The 2011 application round for the Rural Health Continuing Education Program (Stream 2) is now open and will close on 8 August 2011.
The 2011 RHCE2 program, funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health and Ageing, supports qualified health professionals working in rural and remote Australia to undertake continuing professional development and inter-professional learning activities – see RHCE2 website here.
RHCE2 is being administered for the Department by the National Rural Health Alliance for three years (April 2010-June 2013). Total funds available for RHCE2 project grants are approximately $630,000 per annum, with the final round in 2012-13. Information on the allocation of grants in Round One (2010) is here: Round 1 Grants Alocation.
RHCE2 grants are available for organisations and groups of individuals to access, develop or provide continuing professional development (CPD), continuing professional education (CPE), multi-disciplinary training or inter-professional learning (IPL) and orientation activities that meet the needs of:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
- Allied health professionals
- General practitioners or,
- Nurses and midwives
practising in rural and remote areas of Australia.
The program will support cost-effective training that can encourage increased collaboration between professions and support the attraction and retention of health professionals in rural and remote areas.
For details see the Guidelines page of the RHCE2 website. Please read the guidelines carefully before applying online for a grant. Multiple applications will be accepted but given the strongly competitive nature of the RHCE2 grants, no single entity will be given more than one grant. In 2011, priority will be given to funding gaps in existing arrangements for CPD and supporting initiatives that are demonstrated by evidence based research as needing urgent intervention.
Support can only be provided for programs that are:
- Accredited or endorsed by the relevant professional body or bodies,
- Directly relevant to the current employment of intended program participants in a rural or remote area, and
- Delivered in Australia.
