Category: Australian News

The Morrison Government has finalised an agreement with global pharmaceutical company Moderna that secures the production of up to 100 million Australian made mRNA doses every year and hundreds of manufacturing jobs too.

The landmark agreement is part of a 10-year strategic partnership between the Federal Government, Moderna and the Victorian Government, which will help protect Australians against future pandemics while supporting local industry.

The strategic partnership will ensure Australia can meet its ongoing COVID-19 vaccine needs, and any other new and innovative respiratory mRNA vaccines.

It will also make Australia a critical regional hub for mRNA technology development and production, bolstering our local biotechnology sector.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the agreement was an important milestone in securing Australia’s future pandemic preparedness and our place among the world’s best medical researchers.

“This is an Australian made shot in the arm that will protect Australians from future pandemics and secure a new manufacturing capability right here on our shores,” the Prime Minister said.

“This landmark agreement means that Australia can make up to 100 million world-leading mRNA doses every year, which can protect against evolving strains of COVID-19 or new respiratory diseases that emerge into the future.

“This will be the first mRNA production facility in the Southern Hemisphere, and will ensure Australians have quick and easy access to these lifesaving vaccines.

“This next generation of Aussie-made, innovative health care will also support around 500 direct jobs during construction, plus hundreds of indirect jobs, with up to 200 highly skilled staff to work at the facility when it’s up and running from 2024.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said securing a sovereign on-shore mRNA technology was critical and would soon be a reality.

“This agreement and strategic partnership with Moderna and the Victorian Government is crucial insurance for the health of the Australian population,” Minister Hunt said.

“It means Australians will have access to the most cutting-edge vaccination technology available both now and into the future.”

Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham said the Government’s investment into the next generation of mRNA vaccine manufacturing would increase Australia’s future prosperity.

“Moderna is a global leader in mRNA technology and has an incredibly strong pipeline of innovative products,” Minister Birmingham said.

“By establishing its headquarters for Australia, South East Asia and Oceania in Victoria, Moderna will be a key player in the development of Australia’s broader RNA ecosystem which will help drive incredible economic benefits.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this investment would not only protect lives, but also help further grow medical manufacturing in Australia.

“This partnership with Moderna will further strengthen our medical manufacturing sector and create high skilled local jobs, as well as provide great opportunities for the broader industry through domestic supply chains, clinical trials and research and development,” Minister Taylor said.

“The facility will make Australia one of very few countries in the world with the capability to manufacture mRNA vaccines at scale, and builds on our commitment to medical products through our $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy.” 

The Government will continue to work closely with the Victorian Government and Moderna, which has established an Australian entity, to ensure this significant new manufacturing capability is established as quickly as possible.

Vaccine production will start in 2024, pending regulatory and planning approvals.

The Morrison Government is continuing its support for young people with severe and complex mental illness with an investment of $206.5 million ensuring that they have access to additional treatment services and support.

The funding will continue and expand the Early Psychosis Youth Services (EPYS) and builds on the $160.8 million already invested in Youth Enhanced Services (YES), which support young people experiencing severe and complex mental illness.

Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said Mental health and suicide prevention is one of the highest priorities of this Government.

“It is estimated that in any given year, one in four Australians aged 16–24 years will experience mental illness. Yet we know, thanks to the National Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey, that more than one in four young people (27.5 per cent) with moderate to severe mental health problems have not accessed any mental health services,” Mr Morrison said.

“It is critically important that we take active steps to help our young people maintain good mental health and provide for timely and appropriate care when they experience mental illness.”

The Morrison Government funds Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to commission EPYS and YES services.

The YES program enables PHNs to commission local services for young people experiencing severe and complex mental illness, while the EPYS supports vulnerable young Australians experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, psychosis.

Psychosis is a condition where individuals may experience a range of symptoms including false beliefs, hallucinations, confused thinking and changed behaviour. It can be triggered by a mental illness (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression), drug use or extreme stress. Two-thirds of people who have psychosis experienced their first episode before the age of 25.

