Specialist Training Program

The Specialist Training Program (STP) is an Australian Government initiative which seeks to extend vocational training for specialist registrars outside traditional metropolitan teaching hospitals, including regional, rural and remote, and private facilities.

The aims and objectives of the STP 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
support quality training posts that build the overall training capacity in the system, by extending specialist training into new “expanded” healthcare settings
contribute to improving medical workforce distribution.

More information

For more information on STP, visit Australian Government Department of Health Specialist Training Program.

CICM contact
For any specific questions in relation to STP at CICM, contact the STP Co-Ordinator.

Why STP
STP Streams
STP Reporting
STP Support Projects
STP FAQ

The following short films were produced to promote STP funded training positions located in regional and rural areas. These productions were funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health’s Specialist Training Program (STP).

The College acknowledges the support of trainees, intensive care consultants, all media personnel and members of the College involved in the production of these films and appreciate them sharing their experiences with us to promote rural training in intensive care medicine.

Alice Springs Hospital
The beating heart of Australia’s Red Centre. A city full of arts, events and culture despite its remoteness. 'The best place to learn more about Aboriginal Health'.

Mackay Health Service
A city that soaks up under the tropical sun. 'One of the best locations for Anesthetics and Intensive care medicine training'.

Orange Health Service
Famous for its fresh produce, colourful foliage and snowy winters, Orange is a gorgeous getaway in Country NSW. 'A place where you can complete most of your core training'.

Grampians Health
Victoria's third largest city, located just over an hour by road or rail. 'A place that will train you to step-in to the next level'.

The STP Operational Framework applies to the entire Specialist Training Program funded under the Health Workforce Program fund.

Specialist Training Placements and Support
It supports 900 training posts in Australia. Out of this, the College funds and administers fourteen training posts located in public and private health care settings within metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas. Funds available under the Placements and Support include: Salary support for trainees Rural Support Loading (RSL) - available to complement the additional costs incurred by STP trainees working in the training sites in regional and remote Australia. STP uses the Monash Modified Model 2019 version to define rurality of locations. Private Infrastructure Clinical Supervision (PICS) - allowance recognises the cost of delivering training in the private sector with funding designed to contribute to meeting these costs. Funds are provided to the training settings to assist in the provision of a high-quality training environment for both trainees and supervisors Educational Support Project funding

Specialist Training Placements and Support

It supports 900 training posts in Australia. Out of this, the College funds and administers fourteen training posts located in public and private health care settings within metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas.

Funds available under the Placements and Support include:

Salary support for trainees
Rural Support Loading (RSL) - available to complement the additional costs incurred by STP trainees working in the training sites in regional and remote Australia. STP uses the Monash Modified Model 2019 version to define rurality of locations.
Private Infrastructure Clinical Supervision (PICS) - allowance recognises the cost of delivering training in the private sector with funding designed to contribute to meeting these costs. Funds are provided to the training settings to assist in the provision of a high-quality training environment for both trainees and supervisors
Educational Support Project funding

Integrated Rural Training Pipeline – Specialist Training Program (IRTP-STP)
The IRTP-STP posts funding that will enable a specialist trainee to complete at least two thirds of their Fellowship training within a rural regional location, with only limited metropolitan rotations where it is necessary to meet college educational and accreditation standards. The College funds and administers two training positions under this stream. IRTP-STP funding contributes to salary support and rural support loading of the trainee.

Integrated Rural Training Pipeline – Specialist Training Program (IRTP-STP)

The IRTP-STP posts funding that will enable a specialist trainee to complete at least two thirds of their Fellowship training within a rural regional location, with only limited metropolitan rotations where it is necessary to meet college educational and accreditation standards. The College funds and administers two training positions under this stream.

IRTP-STP funding contributes to salary support and rural support loading of the trainee.

Tasmanian Project
The Tasmanian Program aims to support approved specialist fellowship training undertaken and completed in Tasmania and support the training and retention of specialist doctors in the Tasmanian health system. The College funds and administers a 1.0 FTE training and a 0.33 FTE supervisory position under this stream.

