A new approach to recruiting and retaining rural doctors is delivering promising early results across South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, with the Single Employer Model (SEM) helping attract and support the next generation of general practitioners.
The initiative allows GP trainees to remain employed by a single health service while rotating through hospitals and general practices during their training. This provides greater job security, consistent employment conditions and improved access to professional development, addressing some of the long-standing barriers that have made rural medical careers less attractive.
The program is currently operating through the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN), where two rural generalist GP trainees are undertaking placements across hospitals and community medical clinics. Under the model, trainees receive one employer throughout their training rather than moving between multiple contracts as they rotate between healthcare settings.
Health leaders say the arrangement benefits both doctors and patients. For trainees, it provides financial certainty, leave entitlements and continuity of employment while exposing them to a broad range of rural healthcare experiences. For regional communities, it helps strengthen the local medical workforce and improves continuity of care.
Recruiting and retaining GPs has been a persistent challenge across regional South Australia, with many country towns experiencing doctor shortages that increase waiting times and place additional pressure on hospitals. Programs such as the Single Employer Model aim to encourage more doctors to establish long-term careers in rural communities rather than relocating to metropolitan areas.
The trainees participating in the program gain experience across emergency medicine, hospital care, chronic disease management and community-based general practice. This broad clinical exposure is designed to prepare them for the diverse responsibilities often required of rural general practitioners, who frequently provide care across multiple healthcare settings.
Health authorities believe the model could become an important part of the state's long-term rural workforce strategy if early success continues. Stable employment arrangements are expected to improve trainee satisfaction and increase the likelihood that doctors remain in regional communities after completing their qualifications.
Local communities also benefit from stronger relationships between patients and healthcare providers, as trainees spend longer periods within the same region instead of moving frequently between employers and training locations.
The program reflects broader efforts across Australia to improve access to healthcare in regional and remote areas, where workforce shortages remain one of the biggest challenges facing the health system.
With encouraging early outcomes reported, health officials will continue monitoring the program as they consider expanding similar employment models to other regional areas across South Australia.
