Specialist Training Program

STP Reporting Requirements and Templates

Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) allowance

Rural Support Loading funding

2013 STP Application Round

STP Trainee vacancies

Accreditation for STP

Evaluation for STP

More Information

The Specialist Training Program (STP) seeks to establish and support a variety of training posts which form part of an integrated program of learning for specialist trainees pursuing a fellowship program outside of traditional public teaching hospitals.

The aims and objectives of STP is to increase the number of doctors, educated domestically or internationally, progressing to Fellowship in Australia as specialists by:

• Increasing the capacity within the health workforce to train specialists;
• Education and training that matches the nature of demand and reflects the way health services are delivered;
• Improve quality of specialist training with trainees gaining appropriate skills not otherwise available through traditional settings; and
• Providing educational initiatives designed to promote and support the equitable provision of physician education across all clinical settings, including private, regional and rural settings for all Fellows, trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) registered with the College.

Specialist training settings include: private clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services, private hospitals, community settings, non-clinical settings and ambulatory care settings.
Specialty areas include:

Cardiology Clinical Pharmacology Endocrinology Gastroenterology General Medicine

Geriatric Medicine  Neurology Nephrology Paediatrics Palliative Medicine

Public Health Medicine Rehabilitation Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology

For the 2012 STP round of funding, 225 applications for funding were received by DoHA for Physician posts. Of these applications, 39 were shortlisted for funding, as well as an additional 5 from the 2011 reserve list.  This is an increase from the 188 positions that were funded throughout 2011.

Rural Support Loading funding

Rural Support Loading (RSL) provides funding of up to $22,000 (GST inc) per STP post per annum. The funding is made available to supplement the additional costs incurred by STP trainees located in Inner Regional, Outer Regional, Remote and Very Remote Australia (RA2-RA5). Remoteness Area (RA) status can be determined by visiting the DoctorConnect website.

Payment of RSL funds in 2012 is subject to the recruitment of a trainee to the STP post. There is no application process for RSL in 2012 and the STP Unit will automatically contact posts that are eligible for funding. All posts who receive this funding will be required to submit an annual report in December 2012 to the College. This report is to detail expenditure of the funds and will be used by the College for evaluation purposes. A pro forma can be found here. 

For more information regarding 2012 Rural Support Loading, please view the guidelines here or contact the STP Unit at stp@racp.edu.au.

Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) Allowance

The Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) Program is a key component of the STP. Currently funded STP training posts/positions in the private sector are able to apply for this funding for activities which are associated with clinical supervision and training infrastructure. The maximum amount of funds available for each private sectore FTE training post it:

• $30,000 (GST exclusive) per annum, pro rata for clinical supervision
• $10,000 (GST exclsuive) pro rata, once every three years for private infrastructure.

The PICS Program is managed by the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing. Applications for funding in 2012 closed on 31 December 2011. Information for 2013 applications will be made available on this webpage when this is available.

For more information on the PICS Program, please visit the RACMA website.

STP Trainee vacancies

STP sites with vacant trainee specialty positions and Supervisor contact details are available on the RACP website via the Trainees’ Café.  

Accreditation for STP

All specialist training facilities/settings are required to have an eligible trainee assigned to the STP training position.  These positions must be accredited by the RACP standards which are:

• Supervision
• Facilities & Infrastructure
• Profile of Work
• Teaching & Learning
• Trainee Support Services

The role of the RACP is to strongly support trainees undertaking part of their training within these Specialist Training settings.

Shortlisted Specialist Training Program facilities/settings for 2011 can be found here.

Evaluation for STP

A copy of the 2011 STP Trainee Exit Survey Report can be found here. 

A copy of the 2010 STP Evaluation Report can be found here.

More Information?

Department of Health & Ageing:

Visit:    http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-spec

Email:  specialist.training@health.gov.au.  or RACP: stp@racp.edu.au

Acknowledgement: The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has received Australian Government funding under the Specialist Training Program.