Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP)

Purpose and Program Overview

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) is an Australian Government initiative. Its goal is to support rural general practitioners (GPs). The grants help them maintain and improve their skills in procedural and emergency medicine. This includes specialties like surgery, anaesthetics, and obstetrics.

The program helps cover the costs of continuing professional development (CPD) activities. This ensures rural and remote communities have access to high-quality healthcare. The grants assist with expenses like course fees, travel, and locum relief.

The RPGP plays a key role in supporting the rural medical workforce. It helps to retain skilled doctors in rural areas. This ensures that people living in these communities continue to receive essential health services.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $32,000 per financial year, with different caps for each component.
• Application open and close dates: The program is ongoing. Claims can be made for eligible activities completed in the current and previous financial year.
• Eligible industries or business types: Rural general practitioners, including those who are Vocationally Recognised or in a Fellowship pathway with the RACGP or ACRRM. Eligible locum GPs also qualify.
• Required co-contributions: Not mandatory.
• Location/state/territory applicability: Australia, specifically for doctors working in rural and remote areas classified as Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3 to 7.

Priority Sectors

The Rural Procedural Grants Program is specific to procedural medicine. Priority is given to GPs who practise in the following areas:

• Surgery
• Anaesthetics
• Obstetrics
• Emergency medicine
• Emergency mental health services

Funding Scope

• Minimum and maximum amounts per stream: The procedural stream offers up to $20,000 per financial year. The emergency medicine stream offers up to $6,000 per financial year.
• Categories or streams of funding: Funding is split into two components: procedural and emergency medicine. An additional grant of up to $6,000 per year is available for emergency mental health training.
• Project timeline or eligible funding duration: Grants are allocated per financial year. Unused funds do not roll over.

Grant Amount in Total

The total program funding is not a single annual pool. The Australian Government funds the program through the Department of Health and Aged Care. It is administered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a Vocationally Recognised GP or be enrolled in a Fellowship pathway with either ACRRM or the RACGP.
• They must provide services in a location classified as MMM 3 to 7.
• They must hold or have unsupervised clinical practice privileges in surgery, anaesthetics, obstetrics, or emergency medicine.
• They must be on a regular roster or on-call roster.
• Locum doctors must have worked a minimum of 28 days in eligible areas per financial year.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The grant supports various professional development activities. This includes:

• Course costs for approved CPD activities.
• Travel and accommodation expenses related to training.
• Locum relief costs.
• Clinical attachments.

Assessment Process

This is a claim-based program. It is not competitive in the traditional sense. Once a doctor registers for the program and completes an eligible activity, they can lodge a claim. The RACGP and ACRRM assess each claim for eligibility and compliance with program guidelines.

Recent Program Updates

The Rural Procedural Grants Program has been updated to include online education. Online training is now eligible for a grant payment. This includes activities with an interactive component or assessment.

Application Tips

• You must register for the program before attending any activity you want to claim.
• Keep all documentation, such as course certificates or attendance records.
• Confirm with your college (RACGP or ACRRM) that a course is eligible for the grant.
• Submit claims promptly to ensure payment within the correct financial year.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives. You can also visit relevant government websites for application templates and further guidance.