The new funding for the EPYS program is expected to benefit more than 4,000 young people aged 12–25 years who are at ultra-high risk of, or currently experiencing, their first episode of psychosis.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said funding would support the establishment of two new hub sites in the ACT and Tasmania, meaning that the EPYS program will be present in every Australian state and territory.

“We are working closely with Orygen, to support the establishment of two new hub sites, ensuring young people in every Australian jurisdiction will be able to access the services they need, at a time when support is critical,” Minister Hunt said.

“Orygen will continue to receive Morrison Government funding to support PHNs with the commissioning and delivery of high quality, evidence-based services to young people through the EPYS and YES programs.

“There is also funding to continue the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, which is operated by Orygen, and provides important insights, national guidance and policy advice on youth mental health.”

The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health also creates opportunities for innovation in evidence-based services and intervention in youth mental health, such as the development and enhancement of the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) model, a specialised model of early intervention that is used by the EPYS program.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said there is also continued funding support for headspace National, one of Australia’s leading mental health organisations.

“headspace National supports an important part of the EPYS program, monitoring outcomes and the effectiveness of the program and collecting significant amounts of data,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.

“We are providing a portion of this new investment to headspace National to ensure that this work continues, and that the data collected is the highest quality.

“This entire package of funding for the EPYS program delivers certainty to the youth mental health sector and the longer, 3-year funding cycle ensures continuity of care for the young people already engaging with the system.

“It will also ensure that each organisation involved in the delivery of EPYS can seek out and employ an engaged, highly-skilled and committed workforce, to deliver the highest quality of care.”

The new investment responds to recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health Report and findings of the EPYS program independent evaluation and grows the $110 million investment for the EPYS program provided in the 2019–20 Budget.

The Morrison Government has invested a historic $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan through the 2021-22 Budget to deliver significant reform of the mental health system and ensure that all Australians have access to high quality, person-centred care as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To date, health portfolio expenditure in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2021–22 is at a record high of $6.5 billion.

Australians needing support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service any time via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au

Anyone experiencing distress can also seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.

If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Young Australians needing support can access free services through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), their local headspace or online through eheadspace.

THIRTY-ONE mayors and councillors from some of the nation’s most flood damaged regions have called on the government to do more to protect communities from tragic and costly extreme weather.

Mayors and councillors from Lismore in New South Wales to Logan in Queensland, released a joint statement responding to one of the worst extreme weather disasters in the nation’s history, calling for urgent action to protect their communities from worsening climate change.

The statement is calling on the federal government to:

Lead the country in delivering on an ambitious emissions reduction target this decade, in partnership with state and local governments, to respond to accelerating climate change at the scale and pace required.
Increase funding sources to councils for responding to climate impacts, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including providing a minimum of $200 million a year in the form of a disaster mitigation fund and an additional $200 million over four years for a local government climate response partnership.
Invest in preparing before climate disasters strike and take responsibility for coordination of climate impact responses to ensure consistency and clearly delineated responsibilities between different levels of government.
Ensure all disaster response funding extends to all damaged assets and incorporates the principle of “betterment” to allow cities and communities to be rebuilt in a way that takes into account the inevitable future changes in climate and makes them more resilient.
Establish a national body, or expand the remit of an existing one, to support research on adaptation and act as a centralised hub for up-to-date climate change information.

Elly Bird, Councillor, Lismore City Council said, “If we’re to learn a lesson from the catastrophic flooding that we are now seeing happen in Australia every few years, it’s that we are severely underprepared for catastrophic events like this one. We urgently need to address the root cause of the heightened storm threat – climate change.

“Local governments, like Lismore City Council, have been trying to work together with our communities to take action against climate change and build resilience. But we need more support and we need it urgently.

“That’s why I’ve joined 31 other mayors and Councillors from Logan City Council in Queensland through to Eurobodalla Shire Council in New South Wales to call on our Federal leaders to immediately step up and reduce the climate impacts that put our communities in the firing line.

