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Queensland Health Bonded Medical Scholarships (QHBMS) Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Responses
Questions
Are QHBMS Scholarships Yes.
only available at Griffith
University?
How many QHBMS The Queensland Government committed funding of 235 QHBMS Scholarship places in the Griffith University Graduate Medical Course
Scholarships are available? over 5 years from 2006. In the final intake in 2010, there will be 51 QHBMS Scholarship places available for students entering the first
year of the Graduate Medical Course.
Do you have to be an Yes – evidence of citizenship in the form of a birth or citizenship certificate (certified by a JP) will be required if you are offered a QHBMS
Australian Citizen to apply Scholarship place in the Graduate Medical Course.
for a QHBMS Scholarship?
How do you apply for a To receive a QHBMS Scholarship, you must apply to study medicine at Griffith University through the usual process – i.e. sitting
Queensland Health Bonded GAMSAT and applying to study medicine through ACER.
Medical Scholarship?
The application and selection process for QHBMS Scholarships is the responsibility of Griffith University. As part of this process,
applicants who have been successful in the GAMSAT examination and are offered an interview by Griffith University, will be sent a
‘Preference of Offer’ form outlining the types of student places in the Graduate Medical Course –i.e. various Scholarship places and
unencumbered Commonwealth supported places. Applicants are required to nominate their place preferences and take the completed Form
to the interview at Griffith University. If you wish to apply for a QHBMS place, you will need to nominate a QHBMS student place as your
highest preference on this Form. Further information on the GMC admission process is available from Griffith University.
Can QHBMS Scholarship Yes, accepting a QHBMS Scholarship does not exclude you from applying from other Scholarships or forms of financial assistance
Recipients apply for more provided that the other Scholarships do not require bonded service following completion of the Graduate Medical Course (GMC). For
than one Scholarship? example, a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient can not apply for a Qld Health Rural Scholarship as these scholarships also require bonded
service following graduation from the GMC.
Are QHBMS Scholarship Not yet known - while the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has previously ruled that Queensland Health does not have to withhold tax
payments taxable? from the annual lump sum QHBMS Scholarship payment of $21,000/year, it is still not known if this payment is considered ‘taxable
income’ which needs to be declared in Scholarship Recipient’s annual tax returns.
In April 2007, a Class Ruling Request was submitted on behalf of all QHBMS Scholarship Recipients to the ATO determine if the QHBMS
Scholarship payments are ‘taxable income’ and as at 23 September 2009, a ruling has still not been made.
If the ATO determines that QHBMS Scholarship payments are ‘taxable income’, information of these payments will need to be declared in
the Scholarship Recipient’s annual tax returns and tax may need to be paid on this ‘income’ after submission of tax returns.
The above general information is for use as a guide only and correct as at September 2009
The only authoritative statement of the QHBMS scholarship terms is set out in the scholarship agreement. -1-
Queensland Health Bonded Medical Scholarships (QHBMS) Frequently Asked Questions
When are QHBMS Scholarship In accordance with the Agreement/Contract between Qld Health and QHBMS Scholarship Recipients, an Educational Support
payments made? Allowance of $21,000 per annum is paid within 30 days of commencement of each academic year of the Graduate Medical Course.
The payment is made in a lump sum into a nominated bank account.
Is any financial assistance No – as per Item 2 in the Scholarship Agreement Schedule, it is expected that Scholarship recipients will use up to $5,000 per annum
provided for clinical placements? of the $21,000 annual Education Support Allowance for travel and accommodation costs associated with their studies, including
clinical placements.
Can QHBMS Scholarship Yes, there are no restrictions on QHBMS Scholarship Recipients working while they are studying provided they can still pursue a
Recipients still work while they full-time study program and complete the Degree in the minimum time permitted by Griffith University.
are studying?
Do QHBMS Scholarship Possibly - QHBMS Scholarship Recipients are advised to contact Centrelink to find out if they need to declare their Scholarship
payments affect Centrelink income.
payments?
Do QHBMS Scholarship No – as QHBMS Scholarships include payment of full tuition fees to Griffith University for each year of the Graduate Medical
Recipients have to pay HECS- Course (if however Scholarship Recipients repeat a year following an academic failure for the previous year, they may need to obtain
HELP Fees? a loan to pay tuition fees for the repeated year and would incur a HECS-HELP debt in this instance).
Can a QHBMS Scholarship Yes – in exceptional circumstances (e.g. pregnancy) providing they receive prior approval from both Griffith University and
Recipient defer the start of their Queensland Health.
medical degree?
What happens if a QHBMS If a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient fails a year in the GMC, provided the University gives approval for them to repeat the failed year,
Scholarship Recipient fails a year the QHBMS Scholarship Agreement makes provision for them to ‘self-fund’ the repeated year. ‘Self-funding’ means that they would
in the Graduate Medical Course not receive financial assistance from Qld Health and they would be responsible for paying the University tuition fees at the standard
(GMC)? domestic rate. After successfully repeating the failed year, they would recommence receiving Scholarship payments and have their
tuition fees paid from the start of the following year.