Performance reports are due from units on following dates:

Reporting Period	Report Due Date
Semester 1, 2026 (2/2/2026 – 2/8/2026)	17 August 2026
Semester 2, 2026 (3/8/2026 – 31/1/2027)	15 February 2027

For more information on how rural loading and PICS funding can be used, as well as details on the college payment process, please refer to the following documents:

The College offers a range of education opportunities to STP trainees and STP Supervisors of Training (SoTs). These opportunities are available to CICM STP trainees and SoTs who are enrolled in the program between the 2022/23 to 2026/27 clinical years.

Inclusions for STP trainees and SoTs:

Complementary course registration.
One return economy class air fare for interstate attendees.
Accommodation (room only) – for those residing outside metropolitan areas. (Travel and accommodation will be arranged by the College, with accommodation based on your course travel itinerary)

To find out about the educational opportunities available in 2026 and for further
information, please contact [email protected]

What are the eligibility criteria for STP funding?

For a training post to be eligible for STP funding the post must be based in either:

A Public regional/rural/remote hospital located within Monash Modified Model 2-7 or
A Private Hospital.

and the post must:

be accredited for training towards the Fellowship of the College of Intensive Care Medicine; and
have an FTE of between a minimum of 0.5 FTE per year and a maximum of 1.0 FTE per year; and
be a minimum three month position; and
be a new position representing a genuine expansion of training – this could be an additional position at an existing accredited teaching hospital.

What is not eligible for funding under the STP?

Post-fellowship training.
General Practice training.
Direct costs associated with accreditation of training posts.
Training posts funded under the STP may not be occupied by overseas trainees employed by hospitals in other countries seeking a rotation through expanded settings with Australia.
Training posts, which are not considered new ones. A position will not be considered new if it has been funded by another organisation for more than 12 months within the last three years. Additionally, a position that was funded by another organisation within the last 12 months will need to conclusively demonstrate that its funding is not ongoing. This allows for short-term funding from organisations such as charitable trusts. In this context, positions funded by the applicant organisation or a state and territory government will not be considered new and will be ineligible for STP support.

What is the application process for STP funding?

STP is an Australian Government initiative funded under the Health Workforce Program fund. The College plays a vital role by administering and managing intensive care medicine funding allocation under the program.

The Department of Health is responsible for the STP program policy and management of applications through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for funding. An EOI lodged by a training setting may be determined by the Department as suitable for inclusion on the Reserve List following an assessment by the relevant jurisdiction, and assessment and recommendation by the College.

In order for an EOI to be rated suitable and form part of a college reserve list it must be supported by both the jurisdiction and college. There is no appeal process for the EOI.

How often are Expression of Interest (EOI) rounds being held?

The Department conducts EOI rounds at least every two years or as required, identifying additional training posts to add to the college’s STP reserve list. Any such round would be governed by principles and relevant processes outlined in the STP Operational Framework.

How and when is funding paid to sites?

STP funding is paid to the training sites twice per year, at the end of each semester:

Semester 1 – End of rotation 1 and 2
Semester 2 – End of rotation 2 and 3

Training sites must submit completed STP Reports to the college by the due date for payments.
For Rural Support Loading (RSL) and Private Infrastructure Clinical Supervision (PICS) Allowance, documentary evidence supporting expense claims must be provided. RSL and PICS funds can only be paid for approved items.

Please refer to CICM RSL and PICS Guidelines documents for more information.

If a training post is vacant, can the site access STP funding for the vacant period?

No - If the training site failed to recruit and place a suitable trainee (CICM trainee) for the funded post, the unit will not receive STP funding allocation (salary support / RSL / PICS) for the period.

The training site must notify the College immediately if an STP funded training post is going to be vacant for 3 months or beyond, so the College can re-allocate STP funding to a training site on the STP Reserve List.