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March 2012

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HECS Reimbursement Scheme

The Higher Education Contribution (HECS) Reimbursement Scheme (the Scheme) encourages medical graduates to pursue a career in rural medicine to increase the number of doctors in rural and regional areas.

Under the 2009-10 Rural Health Workforce Strategy budget, the HECS Reimbursement Scheme was amended to include scaling of payments. This approach provides the greatest rewards for medical practitioners willing to work in the most remote areas.

Eligible graduates must:

  • have completed their medical degree in 2000 or later
  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of Australia at the time of completing their degree
  • have completed an accredited Australian medical course, leading to the award of a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBBS) or equivalent for which a HECS fee was payable
  • be undertaking training or providing medical services in Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) 2-5.

The first HECS Reimbursement Scheme payment will be made at the completion of a continuous 12 month period of training or service provision. Subsequent reimbursements will be made at the completion of every continuous six-month period. No pro-rata payments for periods of less than six months will be made. Payments will not be made for training or services provided in non-eligible locations.

HECS reimbursements will only be made if the participant submits an approved Subsequent Claim for Payment form [PDF, 154Kb]PDF reader required within the 12 months after completion of a block of service or training which the reimbursement is claimed.

To register for the HECS Reimbursement Scheme, graduates are required to complete the HECS Reimbursement Scheme application form [PDF, 206Kb]PDF reader required and send it with the appropriate attachments to:

HECS Reimbursement Scheme
GPO Box 2844
ADELAIDE SA 5001

HECS Reimbursement Scheme Bank Details [PDF, Kb]PDF reader required

For more information

Call 1800 010 550*.

*Call charges apply from mobile and pay phones only.

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Last updated: 2 June, 2011