Can a QHBMS Scholarship No as QHBMS Scholarships are linked to a medical student place at Griffith University only.
Recipient transfer to another
medical school?
Can a QHBMS Scholarship No because the State Government has ‘purchased’ the QHBMS medical student place at Griffith University and the student has been
Recipient terminate their accepted into the Graduate Medical Course in one of these sponsored places.
Scholarship Agreement/Contract
and continue to study medicine at
their own expense?
The above general information is for use as a guide only and correct as at September 2009
The only authoritative statement of the QHBMS scholarship terms is set out in the scholarship agreement. -2-
Queensland Health Bonded Medical Scholarships (QHBMS) Frequently Asked Questions
How many years of bonded In return for receiving significant financial assistance while studying the Graduate Medical Course (GMC), QHBMS Scholarship
service do you have to undertake Recipient’s sign an Agreement/Contract which requires them to serve 6 years of bonded service (including Internship) in an ‘Area of
with a QHBMS Scholarship? Priority Service’ following graduation from the GMC.
Are there any options available to No.
reduce the length of bonded
service?
What is an ‘Area of Priority As per the QHBMS Agreement/Contract between Qld Health and QHBMS Scholarship Recipients, an ‘Area of Priority Service’
Service’? (APS) is defined as:
Either or both of:
(a) any geographical location in Queensland;
(b) a field of medical practice (taking into account the Degree and Registration obtained by the Student) in either the public or
private health sector within Queensland.
‘Geographical’ Areas of Priority Service equate to locations where there are medical workforce shortages and are expected to include
outer metropolitan (e.g. Caboolture), regional (e.g. Rockhampton) and rural areas (e.g. Roma).
‘Field of Medical Practice’ Areas of Priority Service includes those medical specialties that have been identified as Core Fields on a
List developed by the QHBMS Area of Priority Service Reference Group for each QHBMS Scholarship cohort. A copy of the most
recent APS List and a document which explains the operation of this List is on the QHBMS website.
How does the placement process A Policy outlining the Post-graduation processes for QHBMS Scholarship Recipients is available on the QHBMS Webpage.
work for QHBMS Scholarship QHBMS Scholarship Recipients do have a choice in where they are placed.
Recipients & do they have a
choice in where they are sent?
Must the 6 years of Bonded Yes – unless a Scholarship Recipient has been approved to take a period of unpaid leave and defer their bonded service for a specified
Service be served in one period of time. If a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient is approved to defer their bonded service for a specified period, they will need to
continuous period? agree to their work period being extended to take account of the period of approved leave.
Does the six years of bonded No. QHBMS Scholarship Recipients will be placed at a Hospital accredited to provide Intern training for their 1st post-graduate year
service have to be undertaken in and towards the end of that year, they may be able to elect to stay on at the same hospital for the 2nd post-graduate year or move to
one area? another large teaching hospital to gain further skills and experience.
From their 3rd to 6th post-graduate year, where QHBMS Scholarship Recipients go and how often they relocate will depend on
whether they have been accepted into an approved APS vocational/specialty training program or not – once accepted into an approved
APS training program, where they work will depend on where their respective training needs can be met. For example, some training
programs require spending specific amounts of time working in different sized hospitals and some require a rural or regional rotation.
The above general information is for use as a guide only and correct as at September 2009
The only authoritative statement of the QHBMS scholarship terms is set out in the scholarship agreement. -3-
Queensland Health Bonded Medical Scholarships (QHBMS) Frequently Asked Questions
From their 3rd to 6th post-graduate year, if QHBMS Scholarship Recipients are not undertaking vocational/specialty training, they will
be able to choose to relocate at the end of each year (if they wish) to locations that are designated as geographical ‘Areas of Priority
Service’.
Are QHBMS Scholarship Yes – for Scholarship Recipients who work in Queensland Health facilities in accordance with the relevant employing health district
Recipients relocation costs paid policies (any relocation arrangements and expenses must be negotiated and pre-approved by the respective manager prior to
for while they are performing relocation). Scholarship recipients are also entitled to relocation assistance for their Internship, unlike Interns not in receipt of
their bonded service? Scholarships who may not be entitled to this type of assistance in their Internship.
QHBMS Scholarship Recipients who are accepted to undertake vocational training in private health facilities would need to discuss
relocation costs with their respective employers.
What entitlements to annual, sick QHBMS Scholarship Recipients are entitled to the same conditions of employment, including applicable leave and allowances as any
and long service leave do other medical officer employed under the relevant award &/or agreement.
QHBMS Scholarship Recipients
Currently, employment conditions for Qld Health medical officers are in accordance with the ‘District Health Services Senior
have during the 6 year bonded
Medical Officers’ and Resident Medical Officers’ Award - State 2003’; ’Medical Officers’(Queensland Health) Certified Agreement
period?
