Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme

The Government’s Bonded Programs aim to provide more Australian trained doctors where there are workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote Australia.

Page last updated: 14 August 2020

The Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme is closed to new participants.

The Bonded Medical Program New Arrangement came into effect from 1 January 2020. Information is available online.

COVID-19

The World Health Organization has announced that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic. The Department of Health understands that these are difficult times for many Australians. The situation may have impacted both your personal and professional obligations.

Department of Health would like to remind current participants of the Bonded Medical Place (BMP) Scheme that you are still required to comply with your contractual obligations.

The Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme is one of these programs.

Reforms to the BMP Scheme

The department is currently reforming the Bonded Programs to provide greater support for bonded doctors and to better target return of service to rural and remote areas and areas of workforce shortage.

From 1 January 2020, all existing BMP Scheme participants can opt-in to the new arrangements which aim to encourage more doctors to work and stay in rural and remote areas.

If you entered the BMP Scheme in 2015 or earlier and you choose to move across to the reformed arrangements, your residual return of service obligation would be reduced to a maximum of three years. All prior approved return of service served would be counted and credited to you under the new arrangements.

If you entered the BMP Scheme between 2016 and 2018 and you choose to move across to the reformed arrangements, you will retain your 12 month return of service obligation.

Participants entering the BMP Scheme in 2019 will enter the scheme under the existing arrangements. These participants will be able to opt-in to the new arrangements as well as retain their 12 months return of service.

The reforms will be implemented from 1 January 2020. All existing participants are encouraged to keep their current contractual requirements up to date and continue to meet their current contractual obligations.

Additional information about the Budget measure is provided for your information at:

How does the BMP Scheme work?

Under the BMP Scheme, the Government provides a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at a medical school at an Australian university.

In exchange for a medical place, once they have graduated, bonded participants agree to work in an area of workforce shortage for one to six years. The length of time depends on your agreement and is called the return of service period. The period is different for participants who joined the scheme in 2015 or earlier and people who joined the scheme between 2016 and 2018.

The BMP Scheme does not provide a scholarship.

2016 and later

Information about the BMP Scheme for participants who joined between 2016 to 2018; and 2019 arrangements.

2015 or earlier

Information about the BMP Scheme for participants who joined in 2015 or earlier.

Read your agreement

Are you a BMP participant? Please read your Deed of Agreement carefully.

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Important:
It is important that you are clear about your obligations as you work towards your medical degree and approach your return of service period.

Contact details

For more information about the BMP Scheme, you can check the BMP Scheme commonly asked questions.

Telephone: 1800 987 104 (available Monday-Friday, 8:30am -5pm AEST), or

Email: [email protected]

write to us at:
BMP Scheme
MDP 149
Department of Health
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601

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    Important Information for New Zealand Citizens
    If you are a New Zealand citizen, you will require an Australian Permanent Resident Visa to be eligible for a BMP Scheme place. Special Category Visas are not considered permanent resident visas for the purposes of the scheme. For further information regarding your residency status, please phone 1800 987 104 (freecall)