September 27, 2023 – The Albanese Government has taken a significant step in advancing specialist training for First Nations doctors and medical students by providing a substantial $900,000 funding boost to the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA).
AIDA, a not-for-profit peak organization representing First Nations doctors and medical students, will utilize this funding to enhance the provision of culturally safe, respectful, and responsive non-GP medical specialist training for First Nations individuals, ensuring equitable access to these critical resources.
In addition to facilitating access, the funding aims to bolster the recruitment and retention of First Nations doctors pursuing or currently engaged in non-GP specialist medical training.
To date, this initiative has positively impacted over 40 doctors and medical students, offering them 200 hours of culturally tailored support. This support encompasses performance coaching, advocacy, and culturally sensitive assistance, fostering an environment for sharing experiences and knowledge in a culturally secure space.
This funding initiative operates under the banner of the Specialist Trainee Support Program (STSP), a collaborative project led by AIDA, in partnership with all 13 non-GP Specialist Medical Colleges. The STSP is dedicated to enhancing the recruitment, selection, and retention of First Nations specialist trainees. It also places a heightened emphasis on cultural safety within medical college-led training and provides personalized one-on-one support to both current and prospective trainees.
By empowering this workforce, the STSP is contributing to the growth of the First Nations healthcare workforce, reducing obstacles for doctors to practice and train in remote and rural areas, and bolstering the number of trainees in specializations facing undersupply.
This initiative aligns harmoniously with the National Medical Workforce Strategy, a comprehensive plan set to guide healthcare reform in Australia over the next decade. The strategy focuses on addressing service gaps and inefficiencies, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided across the nation.
