Specialist Training Program (STP)

The Specialist Training Program provides support to enable medical specialist trainees to rotate through an expanded range of settings beyond traditional public teaching hospitals.

From 1 January 2010 the Specialist Training Program (STP) became the single platform for grants support for specialist training inititatives. Previous programs now consolidated under the STP include:

Expanded Specialist Training Program (ESTP)
Outer Metropolitan Specialist Trainee Program (OMSTP)
Advanced Specialist Training Posts in Rural Areas (ASTPRA)
Pathology Memorandum of Understanding (Path MoU)
Overseas Trained Specialist Upskilling Program
Psychiatry Training Outside Teaching Hospitals (PTOTH) and
Supporting best practice and workforce in pathology and diagnostic imaging.

The aims and objectives of the new program are to:

increase the capacity of the health care sector to provide high quality, appropriate training opportunities to facilitate the required educational experiences for specialists in training
supplement the available specialist workforce in outer metropolitan, rural and remote locations and
develop specialist training arrangements beyond traditional teaching hospitals.

This program seeks to establish and support a variety of training posts which form part of an integrated program of learning for specialist trainees pursuing a fellowship program. The level of funding available for each training post is $100,000 (ex GST) per FTE.

In addition to establishing specialist training posts/positions, the program will provide funds for a range of support activities, including:

developing system wide education and infrastructure support projects to enhance training opportunities for eligible trainees, with a particular focus on supporting training posts and positions in regional and rural areas, and private settings and
developing support projects aimed at Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) to assist these doctors gain Fellowship in a timely and efficient manner.

An application round for 2011 training posts closed on 1 March 2010.

Please note: All posts/positions that have previously received funding under the programs which are now consolidated under the STP were required to reapply for funding in 2011.

Specialist Training Program guidelines
STP priority framework
Application assessment principles

The department's advisory committee for STP is the Enhanced Medical Education Advisory Committee (EMEAC).

For further information about the Specialist Training Program, email specialist.training@health.gov.au.