Enrolment with a primary health care provider
A client and their partner (if any) receiving Jobseeker Support must take all reasonable steps to enrol their child or children with a primary healthcare provider. This means being enrolled with a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner or a medical practice that is part of a Primary Health Organisation.
Taking all reasonable steps to enrol
If a client cannot register their child at a medical practice or with a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner because of shortages, they can be considered to be meeting this obligation if they have a plan in place to:
- be enrolled with a practice when a place becomes available and
- get health care for their child if the child becomes sick
Age of child
The primary health care provider obligation applies to parents and caregivers receiving a main benefit:
- with dependent children included in their benefit or
- who are caring for a child that they receive Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit for
Verification
Most children will already be enrolled with a primary health care provider and in most cases MSD should take the client's word that they are meeting this social obligation.
However, if MSD has information that the client may not be taking all reasonable steps to meet this social obligation, MSD may ask the client to get verification.
For example verification could be a letter from their medical centre or their registered practitioner that says they are enrolled (most medical centres will send this when a client is enrolled).
For more information see:
Legislation
- Health care enrolment and compliance with core health checks section 134 Social Security Act 2018
- Health care enrolment: prescribed health practitioners regulation 92 Social Security Regulations 2018
