Support projects
Every year, a component of STP funding is allocated to all Colleges involved in the program for the creation and management of support projects.
This aims to support the success and sustainability of delivering training in expanded health care settings, as funded through the Specialist Training Program (STP).
Applications for funding are currently closed.
The Department of Health and Aged Care are yet to announce the next funding round dates.
Eligibility
Support projects must be relevant, benefit the STP, and:
- must clearly state the benefits to trainees in STP posts
- can include investments in eLearning platforms and distance education targeted towards the needs of trainees in STP posts
- can be given priority if they support rural and private posts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees, and cultural safety training in Indigenous healthcare delivery.
Support projects will not be accepted if:
- they're co-funded projects with other Commonwealth grants, unless prior agreement in writing has been given
- expenses are associated with the direct accreditation of training sites
- they include IT infrastructure acquisitions and developments
- they're for trainee and supervisor workshops and seminars except in the situation where STP trainees and supervisors are targeted to attend through direct support, for example travel and accommodation expenses
- it's a college project with activities aimed at cultural and/or behavioural change, excluding projects focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues
- support project funds are used for trainee or Fellow salaries.
Application process
We submit RACP approved support projects that relate directly to the program. These submissions occur at set times throughout the year.
Applications must be submitted using the application form. Following our assessment and approval, projects may then be placed on a list for submission to the Department at a later date.
The form contains a budget breakdown, detailed timeline and all relevant information for both RACP and the Department to reasonably assess the suitability of a project. There are no word limits, but proposals should be brief and focused.
You can submit more than one application ranging from a short-term to a multi-year project.
Outcomes on proposals are provided by the Department within 30 calendar days of receipt.
Projects should not commence until approved by the Department.
Contact us for updates on grant rounds.
Apply
Applications for Support Project funding are currently closed. The Department of Health and Aged Care is yet to announce the next application round dates.
Reporting
We provide detailed updates on the progress of all approved support projects with performance reports due twice a year. The Department reserves the right to request drafts and/or final versions of deliverables and/or evaluations in line with the timeframe for delivery of project milestones.
We also report on successes, risks/challenges and subsequent mitigation strategies as part of an annual meeting with the Department.
For multi-year support projects, we do evaluations for the Department in line with the approved end date for the project.
Current Support Projects
The following project received funding for the 2023 academic year:
| Project title
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Project summary
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Stage 1 - Engaging STP trainees with sustainable healthcare through quality improvement education – adapting the SusQI toolkit for Australia
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This project will develop and deliver a training resource for STP trainees on quality improvement to achieve environmentally, socially and financially sustainable healthcare. We will adapt the Sustainable Quality Improvement (SusQI) toolkit for the Australian context, develop a short course and learning pathway, and pilot this with trainees placed rural, regional and private settings around the Riverina (NSW) and Ballarat (Victoria). The course will be tailored to trainee learning needs. Local communities of practice to support trainees and supervisors engage with SusQI will be fostered. A Handbook and online resources will enable future delivery and scale up of the project.
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The following projects received funding for the 2024 academic year:
| Project title
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Project summary
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Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) Sector Orientation Package
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Medical trainees often have limited knowledge of the Aboriginal and Islander community-controlled health sector prior to commencing a rotation in the sector. This project will develop an orientation package for public health registrars that will cover the history and model of care of ACCHOs, as well as relevant information on the Australian and Aboriginal health systems and policies.
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Advanced Training Research Project (ATRP) Support Program
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This project provides tailored ATRP support, superior to that offered in metropolitan sites, and will be attractive to future rural ATs.
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Cultural Education support person
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Medical decision making requires patients to make choices where outcome is uncertain. This disconnects between languages requires special attention to ensure bidirectional understanding occurs. Opportunities for doctors to work alongside Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Aboriginal cultural educators to help design curriculum would facilitate learning.
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Technology and Knowledge Optimisation (TeKnO) T1D
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TeKnO T1D is an engaging, effective way shown to improve knowledge and confidence which will be modified for Australian accessibility to diabetes technology and skill management acquisition based on international ISPAD standards.
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Advanced Training and The Indigenous Experience
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This project allows an Advanced Trainee (AT) to be in embedded in the satellite and home therapies renal outreach programs. ATs will gain insight into the culture and health choices of a socially disadvantaged population with heavy disease burden.
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Stage 2 - Engaging STP trainees with sustainable healthcare through quality improvement education – adapting the SusQI toolkit for Australia
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This project (Stage 2) will expand delivery from the pilot, tested in Stage 1, across Australia focusing on rural and private settings. This provides STP trainees with an opportunity to be at the leading edge of practice in environmentally sustainable healthcare and quality.
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Strengthening Public Health Training in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) Sector
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This project will strengthen public health training in the ACCHO sector. Sustained scaling of such training in this sector will: contribute to the cultural safety and competence of Australia's future public health physician workforce; augment efforts to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and align with the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
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Intrepid: Introductory Trainee Education Program in Infectious Diseases
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The INTREPID Program aims to support the educational and professional development of trainees in Infectious Disease Medicine.
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Deadly Doctors Indigenous training and networking Forums
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This project will deliver culturally safe, and Indigenous led training and networking opportunities to our Indigenous Trainees at 6 regional sites.
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