The Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) was established in 2003 to replace the Pilot Remote Vocational Training Stream (PRVTS) which had been an outstanding success.
The PRVTS was established in late 1999 as a joint initiative of the RACGP and ACRRM to provide vocational training to general practitioners in remote areas, who would otherwise have difficulty accessing training programs.
Since January 2000, when eleven registrars were enrolled in the initial training program, approximately 30 registrars have completed the program with RVTS or its predecessor.
An independent company, Remote Vocational Training Scheme Ltd, was established in 2006 to manage the program and deliver training. In 2007, the Department of Health and Ageing provided funds for the company to expand its training cohort to 15 registrars per year.
From its humble beginnings, the RVTS has become an integral part of the general practice vocational training structure in Australia.
PRVTS Steering Committee 2003