Clinicians and healthcare professionals will come together at a pivotal forum in Murrumbidgee region to discuss the future of healthcare in regional NSW and the expansion of the Single Employer Model (SEM).

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Dr Michael Holland, will deliver a keynote address at the In Rural, By Rural, For Rural forum on 20 – 21 July in Wagga Wagga.

"The forum will focus on the experiences gained during the implementation of the SEM and the model trialled in the Murrumbidgee region, known as the 'Murrumbidgee Model'," Dr Holland said.

"The Murrumbidgee pilot has shown that an expansion of this scheme makes rural general practice a more attractive option for doctors as well as making it easier for people in regional New South Wales to see a doctor close to home."

The SEM provides a tailored, coordinated pathway for doctors wanting to become Rural Generalists during their training in public health facilities and private GP practices.

The NSW Government will be able to access exemptions under Section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1974 for up to 80 Rural Generalist trainees per year, as part of a 2022/23 federal budget commitment.

The initiative will commence at the beginning of the 2024 training year.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, said the experience gained during the Murrumbidgee trial would help shape the expansion of the SEM, which was recently announced by the federal and NSW governments.

Mr Park said this specific training ensures GPs have the right skills to work in the unique environments of regional and rural NSW.

"After the successful trial in Murrumbidgee, we are looking forward to expanding the scheme into other regional and rural areas of New South Wales," Mr Park said.

"This forum is an opportunity for clinicians and healthcare professionals to learn from the team at Murrumbidgee that piloted the program."