Recruitment and retention of new doctors in remote and Aboriginal medical services through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme's Targeted Recruitment Strategy: a focus group study

Objective: To explore the results of a targeted recruitment strategy designed to attract and retain new doctors in remote and Aboriginal medical services where they can access Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) training and support to qualify as general practitioners.

Study design: Two 2-hour purposeful online focus groups on the RVTS' Targeted Recruitment Strategy.

Setting and participants: Five participants and nine stakeholders with knowledge and experience of the strategy. Data were transcribed and deductively and inductively coded for themes including insights from separate project reference and stakeholder advisory groups.

Main outcomes measures: Perspectives of the strategy.

Results: The overarching theme was that the strategy is useful for attracting and retaining new general practitioners in areas of high need and is potentially scalable. Since 2018, 20 new doctors were recruited via the Targeted Recruitment Strategy and six of them completed the RVTS program. The strategy could better differentiate target locations because increasing communities are experiencing major general practice workforce shortages. The package of employment and training could also be more clearly defined for participants, nationally marketed and collaboratively implemented. Further, more site accreditation and ongoing risk and quality review is needed, along with intense early supports for participants who are new to both the community and general practice work.

Conclusion: The Targeted Recruitment Strategy is still maturing but the early results suggest it is a unique and proactive model for attracting and improving access to general practitioners in places with high needs. It could be strengthened through formal agreements between communities and agencies, ensuring coordinated implementation, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and developing clear pathways for risk and quality management.