The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS) is a program aimed at improving access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities for specialist medical practitioners living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia. The Scheme operates through a funding round application process, whereby Specialist Medical Colleges nominate a project(s) and apply to SSRS for funding from one of two funding streams – the clinical and professional skills stream or the quality improvement stream (a third stream allows for individual remote specialists to receive a $5000 grant for CPD). The current specific objectives of the SSRS are to:
- Provide opportunities for colleges to identify, develop and deliver continuing professional development and peer support projects that meet the needs of specialists and trainees living and working in rural and remote areas of Australia.
- Assist colleges to identify project frameworks and models for delivering continuing professional development for medical specialists and trainees living and working in rural and remote areas of Australia.
- Assist colleges to collaborate on delivering multidisciplinary and generic continuing professional development programs that support medical specialists and trainees living and working in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Under this Scheme, 'rural and remote’ are classified according to the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) classification system. While Darwin (NT) and Townsville (QLD) are not considered rural under this definition, due to isolation by distance they are considered eligible as ‘rural’ for this Program.
Operation of the Scheme is a major activity of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges through the Medical Colleges and their Faculties and is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing.
The SSRS was initiated at the end of 2002 and is the first program in Australia aimed at supporting the CPD needs of the specialist medical workforce. The Program was developed following a report commissioned in December 2001 by the Office of Rural Health of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Research was undertaken in order to provide advice to the Department about the types of strategies that would effectively attract and retain specialists in rural areas, and appropriate ways to deliver this support, to assist in future policy planning.
The Report identified a number of disincentives for specialists practising in rural areas including: professional isolation and lack of access to medical education and continuing professional development, and the SSRS Program was established to assist with addressing these two issues.
Round Eight of the SSRS has supported 14 projects to be implemented by Specialist Medical Colleges during the 2009 calendar year. In addition, individual grants of up to $5,000 will be available to remote specialists, to support their access to CPD. Further information about these projects can be viewed by clicking on the projects tab of this website.
