Extension of the Specialist Training Program - Supporting Rural Specialists in Australia and Medical Physicists Support

Overview

The Specialist Training Program (STP) extends vocational training for non-General Practice specialist registrars into settings outside traditional metropolitan teaching hospitals, including regional, rural and remote communities and private health facilities. The program aims to improve the quality of the future specialist workforce by providing registrars with exposure to a broader range of healthcare settings known as “expanded settings”. STP also aims to have a positive influence on future workforce distribution. The Supporting Rural Specialists in Australia program and the Medical Physicists Support program are elements of the Specialist Training Program. The Supporting Rural Specialist in Australia program provides rural specialists with access to professional support and training opportunities not available in their region. This includes providing support and training via online learning programs and conducting annual individual funding rounds. The Medical Physicists Support Program supports the training, education and assessment of medical physicists (including radiopharmaceutical scientists) and includes direct and indirect support for medical physicist trainees. The purpose of this grant is to extend current funding arrangements for the Supporting Rural Specialists in Australia Program and Medical Physicists Support Program elements of the STP for a further 12 months to continue to support the provision of specialist medical workforce training in 2021.