Specialist Training Program (STP)
The Australian Government’s Specialist Training Program (STP) is a funding initiative to increase training posts for specialists outside traditional public teaching hospitals, including in rural, remote and private facilities.
ACSEP currently has funding to administer 4 STP Sport and Exercise Medicine posts in settings including private, rural and Aboriginal health settings.
Aims and Objectives:
The aims and objectives of the STP are detailed in the STP Operational Framework as follows:
- enhance the capacity of the health care sector to provide high quality, appropriate training opportunities to facilitate the required accredited educational experiences for specialists in training;
- support quality accredited training posts that build the overall training capacity in the system, by extending specialist training into new “expanded” healthcare settings; and
- contribute to improving medical workforce supply and distribution.
Eligibility
The following organisations are eligible to apply to join the reserve list for an STP registrar position (0.5FTE minimum):
- Public and private hospitals
- Local Health Networks;
- Rural, regional and remote health services;
- Private health care organisation settings;
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal Medical Services; and
- Community health organisations.
For more information regarding eligibility, please refer to the Department of Health’s STP Operational Framework.
Reserve List Process
The Department of Health runs an annual Reserve List Process in March to allow eligible clinics to express interest in STP or IRTP funding. If sites are found suitable, they can then be placed on the College’s reserve list. Funding may be transferred to posts on the reserve list if vacancies become available.
STP Funding
STP positions are eligible to receive the following (per annum/per 1.0FTE):
- Registrar Salary Support payment indexed annually (see STP - Guidelines for Clinics for amount)
- Between $15,000 - $30,000 (excl. GST) of Rural Support Loading for registrars in rural clinics. For further information, please see the Rural Support Loading Guidelines.
- $30,000 (excl GST) in Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) allowance for clinics in private settings. For further information, please see the PICS Guidelines.
For more information, please see STP – Guidelines for Clinics.
STP Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP)
The Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) initiative is an extension of the existing STP, specifically for rural sites. This involved the creation of 100 new training posts, across participating Colleges. ACSEP currently administers three IRTP training positions.
In addition to the STP aims and objectives, IRTP registrars must:
- Complete at least two-thirds of their fellowship training in a rural area
(Modified Monash Model (MM) 2-7); - Show a commitment to working in rural areas.
IRTP Funding
IRTP positions are eligible to receive the following (per annum/per 1.0FTE):
- Registrar Salary Support payment indexed annually (see IRTP - Guidelines for Clinics for amount)
- Between $15,000 - $30,000 (excl. GST) of Rural Support Loading. For further information, please see the Rural Support Loading Guidelines.
- $25,000 (excl. GST) in Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) allowance for posts in private settings. For further information, please see the PICS Guidelines.
For more information, please see IRTP – Guidelines for Clinics.
For more information about the ACSEP’s administration of STP/IRTP or to register your interest in applying for funding, please contact i.schroeder@acsep.org.au.