(No. 1) 2005’ and ‘Medical Officers’(Queensland Health) Memorandum of Understanding 2005 (Doctors’ MOU).
An additional entitlement for bonded Qld Health Scholarship Recipients is that their scholarship study period is recognised
in calculating Long Service Leave entitlements, provided Scholarship Holders are employed by Qld Health for 10 years. This means
that upon completion of 10 years actual service with Qld Health, the 4 year QHBMS Scholarship study period will be recognised for
the purpose of granting Long Service Leave and eligible staff will receive 14 years worth of entitlements.
Can QHBMS Scholarship Yes. In accordance with the Scholarship Agreement, QHBMS Scholarship Recipients are able to apply for a deferral for ‘approved
Recipient’s take time out for leave’ while a medical student (which would require approval from both Griffith University and Qld Health) and following graduation
Parenting? (in accordance with the terms of the relevant award &/or agreement).
Can QHBMS Scholarship Yes. The QHBMS Scholarship Agreement makes provision for ‘approval leave’ and providing the leave is approved, the bonded
Recipients defer their bonded work period will be extended to take account of the period of approved leave.
service for other reasons?
What are the possible locations It is likely that QHBMS Scholarship Recipients will undertake Internship and pre-vocational training in their 2nd Post-graduate Year
where Internship or residency (PGY2) across a range of outer metropolitan and large regional hospitals.
years could be undertaken?
Will there be any further QHBMS No. In June 2008, the Commonwealth Government agreed to reimburse the Qld Government for the cost of training the 235 QHBMS
Scholarships after 2010? Scholarship Recipients and to fund the tuition fees for the 50 annual medical student training places at Griffith University from 2011
onwards.
What degree of flexibility is there While undertaking their 6 years of bonded service, QHBMS Scholarship Recipients are restricted to speciality training in one of the
The above general information is for use as a guide only and correct as at September 2009
The only authoritative statement of the QHBMS scholarship terms is set out in the scholarship agreement. -4-
Queensland Health Bonded Medical Scholarships (QHBMS) Frequently Asked Questions
with regards to specialty training ‘Core Disciplines in the left-hand column of the Area of Priority Service (APS) List relevant to the respective QHBMS Scholarship
during the bonded service? cohort. For example, a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient would be able to undertake General Surgery training, if they were accepted
into the relevant training program with the Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), while undertaking bonded service.
If a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient wanted to train in a specialty such as Paediatrics (which is currently one of the ‘Out of Scope
Fields’ Disciplines in the left-hand column of the Area of Priority Service List), they would need to delay training in this field until
they had had completed their 6 years bonded service. However, the QHBMS Medical Advisers could provide advice on a training
pathway which will prepare them as a good candidate for a paediatric training position following completion of their bonded service.
Can Queensland Health help No – Qld Health is not able to facilitate entry into APS vocational/specialty training programs however QHBMS Scholarship
QHBMS Scholarship Recipients Recipients will be assisted through support and advice on access to vocational training pathways by QHBMS Medical Advisers.
gain entry into training programs
that are designated as Areas of
Priority Service (APS)?
What would happen if a QHBMS The QHBMS Scholarship Agreement makes provision for the Queensland Health Director-General to alter or waive any requirements
Scholarship Recipient was unable placed on Scholarship Recipients in regard to exceptional personal circumstances. If a Scholarship Recipient was unable to meet their
to meet their obligations owing to Scholarship obligations owing to circumstances beyond their control such as serious illness or incapacity, consideration of their
circumstances beyond their circumstances would be made on a case by case basis.
control?
What happens to QHBMS This will depend on the individual Scholarship Recipients choice of vocational/specialist training and its progression. For example, if
Scholarship Recipients after they a QHBMS Scholarship Recipient chooses to pursue Rural Generalist training, their training might be completed after PGY4; whereas
have completed their six years of if they to pursue Surgical training, at the end of the six years of bonded service, they may be continue to be appointed as a Trainee
bonded service? Registrar by either annual appointment or an extended contract.
Given that QHBMS Scholarship Recipients will be working and training in specialty disciplines classified as ‘Areas of Priority
Service’, they can expect little or no difficulty in securing permanent employment opportunities with Queensland Health or
elsewhere.
Can a Scholarship Recipient Yes – however, depending on when the Agreement was terminated, it would be very costly given that the State Government is
terminate their Agreement and investing over $190,000 to educate each QHBMS Scholarship Recipient. Information regarding the consequences of termination is
‘buy their way out’ of a QHBMS outlined in the Agreement between Qld Health and QHBMS Scholarship Recipients.
Scholarship?
The above general information is for use as a guide only and correct as at September 2009
The only authoritative statement of the QHBMS scholarship terms is set out in the scholarship agreement. -5-
