Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973 - SECT 124ZE

Bonded Medical Program participants

  (1)   If:

  (a)   a person resides in Australia; and

  (b)   the person:

  (i)   is an Australian citizen; or

  (ii)   holds a permanent visa; and

  (c)   the person has been offered a place in a course of study in medicine at an Australian university; and

  (d)   the offer is subject to the person participating in the Bonded Medical Program; and

  (e)   the person has accepted that offer and is enrolled in the course of study in medicine at that Australian university; and

  (f)   the person has voluntarily agreed to participate in the Bonded Medical Program using a web portal maintained by the Department;

the person is a bonded participant in the Bonded Medical Program on and after the day the person agrees to participate in the Program until an event mentioned in subsection   (4) applies in relation to the person.

Former Bonded Medical Places Scheme participants

  (2)   If:

  (a)   a person was a party to a deed of agreement with the Commonwealth (as represented by the Department) for funding of a place in the Bonded Medical Places Scheme, including a deed of agreement as varied; and

  (b)   the person advises the Department that the person wishes to opt in to the Bonded Medical Program under section   124ZU; and

  (c)   the Secretary agrees, in writing, to the person's participation in the Bonded Medical Program;

the person is a bonded participant in the Bonded Medical Program on and after the day after the day the Secretary agrees, in writing, to the person's participation in the Program until an event mentioned in subsection   (4) applies in relation to the person.

Former Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship participants

  (3)   If:

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

  (b)   the person advises the Department that the person wishes to opt in to the Bonded Medical Program under section   124ZU; and

  (c)   the Secretary agrees, in writing, to the person's participation in the Bonded Medical Program;

the person is a bonded participant in the Bonded Medical Program on and after the day after the day the Secretary agrees, in writing, to the person's participation in the Program until an event mentioned in subsection   (4) applies in relation to the person.

When a person ceases to be a bonded participant

  (4)   If:

  (a)   a person is a bonded participant; and

  (b)   any of the following events occur:

  (i)   the person completes their return of service obligation;

  (ii)   the person withdraws from, or is barred from, a course of study in medicine at an Australian university;

  (iii)   the person breaches the condition mentioned in paragraph   124ZG(1)(c);

  (iv)   the person withdraws from the Bonded Medical Program in accordance with section   124ZP;

  (v)   the person dies;

  (vi)   the Secretary makes a determination under subsection   124ZEA(3) that exceptional circumstances apply in relation to the person;

the person ceases to be a bonded participant immediately after the first of those events occurs.