The Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program funds non-general practitioner specialist medical training approaches. It aims to broaden the skills of the specialist workforce, bring more specialists to regional areas, and ensure all Australians can access high-quality care.
The FATES program is an annual Grant Opportunity for specialist medical colleges over four years from 2021 – 2025. FATES offers an innovative funding pool to encourage projects that support:
FATES will fund grant proposals from specialist medical colleges that develop training approaches for non-general practitioner specialist medical trainees, for activities that focus on:
FATES complements the Specialist Training Program, and supports implementation of the National Medical Workforce Strategy.
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Non-GP Specialist Trainee Support Program
This Grant was to establish a non-GP Specialist Trainee Support Program (STSP) to augment the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander doctors who wish to commence or are currently undertaking non-GP specialist medical training.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), as consortium lead, administered the funding on behalf of the consortium of specialist medical colleges and commissioned the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) to lead the development, management, and implementation of the Grant with the objective to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non-GP Specialists.
The consortia consist of the:
Full details, including its progress and Evaluation Report, can be found on AIDA’s website here.