GP VMO - Cohuna

• No lock-in contract – Flexible arrangement
• $20k incentive payment
• Working with a cohort of long-standing doctors

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced General Practitioner VMO seeking an opportunity to establish an independent practice in a rural community? We are extending an invitation for a GP VMO to practice in our medical centre, nestled in the scenic region of Victoria, conveniently situated just three hours north of Melbourne.

The medical centre has been a cornerstone of the Cohuna community since 1940, serving as the sole healthcare provider for 2,500 residents and catering to a surrounding catchment area of 10,000 individuals. Through our partnership with the Cohuna District Hospital, we actively contribute to the preservation of general and procedural medical services in regional Victoria. You’ll have the opportunity to practice alongside our esteemed Medical Coordinator/GP Obstetrician, recognized last year by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine ACRRM and Rural Doctors Association Australia (RDAA) for service excellence. Furthermore, our facility boasts the presence of four consulting General Practitioners, full-time nursing support, and an efficient practice management team on site.

Ochre Health is one of Australia’s leading General Practice organisations. Founded in 2002 by Dr Hamish Meldrum and Dr Ross Lamplugh in the NSW outback town of Bourke, Ochre is the only General Practice organisation in all MMM areas, from metro to remote Australia. Ochre now supports over 450 doctors, including 90 registrars.

The hospital was established in 1952 and has been a long standing medical institution for the community. The hospital is fitted out with 16 beds providing acute medical, surgical and obstetrics services for Cohuna and surrounding catchment. As a GP Obstetrician you will be practicing in a Maternity Ward that has 1 birth Suite, which will be fully renovated by early next year. The Maternity services at this hospital is a level 2 service, which sees over 40 to 50 births per year. Being such a crucial service for the community we are partnering with Cohuna District Hospital to ensure services like Obstetrics stay in the region, to ensure the best possible care to the community.

The Features

• Flexible contract arrangements
• $20k Incentive start-up payment paid on start date
• Practice supports mixed billing, serving large catchment area
• Doctors who practice in the medical centre also provide on call services to Cohuna District Hospital
• Competitive relocation grants available
• Cohuna is listed as a RA3/RRMA5 location (MM5 and DPA).
• Rental incentives provided for the first 12 months

Life in Cohuna

Cohuna is a town in northern Victoria, situated on the banks of Gunbower Creek in the Murray Valley. It is a popular spot for tourists, who come to enjoy activities such as camping, fishing, canoeing, birdwatching, and bushwalking, as well as sports such as golf, tennis, and water-skiing.

The town has a picturesque main street (with adjacent parks that are perfect for picnicking), and a vibrant commercial centre with a modern shopping centre consisting of a range of shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as history and information centres, and a museum. Cohuna is an access point for the popular attraction of Gunbower Island, an island covered in stunning eucalyptus forest, which is home to a number of iconic Australian natives, such as the kangaroo and the emu.

Surrounded by dairy farms, roaming cattle, wild flowers and tall Eucalyptus, and populated with friendly locals, Cohuna is an ideal location for anyone looking to step away from the busy city and enjoy a relaxed working lifestyle in a modern rural township.

Suitability

• AHPRA General Registration or FRACGP/FACRRM
• Previous general practice experience
• ALS2 and previous Emergency Department (ED) experience