Specialist Training Program

About the program

The Specialist Training Program helps cover the salaries of trainee specialists in training positions outside the traditional metropolitan teaching hospitals.

It gives participants experience of a broader range of healthcare settings, including:

• private hospitals
• specialist rooms
• clinics and day surgeries
• Aboriginal Medical Services
• non-clinical settings.

The program supports training posts through specialist medical colleges, including:

• 920 training places
• an additional 100 training posts through the Integrated Rural Training Pipeline
• supervisor and trainee positions, as well as education and infrastructure, under the Tasmanian Project. 

Aims of the program

The Specialist Training Program aims to:

• improve the specialist workforce by providing quality training posts in different settings to broaden the participants’ experiences
• increase the number of specialists working in regional, rural and remote areas.

How the program works

To help cover the annual salary of trainee specialists, we provide colleges with:

• $105,000 per full-time equivalent position
• an additional $25,000 Rural Support Loading allowance for training positions in regional, rural and remote areas
• a Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision allowance of $30,000 for training positions in a private sector setting.

Who delivers the training

Training must take place in a facility accredited by one of the 13 specialist medical colleges that have a funding agreement with us.

These colleges set professional standards, accredit training settings and coordinate education and training of future college fellows.

The funded colleges are:

• Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)
• Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP)
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
• College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM)
• Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA).

Eligibility

Specialist training places

Trainees must complete at least half of their specialist training in an expanded setting outside of a metropolitan public hospital. This could include a:

• rural area classified as Modified Monash Model 2 to 7 locations
• private setting
• aged care service
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service and Aboriginal Medical Service
• community health organisation.

Integrated Rural Training Pipeline

Under the Integrated Rural Training Pipeline, specialist trainees:

• must show a commitment to working in a rural area
• must complete at least two-thirds of their fellowship training (2 years) in a rural area
• may complete metropolitan rotations, to meet college education and accreditation standards.

Tasmanian project

Funding under the Tasmanian Project supports the training and retention of specialist doctors in the Tasmanian public health system.

Apply for a new training post under the STP

The new post process is the only way that new posts can be approved for funding.

The new post process applies to 2 funding sub-streams:

• Specialist Training Places and Support, also known as Specialist Training Program core (STP)
• Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP).

2025 Reserve List Process

The STP has recently been independently evaluated to assess the appropriateness, effectiveness, and impact of the program. The evaluation findings are currently being finalised and will inform the future policy direction of the program beyond the current funding agreement, at the discretion of the government. 

Given this, and the current funding cycle, the STP agreements are set finish at the end of this year, the Department does not consider it appropriate to hold the process this year. As such the 2025 Reserve List application period will not be undertaken this year.

Contact