RWAV's Programs and Services are delivered in three streams: Support; Supply and Professional Development.

Support Programs

Support programs aim to support sustainable rural General Practice through the provision of a range of support programs and incentives for GPs. These include:

Locum Programs
RWAV provides Locum Subsidy Programs for solo GPs and GPs in group practices in remote areas., as well as funding to Divisions of General Practice to deliver locum programs. There is also a Central Locum Register to place short-term locums.

GP and Family Support Programs
RWAV provides a GP Placement Subsidy to support GPs relocating to a rural area. Also flexible Payments Programs as part of the Rural Retention grants, to retain long serving rural GPs and financial assistance to the Rural Medical Family Network to provide support to GP spouse and families.

Sustainable Models Programs
Sustainable Models seeding grants to develop a sustainable model of General Practice in towns or communities that can barely sustain a GP or are at risk of losing their GP Sustainable Projects funds to support further research and development in relation to Aboriginal Medical Service workforce shortage, recruitment and retention of women doctors, sustainability in medium sized towns, after-hours services and other sustainability projects.

Supply Programs

RWAV's supply programs involve the implementation of the GP Workforce Network, RWAV's recruitment program and marketing strategies.Key activities include:

• Development of GP Workforce Network with rural Divisions to recruit GPs and Locums. Activities include statewide recruitment coordination, central vacancies register, first point of contact for prospective rural GPs, candidate assessment, Divisional liaison, Departmental liaison and placement support of GPs.
• Coordination, recruitment, assessment and placement support of GPs under the Rural Locum Relief Program.
• Coordination, recruitment, assessment and placement of GPs under the Victorian Government Overseas Trained Doctor Program.
• Implementation of RWAV's targeted marketing strategy designed to address GP workload issues, family support, schooling and priority towns/communities in need. Marketing initiatives are targeted to medical students, registrars, urban GPs, overseas trained doctors and GP spouses and families and are a core element throughout RWAV programs.

Professional Development

Professional Development programs are designed to increase access for rural GPs to professional development and support the upskilling of rural GPs. Key Activities include:

Grants and Scholarship Programs

• Clinical Skills Training grants are provided toward the costs incurred in undertaking Clinical Skills training specifically targeted to identified skills shortages.
• Division CME Grants are available to rural Divisions for CME events each year.
• CME Subsidies are available to rural GPs to subsidise the cost of attending an accredited CME event held within Australia.
• Scholarships are provided to support rural GPs and students attend relevant conferences.
• Assist the National Rural Health Alliance in administering the John Flynn Scholarship Scheme.
• Accommodation projects for medical students and registrars.

Conference Program

• RWAV Annual Conference held in May each year associated with Rural Health Week. The conference combines policy and workforce issues and clinical skills training for rural GPs.
• Annual Education Workshop. The Education Workshop is designed to support GP trainers, Divisions and other staff in educational methodologies and developments in GP training and education.

RWAV Regional Training Networks

• Facilitate and support the development of Regional Training Programs that meet the needs of school students, medical students, registrars, rural GPs and overseas trained doctors.
• Encourage the development of regional consortia of organisations involved in GP training including Universities, Colleges, Hospitals and other service providers, Divisions of GPs and GP Trainers and supervisors.

Other Programs

• Rural Heroin and Methadone Program. This program supports rural GPs interested in providing Heroin and Methadone services, including links with pharmacists, nurses and allied health.
• Victorian Rural GP Workforce Data Project. One of RWAV's key objectives is establishing benchmark workforce data. RWAV aims to inform GP workforce policy and provide relevant information to key stakeholders.
• RWAV Research program including internal evaluation project. RWAV has formed research partnerships with university departments to research critical areas including overseas trained doctors and further research into rurality issues.