“Now is the time for our Government to lead the country in delivering on an ambitious emissions reduction target this decade to protect communities like ours from the future climate shocks that we know are coming and that we are living every single day.”

Dr Portia Odell, director of the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest network of local governments taking action on climate change said, “Local governments were on the frontlines of climate impacts and needed more support.

“We can no longer leave councils and their communities alone and with little access to essential services, and expect them to spend millions to fix the damages of delayed climate action,” said Dr Odell.

“We know that local governments lack the adequate funding and support they need to rebuild their communities in a way that strengthens resilience and takes into account the increasing climate risks. Councils are already working hard to slash emissions locally and prepare their communities for the mounting climate impacts, yet support from the federal government is sparse.

“The Federal Government must step up to protect communities from catastrophic climate shocks.”

Full list of signatories:

New South Wales
Cr Darriea Turley AM, President, Local Government NSW

Dominic King, Councillor, Bellingen Shire Council

Michael Lyon, Mayor, Byron Shire Council

Mark Greenhill OAM, Mayor, Blue Mountains City Council

Alison Worthington, Councillor, Eurobodalla Shire Council

Amanda Kotlash, Councillor, Hawkesbury City Council

Neil Reilly, Mayor Kiama, Municipal Council

Elly Bird, Councillor Lismore, City Council

Claire Pontin, Mayor, Midcoast Council

Nuatali Nelmes, Lord Mayor, City of Newcastle

Chris Homer, Mayor, Shellharbour City Council

Amanda Findley, Mayor, Shoalhaven City Council

Clover Moore, Lord Mayor, City of Sydney

Jerome Laxale, Councillor, City of Ryde

Penelope Pederson, Councillor, City of Ryde

Chris Cherry, Mayor, Tweed Shire Council

Gordon Bradbery AM, Lord Mayor Wollongong City Council

Queensland

Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor, Brisbane City Council

Darren Power, Mayor, Logan City Council

Brian Stockwell, Councillor, Noosa Shire Council

Tasmania

Anna Reynolds, Lord Mayor, City of Hobart

Victoria

Sally Capp, Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne

Mark Riley, Mayor, Moreland City Council

Lina Messina, Mayor, City of Darebin

Peter Maynard, Mayor, Wyndham City Council

Sophie Wade, Mayor, Yarra City Council

Amanda Stone, Councillor, Yarra City Council

South Australia

Sandy Verschoor, Lord Mayor, City of Adelaide

Karen Redman, Mayor, Town of Gawler

Ann Ferguson, Mayor, Mount Barker District Council

Michael Coxon, Mayor, City of West Torrens

Michael Hewitson AM, Mayor City of Unley

Local Government networks

Better Futures Australia

Cities Power Partnership

Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy

ICLEI Oceania – Local Governments for Sustainability

The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Canberra, her crew and embarked forces have arrived in Townsville today following their deployment on Operation Tonga Assist 22.

HMAS Canberra arrived in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa on 1 March 2022 to contribute to the Australian Government’s disaster relief and recovery mission following the devastating undersea volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami.

During its mission, HMAS Canberra delivered humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) stores and relieved HMAS Adelaide, which arrived in Tonga on 26 January 2022.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, AO, CSC said the ADF’s contribution was part of Australia’s wider relief effort that included regional partners.

“The crew of HMAS Canberra, embarked forces and helicopters, have been steadfast in their commitment to Tonga, carrying on from the good work of HMAS Adelaide and Supply,” LTGEN Bilton said.

“The ADF personnel worked alongside our Pacific family, with Republic of Fiji Military Forces and French Armed Forces in New Caledonia personnel embarking on HMAS Canberra in support of recovery operations.

“HMAS Canberra also operated with Tonga’s Australian-gifted Guardian-class Patrol Boats VOEA Ngahau Koula and Ngahau Siliva, conducting reconnaissance operations and support for the delivery of supplies.

