Applications are assessed by an assessment panel made up of members of the RHCE Program Management Committee. The panel ranks applications against the RHCE Selection Criteria (which are included in the guidelines).
Weighting will be given to applications which address the CPD needs of specialists according to:
1. level of remoteness
2. level of multidisciplinary involvement
3. applicants not having already received and RHCE grant

Guidelines and relevant information are included with the application form. http://www.ruralspecialist.org.au/application-forms-guidelines.aspx

Application forms with guidelines for both individual specialist CPD grants and project grants are available to download from the RHCE website:
http://www.ruralspecialist.org.au/application-forms-guidelines.aspx

Funding under Stream One of RHCE is available to rural and remote medical specialists and Specialist Medical Colleges to support activities for specialists working in inner regional (RA2) to very remote areas (RA5) of Australia (using the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ADGC-RA) system). More information on the remoteness classification is available online via:
http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/Content/Locator.

Priority is given to applicants from more remote areas.

No retrospective funding will be allocated to events attended before the closing date of the call for application of the Funding Round. Whilst CPD events may be attended between the closing date for applications and notification of the outcome of application reimbursement of these expenses will, understandable, only be possible if the application were successful.

You are eligible to apply, however, in the needs assessment an applicant will rank higher if they have not received funding from RHCE in the past 12 months. Please also note priority will be given depending on level of remoteness.

No, the CPD event must be accomplished in Australia.

Multiple applications can be submitted. Each application will be assessed separately.

Details all projects funded by RHCE can be found here:
http://www.ruralspecialist.org.au/projects/

Contact the College contact for further details.

Information on the remoteness classification of any town or community in Australia is available online via:
http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/Content/Locator

Eligibility for RHCE Stream One grant is Medical Specialists who live and work in areas determined using The Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ADGC-RA) system categories 2 to 5.

The application form must be completed both electronically and in print. The printed copy needs to be signed. Both completed electronic copy and signed hard copy should be sent to your Specialist Medical College contact person for their verification. The College will submit your application to the RHCE Program Management Unit.

A contact list of Specialist Medical College contacts is included in the application form.

To ensure applications are lodged by the closing date, please allow your relevant Specialist Medical College contact person sufficient time for thorough consideration of your application.

Applicants are assessed against other applications therefore any change in CPD event is reviewed by the Program Management Committee on a case by case basis. Please contact the RHCE PMU for further information.

No, trainees are not eligible to apply for individual grants. This funding scheme is for specialists.

IMGs who are undertaking Specialist Medical College requirements for specialist recognition following assessment by the College via the Australian Medical Council Specialist Assessment Pathway are eligible to apply. For more information contact your College.

Applications from applicants who are eligible for other sources of funding will be accepted, but will be viewed in the light of that information.

In this funding round there is a 12 month deadline to spend the grant.

There is a limit of $2,000 a day, with a maximum of 5 days. Please note travel and expenses guidelines apply in order to ensure efficient use of Commonwealth funds. These travel and expense guidelines are included in the application form.

Local opportunities specialist have in seeking support for CPD either via their employer or from other sources will be taken into account when considering applications.

The timeline of all processing, assessing and notifying the application is 2 months. Should the CPD event be attended all receipts must be kept for reimbursement should the application be successful.

Colleges can submit multiple applications, however the applications must be ranked according to College priority.

Funds cannot to be used for the purchase of equipment, computer hardware or other assets, and may not be used to purchase any off-the-shelf software, such as Microsoft Office.

However, funding may be used to purchase or develop task-specific software for the project.

All funding applications must be supported and lodged through a Specialist Medical College. RHCE strong encourages the involvement of practicing specialists in the development and implementation of applications. Please contact your Specialist Medical College contact person.
If the application is successful in receiving funding, the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) enters into a Funding Agreement with the College.

Yes, however all spending of RHCE grant funds must cease on 30 April 2013.

To apply for funding for an inter-college collaborative project, one College must be the lead of the project with the other Colleges stated as sub-contractors. This must be stated in section 8 of the application form.

A written agreement for all participating Colleges must be included in the application. In this written agreement the following must be specified:

• In what capacity Colleges are collaborating
• The collaborative College contact person, and
• The agreed budget of expenditure of the collaborating College.

If the application is successful the Lead College will receive a funding agreement from the CPMC and a sub-contract must be drawn up between the project lead College and the other Colleges participating.

The CPMC owns the Intellectual Property of all resources and materials produced with RHCE grant funding. At the discretion and with the written agreement of CPMC a non-commercial license may be granted for the ongoing use of any derived intellectual property.

The Funding Agreement is with the Specialist Medical College that submits the application. If a third party is carrying out any work for the project, a sub-contract between the Specialist Medical College and the third party must be drawn up.