This program provides support to doctors over two stages of their training journey the first to maintain procedural skills while completing their GP training and the second for newly qualified Rural Generalists as they move from training into independent clinical practice. The program provides structured support during the early years to assist participants in building confidence, consolidating skills, and developing sustainable rural careers.
The program has been developed as a 3-year pilot commencing in 2026 to support RG Trainees and RGs with advanced skills in Obstetrics or Anaesthetics.
The program supports two groups of doctors:
Rural Generalist trainees who have completed Advanced Skills Training (AST) in Obstetrics or Anaesthetics and are completing GP Fellowship training in general practice.
Recently fellowed Rural Generalists with advanced skills in Obstetrics or Anaesthetics who are commencing independent procedural practice in rural NSW.
Maintaining procedural skills during fellowship training and transitioning into independent procedural practice can be challenging, particularly in smaller rural and remote communities.
The program has been developed to:
The initial pilot focuses on Rural Generalists and Rural Generalist Trainees with advanced skills in:
To be eligible, applicants must:
Yes, if a doctor has completed the Skills Maintenance and is eligible for the Transition to Independent practice, the LHD is able to submit an application for continued support.
The Program provides funding to the LHD to allow 2 doctors to undertake the same activity at the same time (i.e. trainee and supervisor, or RG and a mentor).
Examples include:
Support is available for up to 12 months.
For the skills maintenance program the activities should be consistent throughout the program as the trainees require ongoing maintenance activities. As confidence, skills and independence are the level of supervision may change over the course of the 12 months.
For RGs, the activities are expected to be greatest at the commencement of the program, when participants may require more frequent procedural exposure and mentorship with support being gradually reduced to independent practice.
The level of support will be tailored to the individual trainee or RG. The exact mix, timing and volume of activities will be determined by the Local Health District, supervising clinicians and college training requirements to meet the individual participants needs.
Funding is available for up to 12 months
Part-time trainees may undertake the program over a longer period, with funding adjusted on a pro-rata basis.
Yes. Funding of up to $100,000 per full-time equivalent participant is available for both program streams for up to 12 months.
Funding is provided to participating Local Health Districts to support supervision, mentoring, procedural opportunities and other approved program activities.
No. Funding is provided to Local Health Districts to support program delivery.
LHDs apply through an annual Expression of Interest process administered by the NSW Ministry of Health.
Funding is provided to participating LHDs to support the delivery of structured supervision, mentoring and procedural training opportunities for Rural Generalist (RG) trainees and recently fellowed RGs.
This includes supporting situations where both the supervisor/mentor and the trainee/RG are involved in the same clinical activity or procedure at the same time.
The funding may be used to:
This funding under this program allows two clinicians to be involved in the same procedure or clinical activity at the same time, which may not otherwise be possible under current funding arrangements.
Yes. Participating LHDs will be required to provide reporting information to support program monitoring and evaluation.
Reporting requirements will be designed to be proportionate and not overly burdensome. LHDs will be asked to provide information on the delivery of the program, including:
This information will help NSW Ministry of Health understand how the program is being delivered across different settings and inform the evaluation of the pilot and future program design.
Expressions of Interest are submitted annually.
For the 2027 clinical year, applications will open in Sept/Oct 2026.
The NSW Ministry of Health will evaluate the pilot over its three-year duration.
Evaluation activities may include:
Findings will help inform future workforce support programs.
Further information about eligibility and the application process please contact the NSW Ministry of Health Medical Workforce team on MOH-MedicalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au .