The Specialist Training Program

The Specialist Training Program (STP) is a funding initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

What is STP?

There are around 900 STP-funded training positions across Australia, administered by 13 medical colleges. The RACP currently manages around 356 positions. Find out more information here.

Project funding support

In addition to the STP funded program, the RACP receives funding for projects. We submit projects for grant opportunities on your behalf to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing which complement the Specialist Training Program.

STP promotion campaign

The STP Promotion Campaign (2020–2026) showcases the unique opportunities and rewarding experiences available through rural training in the Specialist Training Program (STP). Funded by the Australian Government, the campaign was developed to inspire Royal Australasian College of Physicians trainees to explore rural training pathways through a dynamic video series featuring real stories from doctors and supervisors.

Hear from former STP trainees as they reflect on their rural training journey, the breadth of clinical experience they gained, and how these opportunities have shaped their careers, including many who now continue to serve rural communities as consultant physicians. STP supervisors also share their perspectives on the outstanding quality of training in rural settings, the close mentorship available, and the diverse range of medical cases that make rural practice both professionally enriching and deeply impactful.

Discover how the STP is building strong rural training pathways and supporting the next generation of specialist physicians to thrive where they are needed most – In our own words

 

“As a junior doctor working in an Indigenous community, I had a bit of an epiphany when I realised that a lot of the things that drew me to international health and global health were actually present in our backyard.”

Dr Anna Holwell, Alice Springs Hospital