The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS) is a program aimed at improving access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities for specialist medical practitioners living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Under this Scheme, 'rural and remote’ are classified according to the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) classification system. While Darwin (NT) and Townsville (QLD) are not considered rural under this definition, due to isolation by distance they are considered eligible as ‘rural’ for this Program.
Operation of the Scheme is a major activity of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges through the Medical Colleges and their Faculties and is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing.
The SSRS was initiated at the end of 2002 following a report commissioned in December 2001 by the Office of Rural Health of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Research was undertaken in order to provide advice to the Department about the types of strategies that would effectively attract and retain specialists in rural areas, and appropriate ways to deliver this support, to assist in future policy planning.
The Report identified a number of disincentives for specialists practising in rural areas including: professional isolation and lack of access to medical education and continuing professional development. The SSRS Program was established to assist with addressing these two issues. The objectives of the SSRS are to:
- Provide professional support to medical specialists practising in rural and remote areas of Australia, including through continuing professional development and peer support.
- Identify future training and capacity building practices for rural specialist services in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Under Round Seven, funded from August 2007 - August 2008, the SSRS has supported the implementation of 12 projects targeting the CPD and peer support needs of specialists practicing in rural and remote Australia. Further information about these projects can be viewed by clicking on the projects tab of this website.
