Updates to the Bonded Medical Program
22 Jan 2026
Credit for past work
Doctors who previously completed work under the former Bonded Medical Places Scheme or Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme can now have that work recognised towards their Return of Service Obligation (RoSO). The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will provide guidance to former participants on how to claim this credit.
Fellowship no longer required
The earlier rule requiring at least half of a doctor’s RoSO to be completed after fellowship or 12 years post-graduation has been removed. Now, practitioners can complete their entire RoSO at any time after registration.
Flexible arrangements for 2016–2019 participants
Doctors who took part in the 2016–2019 program with a 52-week RoSO can now complete their obligation on a part-time or daily basis, rather than in full-time blocks of 10 weeks or more. A total of 1,820 hours must still be completed, with a maximum of 35 hours counted per week.
For further information, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
https://www.ama.com.au/
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
