District of Workforce Shortage Specialist layers 2020

• The District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) classification system for Specialists is an impartial mechanism used by the Government to encourage a more equitable distribution of specialists doctors who are restricted under s19AB (ten-year moratorium) and for Australian trained bonded doctors (who have a return of service obligation). • The DWS system as applied to specialists refers to the broadest grouping of a specialty and includes all sub-categories of that specialty (i.e. identifies the Derived Major Specialty). • The DWS uses population and Medicare billing data to determine a specialist-to-population ratio in SA3 geographical regions of Australia. • Any specialty group that has a ratio of less than 3 Full-time Service Equivalent (FSE) per 100,000 population is currently considered to be in acute shortage and is automatically classified as DWS. • Any specialty group that has a ratio greater than 3 FSE per 100,000 population is not automatically classified as DWS. There are eight specialties in this category: o Anaesthetics o Cardiology o Diagnostic Radiology o General Surgery o Medical Oncology o Obstetrics and Gynaecology o Ophthalmology o Psychiatry The Distribution Priority Area (DPA) replaced Districts of Workforce Shortage system for GPs