Specialist Training Program: Funding for 2018–2020, Review and Key Reforms

The Australian Department of Health has announced it will continue to invest in the Specialist Training Program (STP) for the next three years, extending funding through to 2020. In addition, the Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) initiative will continue with the allocation of 50 new positions, distributed across all colleges for 2018.

The Department has also announced several key reforms to the STP, which will be implemented from 2018 onwards; as well as a review of the Tasmanian Project to be undertaken in 2018, with key reforms implemented in 2019.

The STP reforms include: 

• a review of all existing (legacy) STP training positions to ensure they meet the aims and objectives of STP, with funding to be phased out for those posts that no longer comply with these objectives
• College targets set by the Department to achieve an overall national increase of 18 per cent in rural posts, reflecting the Government’s determination to address workforce maldistribution
• direct investment by the Department in specialties with potential workforce shortages is being addressed by analysing and evaluating specialties to determine an over or undersupply.

The RACP will be directly affected by these reforms, in particular gastroenterology is a specialty determined by the Department to be in oversupply and will not receive STP funding from 2018. 

In addition, the RACP’s overall number of STP positions funded by the Department will be reduced in 2018, which will alter the funding available. The College will offer 12 month funding and administration agreements to ongoing STP training posts in order to facilitate the implementation of these changes.

Colleges have been given greater flexibility to manage the program including managing Rural Support Loading (RSL) and Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) payments.  

Overall, the reforms are aimed at making the STP more efficient and effective within the context of the current fiscal environment. Refer to the STP Review Findings Report for more information.

If you would like further information or have any questions, contact the Specialist Training Program team at stp@racp.edu.au or on +61 2 9256 9665.