The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists is an initiative of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Each Specialist College contributes to the operation and management of the Scheme.
Round Seven SSRS Projects have now concluded with Final reports indicating some excellent results.
Round Eight Guidelines for Accessing Project Funding
The SSRS is calling for project applications under Streams A and B of the Scheme aimed at supporting the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of specialists in rural Australia. Rural specialists are encouraged to liaise with their respective College with regard to future CPD project ideas. To assist the application for funding process under Round Eight of the Scheme, please view the following documents:
Applications for funding close at 5:00pm on Thursday 23 October, 2008.
The SSRS Program Management Unit is available to provide feedback in relation to project ideas and draft applications. Please direct these and any other enquiries to SSRS Program Manager, Mr Chris Rule on (02) 9256 9605 or e-mail chris.rule@ruralspecialist.org.au.
Round Seven Projects
Projects funded under Round Seven of the Scheme concluded in August 2008 with Final Reports indicating that SSRS Projects have continued to provide high quality CPD and professional support activities for medical specialists practising in rural and remote areas of Australia. Round Seven has seen the participation of approximately 550 individual rural specialists and more than 160 CPD events. Project evaluations have indicated that participants across SSRS projects have:
Changed areas of their current practice in response to learning’s.
Improved clinical skills and confidence.
Improved clinical audit skills.
Acquired new knowledge, particularly in areas of best practice.
Improved peer networking opportunities.
Reduced feelings of professional isolation.
In addition, several projects have involved audit and data collection, enabling rural partitioners to identify where improvements to practice can be made to ensure the continued provision of high level health care to their patients.
The SSRS would like to thank all those involved in coordinating SSRS projects under Round Seven of the Scheme, including dedicated specialist Doctors and College staff.
We look forward to continuing to work with Colleges on this important initiative.
Picture: Participants training in the management of paediatric emergencies at the Sydney Medical Simulation Centre for the SSRS/RACP Round Seven Project titled 'Building Capacity for Simulation Training to Address Learning Needs of Rural Specialists Managing Sick Children', June 2008.
SSRS CPD Grants for Isolated Specialists
The SSRS will again offer CPD Grants of up to $5,000 to isolated specialists living and working in Rural Zones 2 and 3 or Remote Zones 1 and 2 under the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification (RRMA). These Grants will be offered for use during the 2009 calendar year and it is anticipated that a call for applications will be advertised later this year.
Please visit the SSRS website for regular updates.
10th National Rural Health Conference
The 10th National Rural Health Conference will be held in Cairns, Qld from 17 - 20 May 2009. The Conference belongs to everyone in the rural and remote health sector and is a major opportunity for you to say where you want rural and remote health to be in two and five years’ time.
Call for abstracts
Abstracts are now being sought for the 10th Conference. Abstracts can be submitted via the Conference website or faxed to 02 6285 4670.
