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Finding The Spark Within Indigenous Communities

“The most rewarding aspect of working in an AMS is the sense of purpose I get out of helping Indigenous people and supporting the staff who work at these clinics”. Dr White

Working as a General Practitioner for an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Service (ACCHS) or in the Indigenous Health specialism can be an extremely rewarding pathway. 

Working within Aboriginal communities in rural and remote regions allows doctors to manage complex and challenging cases using a wide range of procedural and emergency skills. Our Indigenous Health General Practitioners are understanding and appreciative of the uniqueness of each community they serve and enjoy working collaboratively alongside Aboriginal healthcare workers.

As a doctor wanting to work with Aboriginal people, you may choose to live in a community, work in an urban ACCHS, locum or FIFO.

Because Ochre Recruitment grew out of the need for doctors in rural areas, we have always had a genuine affection and respect for those doctors who do offer their care and expertise to Australian Indigenous people and help to close the health gap in Australia. 

We have built up an extensive network of contacts within Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services (ACCHS) and can offer you a range of locum and permanent GP jobs across Australia.

View a sample of our Indigenous Health Locum Jobs

Locum VR GP AMS - South Burnett Region QLD

Locum Queensland $1500 per day

Dates 01/07/2024 - 27/12/2024

Good intro to working in Indigenous Health!

Read more

Locum VR GP - Indigenous Communities at Kingaroy

Locum Queensland $1500 per day

Dates 15/07/2024 - 27/12/2024

Finishing early on Fridays - Head back home in time for the weekend or explore the region!

Read more

Locum VR GP - Huon Valley

Locum Tasmania $1350 per day

Dates 22/01/2024 - 20/12/2024

Enjoy an exciting Tasmanian working holiday with no on call or weekend work.

Read more
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How does an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) work?

An Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS), or Aboriginal Medical Service is a primary healthcare service initiated and operated by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through a locally elected Board of Management. Their vision is to deliver holistic, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate healthcare to the community which controls it.

There is a continuum from large multi-GP urban centres to very small remote fly-in-fly-out community clinics. 

All utilise a team model, with Indigenous Health workers, general practitioners and nurses playing major roles in the delivery of healthcare services. ACCHS/AMS centres are well-supported by visiting specialists and allied health workers, and almost all are fully accredited to GP training standards. 

Many ACCHS/AMS centres provide training placements for medical students and GP registrars.

Am I suited to work as a GP in an Aboriginal Medical Service?

Indigenous health is a specialism that is particularly suited to doctors who enjoy:

  • Practicing within a holistic care model
  • Working within a multidisciplinary team environment
  • Managing complex and challenging clinical cases
  • Using a wide range of clinical skills and expertise
  • Developing new skills.

Qualifications and experience required for the Indigenous Health specialism

Doctors practicing as GPs in Australia require Fellowships through the Royal College of General Practitioners RACGP (FRACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine ACRRM (FACRRM). Attitude and approach are central for any general practitioner looking to work with Indigenous communities. Eligible GPs need to be passionate about understanding and appreciating the uniqueness of each community they serve.

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Rates for Locum Doctors in Indigenous Health

AMS Locum Rates

Locum doctors working in an Aboriginal Medical Service are paid between $1,400 and $1,600 per day, in addition to accommodation, travel and car expenses.

The locum rate is dependent upon how desirable the location is, the remoteness of the community and the intensity of the role, as well as the doctor’s previous AMS experience.

AMS Locations for Locum work

There are Aboriginal Medical Service practices across all Australian states and territories, ranging from Redfern to Broken Hill in NSW, to the Kimberly in WA, to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York Peninsula and Mornington Island in far north QLD. 

Remote and rural locations in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland offer the most opportunities for AMS locum work. The Northern Territory provides some very popular AMS locum opportunities that tend to fill up quickly.

Why Choose Ochre?

Our First Nations people face significant challenges in accessing quality healthcare services. To address this issue, Ochre Recruitment has built an extensive network of contacts within Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services (ACCHS) to offer a range of locum GP jobs across Australia.

Working closely with these organisations has given us unique insights into the health issues that Indigenous people face and the healthcare services needed to address them effectively. 

We understand that every doctor’s requirements vary. We work closely with our GP locums to understand their needs and preferences in terms of location, working hours, and other amenities that matter to them. As a result, we offer a personalised service to each locum doctor who approaches us. We take the time to find a role that matches their skills and expertise whilst acknowledging the need for cultural competence in working with Indigenous communities.

If you are a GP locum doctor passionate about closing the health gap in Australia, Ochre Recruitment is the right partner for your Indigenous health career.