“Years of close cooperation between Australia and Tonga in maritime security and disaster preparedness have made this seamless coordination possible.”

HMAS Canberra also supported Tonga’s COVID-19 response, delivering vaccines and medical teams to ‘Eua and Southern Ha’apai islands. They also transported people from Tongatapu to communities in the outer islands across the Ha’apai and Vava’u island groups.

Operation Tonga Assist 22 delivered more than 417 tonnes of equipment, supplies, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief stores to Tonga.

Defence assistance also included damage assessment and clean-up operations. This was supported by Australian Army personnel from the 7th and 17th Brigades, three CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 16th Aviation Brigade and a Royal Australian Navy MRH-90 helicopter from 808 Squadron.

Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster and C-130J Hercules aircraft delivered supplies across 19 sustainment flights and conducted eight aerial surveillance flights to determine the extent of the damage. This surveillance will inform future HADR operations.

HMAS Canberra will return to her homeport of Fleet Base East next week.

Although HMAS Canberra has finished her deployment, Australia remains committed to supporting long-term recovery and reconstruction in Tonga.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been patrolling waters in Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to help Australia’s partners detect and deter illegal fishing activity.

The efforts are a part of Operation Solania, the ADF support to regional maritime security, including Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) operations.

This iteration of Operation Solania saw the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) contribute to the FFA’s first operation of 2022 – Operation Rai Balang. This operation was a major maritime surveillance patrol in collaboration with partners across Micronesia and Melanesia.

ADF personnel followed all local COVID-19 measures to ensure the safety of colleagues and the communities in FSM and Palau.

RAN vessel HMAS Melville conducted a contactless port visit in Pohnpei before patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone of FSM with no personnel stepping ashore.

The ADF’s Joint Task Force 637 coordinates ADF engagement with partners across the Pacific. Joint Task Force 637 Commander, Major General Scott Winter, said the ADF’s support was a major part of its longstanding commitment to maritime security in the Pacific.

“Illegal fishing activity and transnational crime are enormous threats to the region’s fishing industry, which is vital for the economies of our Pacific family.” Major General Winter said.

“By tackling these shared maritime security challenges together with the FFA, our Pacific partners, and members of the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group (Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and France), we are working together to protect ecosystems and livelihoods across the Pacific.”

The C27-J Spartan crew flew nine missions for the FFA from Palau, detecting and reporting over 110 suspicious vessels and helping locate one vessel of interest.

HMAS Melville patrolled around 195,000 square kilometres of the FSM’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and reported seven suspicious vessels to the FFA, significantly contributing to the total amount of all surface unit contact reports.

HMAS Melville’s Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Savage, said the vessel’s deployment to the FSM demonstrated Australia’s commitment to maintaining regional security alongside its regional partners.

“Australia and the FSM have a longstanding partnership in maritime security, and Melville’s crew was proud to patrol parts of the nation’s three million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone,” Commander Savage said.

Melville provided important maritime surveillance support to FSM while it awaits the arrival of the first of its two Guardian-class Patrol Boats to be handed over under the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). FSS Tosiwo Nakayama, named after FSM’s first President, was handed over in Perth on 11 March.

The PMSP is Australia’s $2 billion, 30-year commitment to regional maritime security. Under the Program, Australia is progressively rolling out Guardian-class Patrol Boats across the region, replacing Pacific Patrol Boats that were provided between 1987 and 1997.

An Australian Fisheries Management Authority officer also joined Melville’s crew, providing extensive knowledge of Pacific fisheries and regional legal frameworks. This enabled the quick identification of illegal fishing activity and provided actionable evidence to the FFA and regional partners.

The CFMEU is investigating how a builder with a shoddy safety record and poor social procurement practices has won a tender for a multi-million-dollar State Government social housing project.

Disgraced builder, Ironside, has a deplorable record of unsafe work practices and has shown no interest in working with the CFMEU to improve its OH&S and labour standards.

