Do you want to work rurally in NSW?

Rural Preferential Recruitment (RPR) is a preferential recruitment process for final year medical graduates who wish to work in rural sites across NSW.

RPR occurs prior to the main allocation round and those who are not successful in the RPR process are still eligible to gain an allocation through the main round.

Those that accept a position through the RPR scheme will not be eligible for an allocation through the main round

How do I apply?

You must apply directly to the rural site of your choice through ‘HealthJobs’ on the NSW Department of Health website. Applications will be culled and interviews will be offered.

Offers of employment are made via NSW IMET and are sent out electronically. Up to three rounds of offers are made if necessary.

Recruitment will be undertaken in line with the guidelines outlined by NSW IMET and NSW Health recruitment policies, (please refer to the NSW Health website for recruitment and employment policies).

Who is eligible to apply?

All graduates of Australian and New Zealand medical schools are eligible to apply for Rural Preferential Recruitment, regardless of their residency status in Australia.

At present AMC Graduates are not eligible to apply for Rural Preferential Recruitment.

Any positions not filled in rural hospitals as part of the Rural Preferential Recruitment process will be filled as part of the main allocation to hospital networks.

What else do I need to know about RPR?

Things you should know about the RPR Scheme:

• If you apply for RPR you must also apply for allocation.  If you do not you will not be considered for a position through the RPR scheme:
• You may apply to as many rural hospitals as you wish and may receive multiple offers of employment
• You can decline a position, however you then risk not being offered another position through RPR
• If you are not offered a position or decline all positions that are offered, you will still be eligible to go in the main allocation round
• Once you accept a position, you will not be offered an additional position and your application will be withdrawn from the main allocation round
• You are not eligible to swap networks if you accept a RPR position
• You must spend the majority of your PGY1 and PGY2 terms at the hospital to which you were recruited
  RPR positions are still within prevocational training networks.  Therefore you should still expect to undertake a rotation or two throughout the network
• You should note that if you are an RPR applicant and accept a position at a three term home hospital, you must undertake two rotations outside of that hospital within the network in which you are employed since the hospital is only accredited to employ you for three terms.

Which hospitals are participating in the Rural Preferential Recruitment Scheme?

Rural hospitals are invited to participate in the RPR scheme at the commencement of each year. The hospitals participating in the RPR scheme for the 2010 clinical year are listed below. Click on each hospital for more information.

Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital

Orange Base Hospital

Dubbo Base Hospital

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital

Manning Base Hospital

Albury Base Hospital

The Maitland Hospital

Lismore Base Hospital

The Tweed Hospital

Coffs Harbour Health Campus

Port Macquarie Base Hospital

Calvary Mater Newcastle

Rural Prefential Recruitment Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here for a handy FAQ sheet that you could use for further guidance around the RPR process.