Talk to our Associate Recruiter for Indigenous Health Melissa Gomez-Gaviria for advice on how to make the most of working for an AMS and for the latest locum job vacancies.

Reconciliation at Ochre

Ochre has been very involved with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities since we were founded in 2002. We recruit doctors for Aboriginal Medical Service organisations around the country and, through our medical centres and the doctors we support, we deliver care to around 12,000 patients around the country who identify as First Nations peoples. This includes the doctors who practice with us on Flinders Island flying across to Cape Barren Island every fortnight to run a clinic for the Aboriginal community there.

We have several Aboriginal team members around the country, many of whom play key roles in our NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week activities and in developing and implementing our ongoing Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program. We are also proud annual sponsors of the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW) “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Purple Bush Leaves Medicine Bursaries”, which provide recipients with financial support to attend events for professional development and leadership opportunities.

Read more about our reconciliation commitment and view our RAP.

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Frequently Asked Questions About GP Locum Jobs in Indigenous Health

  • What qualifications do I need to work as an Indigenous Health GP Locum?

    • FACRRM/FRACGP or VR qualifications and unrestricted AHPRA Registration
    • Participation in cultural sensitivity training or other Indigenous Health GP training modules or CPD activities

    • Prior experience in AMS/Indigenous Health preferred (but not essential)

    • Australian or New Zealand citizenship/permanent residency or relevant work visa

  • How do I find GP Locum Jobs in an Indigenous Health setting?

    Through an agency like Ochre. Looking for the right locum job can be time-consuming, let an agency do the leg work for you and present you with a number of options in various locations. Peruse a selection of our VR GP AMS Locums here.

  • What kind of work will I do as an AMS Locum?

    Working within Aboriginal communities in rural and remote regions allows doctors to manage complex and challenging cases using a wide range of procedural and emergency skills. Our Indigenous Health GPs are understanding and appreciative of the uniqueness of each community they serve and enjoy working collaboratively alongside Aboriginal healthcare workers.

  • Are there particular skills needed to work as an AMS GP Locum?

    General Practitioners wanting to work as a locum doctor in an AMS must be culturally sensitive, acknowledging and understanding the social, economic, cultural, and behavioural factors that underpin health, both at individual and community levels.

    GPs will ideally have experience working within an Indigenous community and have the ability to complete Health assessments, Care Plans, Mental health care plans

  • What is the average duration of a GP Locum in Indigenous Health?

    The length of the locum contract tends to vary on how remote the location is and can span from between two and four weeks. Practices tend to prefer a longer commitment when possible as this allows for continuity of care for patients, but they do understand that this is not always possible.

  • Do I receive training before starting as a GP Locum in Indigenous Health?

    There is a range of CPD courses that can be undertaken before starting as an AMS GP Locum. Here is a few to get you started:

    RACGP - Cultural Awareness and Cultural Safety Training

    ACRRM - Cultural Awareness Pip Indigenous Health Incentive

    AIDA - Cultural Safety Training Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in Clinical Practice

  • Do I have to work in remote or rural areas as an AMS GP Locum?

    The first Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) was established at Redfern in New South Wales in 1971. Today, the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical services are located in regional, rural, and remote areas.

  • Can I work part-time in GP Locum Jobs in Indigenous Health

    Yes you certainly can.

  • Where do I stay on my GP AMS Locum?

    Many AMS will have specific accommodation for locum GPs, which is usually self-contained and does not require you to share with another doctor unless specified. Sometimes you may be required to stay on-site within the AMS facility. If you do have special requirements, let your Ochre Recruitment consultant know and they will be able to help make the arrangements for you.

Our remarkable doctors
are our ambassadors

  • I first started working in Indigenous Health in 1999. The most rewarding thing about working in an Indigenous Health Service is the sense of purpose that I get out of helping Indigenous people and supporting staff who regularly work at these clinics.

    Dr Robyn White

    Locum GP / AMS

  • I would recommend Ochre recruitment because they do seem to get higher rates than other agencies, efficiently sort out issues and are easily reachable via phone or email. They have made my time as a GP locum seem like a true working holiday!

    Dr. Sebastian Mohan

    GP Locum

  • The local communities are always pleased to see us, and the staff in most areas I go to are just gorgeous as well. They can make do with what they've got and not get too stressed for the most part. It just works. There's a huge community feel in rural areas and especially in AMS. Everyone genuinely cares about patient outcomes. 

    Dr Karen O'brien

    Rural Generalist

  • If you are considering an Indigenous Health Locum - Give it a go! I’ve yet to meet a doctor or nurse who hasn’t enjoyed it. Most of us can’t wait to get back to the open spaces and red dust once we’ve been back in city life for a few weeks.

    Dr Sara Van Tinteren

    General Practitioner

 
 
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