connect website. You can also visit our subregion pages for a list of training practices and locations and their MMM classification.
Applications for an exemption can be made to the Department of Health. For more information visit the Department of Health website.
Transfers are only considered for circumstances that are unforeseen and extraordinary. Registrars that have received an exemption or completed their moratorium are not automatically considered for a transfer and will need to meet transfer criteria as specified in the AGPT Transfer Policy.
You may be able to reduce your moratorium time depending on where you work/train. Please see the Department of Health website for more information.