Update: Clinical Training Funding - Request for Proposals

11 May 2010

As announced by Health Ministers on 22 April 2010, a significant expansion of clinical training capacity for health and medical professionals is underway as part of the $1.6 billion Hospital and Health Workforce Reform National Partnership Agreement announced by COAG in November 2008.

Heath Workforce Australia (HWA) will soon call for proposals from government agencies (including government health and aged care providers), universities and non-government health and aged care providers to support the increase in clinical training for professional entry health disciplines from the 2011 academic year. The call for proposals will be advertised in all major daily newspapers on 15 May 2010. Funding is available through the request for proposals to deliver additional clinical training in public, non-government, health, aged care and university sectors across Australia. Recurrent funding will be available to support growth in clinical training, and will build up to approximately $145m annually.

In addition there will be one-off incentive funding to support establishment and start up costs associated with new clinical training activity. Priority will be given to develop capacity in underserviced areas and new settings, for example, rural and remote areas, primary care, mental health, aged care, dental and private sector settings. This incentive component will be a one-off allocation of $70m and is in addition to the $67 million recently committed by the Commonwealth Government under the Increased Clinical Training Capacity Grants. The 24 disciplines agreed by Health Ministers as eligible for funding support are listed at Attachment A. It is important to note that this does not mean that all proposals will receive funding from HWA, as priorities will be determined as part of the request for proposal process.

Government agencies (including government health and aged care providers), universities and government and non-government health and aged care providers seeking financial support to expand clinical training capacity should note the scheduled times and locations, and register to attend.

Please note that the request for proposals documentation will not be released on the website until 9am, Saturday 15 May 2010.