UPDATE – Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) Specialist Training Program (STP)

2026/27 Program Overview

It has been some time since our December 2025 article was published in CICM Connect announcing funding extension for the 2026/27 clinical year. 

The College has funded a total 21 full time equivalent (FTE) training positions for the 2026/27 clinical year.  This total includes an additional 3FTE training positions funded through using unspent STP and Tasmanian Project funds.

The College’s funded training positions under each stream for 2026/27 clinical year are as follows:

The College is also offering the following support project opportunities for STP trainee and Supervisor of Training (SOTs) this year:

a) Echocardiography Training opportunity - Available to STP funded training facilities located in regional, rural and remote areas.
b) Essentials in Paediatric Intensive Care (EPIC) Course – To be held in Adelaide on 3 and 4 September 2026.  We may also be able to offer an additional EPIC course in February/March 2027 - watch this space.
c) Basic Paediatric Echocardiography Course (BPEC) – To be held in Adelaide on 23 and 24 October 2026.
d) The SOT Online Learning Module was completed last year and further enhanced through the production of additional Feedback videos.  These videos will be valuable resources and can be used as a guide for managing difficult conversations.

In addition, we also produced three examination hot case videos within a simulation environment.  We believe these resources will be highly beneficial for Trainees preparing for the Second Part Examination, examiners, as well as SOTs and consultants involved in teaching.  Most importantly, they will support Trainees and consultants in regional, rural and remote settings where there may be limited or no access to examiners.  

The exam hot case videos aim to provide greater visibility and understanding of what is expected in a hot case examination.  Initially, these resources will be available only to SOTs, with broader access planned in the near future - so watch this space.

STP Funding for 2027/28 Clinical Year

The 2026/27 federal budget announced that the “Government will … extend the current Specialist Training Program grant agreement with specialist medical colleges by one year from February 2027."

The College will contact the regularly funded training positions in the coming days once further information is received from the DoHDA confirming the funding arrangements for the 2027/28 clinical year.

Any potential opportunity to fund additional STP training positions for the 2027/28 clinical year will only be able to be confirmed following completion of the audited financial acquittals in October 2026.

STP Re-design and Implementation

Following the STP evaluation in 2024, the DoHDA engaged KPMG to undertake the stakeholder consultation and co-design the new STP model.  The co-design process commenced in the second half of 2025 and involved more than 65 stakeholder groups, including a two-day workshop held in November 2025.  

Considering the scale and complexity of the work involved, the DoHDA has advised that additional time is required to consider the proposed reforms, including transitional arrangements and implementation processes. At this stage, the DoHDA has not provided a timeframe for launching the new model or any information on what the new model may look like.

The College will continue to keep you informed as further information becomes available.

Currently, the College is awaiting confirmation regarding funding extension and arrangements for the 2027/28 clinical year.  Regular funded training posts will be contacted once further information is received from the DoHDA.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the program, please contact us via email at [email protected].