Secretary of the CFMEU Vic-Tas Branch, John Setka, said: “Victorians expect the Government to spend their hard-earned tax dollars on builders who provide good quality, safe jobs, where workers are treated with dignity and respect.

“This mob are anti-union and anti-worker. They’ve refused to come to the table and talk to us about making work safe, and they refuse to budge on paying workers decent, liveable wages.

“It’s disappointing that the government is spending millions in taxpayer dollars to prop up shoddy builders like Ironside instead of reputable companies who are on the bones of their arse and on the brink of collapse.

“We’re looking into how Ironside managed to dodge the State Government’s Fair Jobs Code, which was designed to provide the checks and balances needed to stop dodgy builders from getting their hands on important community projects like this one.

“It’s a bit bloody ironic that the State Government would even consider giving work to a mob that has absolutely no ethics, to build social housing.”

The CFMEU strongly condemns the State Government’s decision to award this building contract to Ironside.

The CFMEU is calling on the State Government to retract any deals struck with Ironside to protect the safety and welfare of Victorian workers and our community.

The Greens have responded with alarm to reports that Labor will dump its policy to add superannuation contributions to parental leave payments, abandoning young families and women at a time of mounting cost of living pressures and rising rates of poverty and homelessness among older women.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“If reports are true that Labor will not add superannuation on parental leave, they would be joining the Liberals in giving a middle finger to Australian families, and especially women.

“Dumping its longstanding commitment to pay superannuation on paid parental leave wouldn’t just be small-target politics, it would be bad politics that would betray and disadvantage women.

“Women bear the brunt of our unjust PPL system, punished for their unpaid family work with tiny super balances. It’s shameful that in one of the richest countries in the world, the reward for women for taking time out of the workforce to raise children is often poverty in retirement.

“The government’s retirement income review recommended paying super on parental leave as an important equity measure. Australian parents will be rightly disgusted if both big parties ignore that recommendation.

“Reports assert that Labor say this won’t be a vote changing issue – but if both big parties short-change women, women will change their vote.

“Earlier this month I announced the Greens’ fully costed plan to boost paid parental leave, including adding super contributions, and in balance of power after the election we’ll push the next government to do the right thing and make it happen.”

The Greens have called on universities to take a zero tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment on campuses, after the results of the latest National Student Safety Survey revealed that many university settings remain unsafe and unsupportive of student survivors, especially young women.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“It’s shocking how little has changed since the 2017 survey that formed part of the Human Rights Commission’s Change the Course report.

“The findings of this latest survey reveal that students, particularly female students, remain unsafe and unsupported in many university settings.

“Students have been speaking out for years about sexual violence and harassment on campuses across the country, hoping that sharing their traumatic experiences would lead to universities taking action and being held accountable.

“Organisations like End Rape on Campus have worked tirelessly to keep these issues in the spotlight and get universities to ensure student safety.

“Today’s results show that not enough has been done.

“Universities must finally take this matter seriously. They need genuine zero tolerance policies; transparent, timely complaints procedures; and appropriate support to students from the moment they raise concerns. Universities must ensure residential colleges have professional, trauma-informed staff and clear accountability for enforcing sexual harassment policies. They must engage EROC and survivors in designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs, reporting mechanisms, and support services.

“The National Plan to End Violence Against Women should include specific indicators for university settings to hold universities to account and ensure students are safe and respected.”

Following an extraordinary day of testimony at the Senate inquiry into oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin, The Greens have today reiterated their support for Traditional Owners who continue to oppose the proposed ‘climate bomb’ fracking project.

At the Darwin hearing, chaired by Yamatji Noongar woman and Australian Greens Senator for WA Dorinda Cox, Traditional Owners expressed concerns at the continued absence of Free, Prior and Informed consent.

