3 May 2022

The RACP says it’s welcome news that the Government is committing to increasing GPs and allied healthcare workers in regional areas but says increasing access to specialists through expanding specialist training programs is also a must.

RACP President-elect Dr Jacqueline Small says “Any move that increases the capacity of our healthcare system in regional areas is a welcome one.

“Unfortunately, there remains a significant shortage of non-GP specialists in many rural and regional areas, and we encourage the Government to expand the program to allow for more positions for specialists to be trained. 

“There is no shortage of interest in these positions – the limiting factor is available government funding.

“The RACP has a waiting list of well over 100 STP positions that are currently unfunded by the program, and we are likely to add even more during this year’s STP Expression of Interest round.

“These training places are a critical component in ensuring communities have access to specialist health care.

“We also would like to see commitments of longer-term planning and funding to address regional healthcare shortages that go beyond election cycles.

"The RACP currently administers around 380 specialist training program positions across Australia. This number of places is unlikely to be enough to address the under resourcing in regional areas. “

In March, the Federal Government’s budget committed to renewing the current specialist training program. The RACP welcomed this decision, but called for it to be expanded to allow for more places, and longer term funding.

“The most common request we receive from medical facilities and physicians is about securing funding for additional training positions.

“The STP program has been now in place for 10 years and it has been some time since the base program has added funding for additional STP positions.

“We also know that expanding specialist training in regional areas helps to improve access to specialist care for Indigenous communities.” Dr Small said.

You can find out more about the RACP’s guide to improving specialist access for Australian Indigenous communities here: https://www.racp.edu.au/advocacy/policy-and-advocacy-priorities/medical-specialist-access-framework

FOOTAGE AVAILABLE: RACP’s ‘specialist training program’ video series interviews Trainees in Alice Springs, Broome, and the Illawarra about their training program. https://www.racp.edu.au/fellows/specialist-training-program/in-our-own-words