Distribution Priority Areas and How They Are Determined.

We get a lot of clinics asking us why their area is a not DPA when their clinics need doctors so badly. In short, it’s because the government takes the need of an area as a whole, not individual clinics or even suburbs. 

What is DPA

Distribution Priority Area (DPA) identifies areas where people don’t have enough access to doctors, based on the needs of the community.

How Are DPA Locations Determined?

The DPA system takes into account gender and age demographics, and the socio-economic status of patients living in an area. It also compares the Medicare billings of active Medicare Provider Numbers against population numbers. 

An area is automatically classified as DPA when it is: 

• classified under the Modified Monash Model as MM 5, 6 or 7 
• in the Northern Territory

Other areas are classified as DPA when the level of health services for the population does not meet a service benchmark.

The average level of health services under MM 2 is the benchmark for international medical graduates.

It goes the other way too- some practices in DPA areas are having to turn patients away but the consideration is that other practices in the area have the capacity to take in new patients. 

DO YOU NEED HELP? 

Our team offer General Practitioners assistance with finding jobs and a career pathway, and Medical Facilities to find a new Medical Practitioner. We also help with the full application process with AHPRA, RACGP, ACRRM, Department of Health, Medicare including 19AA & 19AB. If we can help, please contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au. 

People Medical Consulting are a team of professionals with a passion for guiding those specialising in the Medical industry to find their career pathway and settle into Australia. Working with both Australian trained and Overseas trained professionals, we have extensive experience in Recruitment of General Practitioners and Document Assistance for those requiring support with RACGP, AHPRA, 19AA and 19AB Medicare Exemptions.