The Greens are also deeply concerned to hear testimony to the Inquiry that: 

• if fracking goes ahead in the Beetaloo,it will be impossible for the Government or Opposition to meet their Net Zero by 2050 targets 
• The promise to require all emissions to be offset as a condition of lifting the NT fracking moratorium in 2018 has now been abandoned. The NT government falsely claims they can’t require gas companies to force offsets and are relying on Angus Taylor to do it.
• Government bureaucrats and politicians are having more meetings with the gas industry than Traditional Owners and pastoralists combined.
• The head of the Department approving drilling wells came straight from the gas company and exploration permit holder, Santos.
• Pastoralists plead that gas companies and agriculture can’t coexist in the Territory. There is simply not enough water for Traditional Owners, Pastoralists and gas companies
• Fracking poses serious contamination risks to groundwater, soil and air
• The initial exploration of wells alone will use 2.2 billion litres of precious water, and release at least 1 million tonnes of emissions
• Santos and Sweetpea have not undertaken stakeholder engagement prior to the development of Environmental Plans.

“In the middle of the climate emergency, the Northern Territory Labor government supported by the Federal Liberal and Labor parties want to open up Australia’s biggest ever gas field for oil and gas fracking by big corporations,” Senator Dorinda Cox said today.

“Traditional Owners have been very clear – they don’t want this fracking to go ahead. They don’t want their lands and waters to be poisoned. They don’t want this climate bomb. There is no free, prior and informed consent – and this should be a necessity given the enormous scale of this potential climate disaster.”

Senator Thorpe added that, “Successive governments have undermined First Nations land rights and heritage protections to favour big corporations, who often make big donations to the Liberal and Labor parties. We need to balance the scales.”

Scott Morrison is doling out $50 million of public money to big gas companies to frack the Territory, including long-term Liberal allies like Empire Energy and just announced another $50 million more today to prepare studies for where the pipelines will go

The handful of companies and their owners involved in this proposed project have collectively donated $3.7 million to the two major parties over the decade.

Committee hearings remain ongoing. On Friday, the Senate Committee is expected to hear testimony from gas companies Origin Energy, Tamboran, Santos Limited as well as three federal Government Departments. 

To help get more local doctors trained in the specialties Australia needs, the Morrison Government is providing $708.6 million to continue the Specialist Training Program (STP) for four years from 2022.

Since 2010, more than $1.4 billion has been invested towards the program, which supports training positions outside of traditional metropolitan teaching hospitals.

The program allows participants to train in a multitude of medical environments, including private hospitals, specialist rooms, clinics and day surgeries, Aboriginal Medical Services and non-clinical settings.

Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie said the extension of the program will mean 920 full-time equivalent places annually, with at least 50 per cent of training to occur in regional, rural and remote locations or private settings.

“This four-year extension of the Specialist Training Program allows specialist trainees to continue to take the opportunity to train in rural communities, which we know creates a higher likelihood they will remain or return after their training is completed,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Already the program has benefitted more than 190 regional, rural, and remote locations, and has seen an increase in rural training from 309 full-time equivalent places in 2018 to 380 places in 2020.

“This investment, coupled with our investment in rural GP and rural generalist training, is part of our deliberate strategy to grow our rural medical workforce.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said that an important focus for the program from 2022 will be to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specialist workforce, aligning the program with the recently released National Medical Workforce Strategy.

“Our Government is committed to improving access to quality health care for all Australians, regardless of where they live. This program is an important foundation for that,” Minister Hunt said.

“The program will help to deliver actions of the National Medical Workforce Strategy, including an increase in specialist training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This ensures that Indigenous Australians and regional Australia more broadly will benefit from a redistribution of the program’s existing specialist workforce, ensuring more services and training can be delivered where it is needed most.”

The additional funding to extend the program is being provided to 13 non-GP specialist medical colleges already funded under the Specialist Training Program. The funded colleges are:

• Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)
• Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP)
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
• College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM)
• Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)

Further information about the program can be found on the Department of Health’s Specialist Training Program web page.