Specialist training placements and support

The Specialist Training Program (STP) is an Australian Government initiative that provides funding to health organisations to support specialist medical training experiences in settings beyond traditional public teaching hospitals.

STP posts involve 6-month training rotations in posts located in priority settings such as the private sector, regional, rural and remote areas, and non-hospital settings (e.g. aged care, community health organisations or Aboriginal medical services).

The STP Program is governed through the STP Operational Framework.

Funding for STP posts

Salary support

For 2023 the STP provides organisations with a salary contribution of $107,268.16 (GST exclusive) pro rata, per full time equivalent (FTE) per year.

The duration of the funding awarded is determined by the Department of Health and Aged Care and can be for a single year or for multiple years.

Rural Support Loading

STP Posts in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia may be eligible of up to $30,000 (GST exclusive) pro-rata per full time equivalent (FTE) per year. Rural loading is provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care and managed by the RANZCP and assists with additional costs associated with having an STP training position in regional, rural, and remote settings.

Applicants who are successful in their application for STP funding will have their eligibility for rural loading determined at the time of application.

Rural Support Loading Guidelines [PDF; 642 KB] are available to assist organisations on eligibility, use of funding and payment.

Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision Allowance (PICS)

Under the Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision Allowance (PICS), private-sector organisations with currently funded STP training posts may be eligible for funds to cover infrastructure and clinical supervision.

For each private-sector FTE training post the maximum amount available is $30,000 (GST exclusive) pro-rata per full time equivalent (FTE) per year for clinical supervision and/or infrastructure costs.

Applicants who are successful in their application for STP funding will have their eligibility for the PICS allowance determined at the time of application.

PICS Guidelines [PDF; 815 KB] are available to assist organisations on eligibility, use of funding and payment.

Reporting requirements

All providers of STP posts must complete and submit a Progress Report twice a year, along with an invoice for the eligible funds identified in the communications following approval of your report. 

STP Progress Report

Rotation 1 STP Progress Reports close on 20 August with Rotation 2 STP Reports closing on 20 February of each respective training year. 

Reports are available through our online portal with access provided to a nominated user for each health service. Communications regarding reporting will be undertaken directly with the nominated user.

Please note that:

• a report is to be submitted even if a post has been or will be vacant.
• information regarding the locations a trainee has delivered services or undertaken training must be included
• reports and invoices must be completed prior to the closing date of each rotation i.e. 20 August / 20 February, respectively
• payment terms are 30 days (subject to full completion of reporting requirements). Incomplete information will delay payment.
• until we have received all outstanding reports and invoices you will be unable to claim for the next funding instalment.

STP Posts – changes to approved post parameters

Health services are required to complete an STP Post – Change Request Form if they would like to include new or remove existing training sites (even if they are part of an existing health service portfolio), FTE, trainee level, subspecialty or private/MM2-7 fraction.

STP Post - Change Request Form

The request will be reviewed, and a decision made by the STP Projects Manager, STP Management Committee or STP Committee. Approval is required prior to the change occurring.

Overdue progress reports

If you are unsure of your current reporting status please contact the STP Team at stp@ranzcp.org or 1800 337 448 (select option 5).

Final Report

The Final Report will cover the entire project period.

Eligibility to work in an STP post

Those working in STP posts must be on the RANZCP pathway to Fellowship.

STP posts are rotational, therefore a trainee is not expected to be in a post for more than 2 rotations.

Trainees who are eligible to be in an STP post include:

• trainees registered with a RANZCP Fellowship training program
• Specialist International Medical Graduates on either the partially comparable pathway or the substantially comparable pathway to RANZCP Fellowship.

Trainees who are not eligible to be placed into an STP post:

• Overseas trainees seeking or undertaking Specialist Specified training.

STP training post directory

Current STP posts are listed in the RANZCP's STP training post directory [member sign-in required].