Health Insurance Act 1973

If:

a person is a party to a contract with the Commonwealth (as represented by the Department) for a Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship (an MRBS participant), including a contract as varied; and

the person advises the Department, in writing, that:

the person wishes to opt in to the Bonded Medical Program, as mentioned in section 124ZU; and

the person voluntarily agrees to participate in the Program using a web portal maintained by the Department; and

the Secretary agrees, in writing, to the person’s participation in the Program;

on the day the person becomes a bonded participant, the person’s contract ceases; and

on and after that day, the person is subject to the provisions of this Part.

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(e):

the 156 week return of service obligation period is to be reduced by prior service completed in accordance with the provisions of the person’s contract; and

for the purposes of subparagraph 124ZH(2)(b)(i), the Commonwealth funded scholarship provided to the person is the scholarship amounts (as defined by the contract) paid to the person by the Commonwealth under the contract; and

paragraph 124ZG(1)(a) applies only if the person has not, on the day the person becomes a bonded participant, completed their course of study in medicine at an Australian university; and

if an extended compliance determination has been made under subsection 124ZUA(3) in relation to the person—the person is to be taken, for the purposes of this Part, to be required to complete their return of service obligation within the period specified in the written notice of the determination given to the person.

To avoid doubt, nothing in this Part affects the application of section 19ABA or 19ABC in relation to a person if the person breached their contract before the day the Secretary agreed, in writing, to the person’s participation in the Bonded Medical Program, even if the breach is identified on or after that day.