Clinical Training Grants

The Federal Government has released details of two grants aimed at improving the availability of clinical training opportunities for health students. The grants will fund innovative projects to increase capacity but physiotherapists need to be quick, as the applications close on 11 Jan and 27 Jan.

Increased Clinical Training Capacity Grant

Applications are open for the Increased Clinical Training Capacity in 2010 grant, with applications closing on 11 January 2010.

Projects that can be funded by the Federal Government need to demonstrate:

• a collaboration between an educational institution with entry level professional health students in the eligible disciplines and an appropriate provider of clinical training;
• increased clinical teaching or training potential for eligible entry level professional health students;
• ongoing commitment to the provision of high quality clinical training beyond the period of the agreement;
• the ability to provide clinical teaching or training appropriate to the curriculum requirements for the relevant eligible discipline/s;

Projects must increase clinical training for entry level professional health students. This can include, but is not limited to:

• the implementation of new or expanded supervision arrangements;
• short term funding for the implementation of clinical training in expanded or non traditional training settings such as private practice; or
• infrastructure projects.

Go to http://www.health.gov.au/tenders for information and application forms.

Innovative Clinical Teach and Training Grants

Grants of between $100,000 and $5M are also available for infrastructure projects under the Innovative Clincal Teaching and Training Grants program. Applications close on 27 January 2010.

The Federal Government grants are intended for infrastructure projects that:

• are innovative approaches to dealing with the increase in the numbers of people undertaking health professional training and education;
• improve distribution and capacity for teaching and clinical training outside tertiary hospitals; and
• are in settings that may not normally be considered for Commonwealth funding.

Successful projects will help to ensure that students and trainees have access to top-quality facilities, especially in rural and regional areas.

Joint proposals are being sought from educational institutions and clinical training providers in the public and private health sectors, for projects that:

• support innovative approaches to dealing with the increase in the numbers of students undertaking health professional training and education;
• improve distribution and capacity for teaching and clinical training outside of traditional training settings;
• address training across the mix of eligible disciplines; and
• have immediate capacity to provide increased clinical training capacity.

Go to http://www.health.gov.au/tenders for information and application forms.