Psychiatry Workforce Program (PWP)

The Psychiatry Workforce Program (PWP) is an Australian Government initiative that has been introduced to address mental health workforce maldistribution and shortages. The program aims to improve access to high quality mental health care for all Australians, with a focus on those living in rural and remote areas. 

The PWP funds new training posts that have not been previously funded and that meet one of the following criteria:

• 1 FTE located in Modified Monash Model (MM)2-7 locations.
• Provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and / or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Stage 2 mandatory rotations.

The PWP Program is governed through the STP Operational Framework.

Funding for PWP posts

Salary support

The PWP provides fundholders with funding for salary contributions based on the following costs per training post for 2026 through to the end of Rotation 2, 2028:

Rotation 1, 2026

• $54,952.50 (GST exclusive) for 1 FTE trainee.
• $47,102.50 (GST exclusive) for 0.33 FTE training supervisor.

 Per rotation from Rotation 2, 2026 to Rotation 2, 2028: 

• $58,671.00 (GST exclusive) for 1 FTE trainee.
• $49,815.00 (GST exclusive) for 0.33 FTE training supervisor.

Rural Support Loading

PWP posts in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia may be eligible for an annual loading of up to $31,500.00 (GST exclusive) pro rata, per full time equivalent (FTE) as below: 

• For MM2 locations, RSL of $18,000.00 is available 
• For MM3 and 4 locations, RSL of $25,500.00 is available 
• For MM5, 6 and 7 locations, RSL of $31,500.00 is available 

RSL will be offered to training posts with a minimum of 50 per cent of training conducted in MM 2-7 locations.

This loading is provided by the Commonwealth and managed by the RANZCP and assists with additional costs associated with having PWP training positions in regional and remote settings.

Eligibility for the RSL allowance is determined at the time of application.

RSL Guidelines [PDF; 156KB] are available to assist fundholders on eligibility, use of funding and payment.

Private Infrastructure and Clinical Supervision (PICS) allowance

PWP posts in private settings may be eligible for funds to cover infrastructure and clinical supervision.

PICS annual loading of up to $33,762.00 (GST exclusive) pro rata, per full time equivalent (FTE) is available for each private-sector training post, for clinical supervision and/or infrastructure costs.

The definition of "private" relates to the facility and its ownership. A private setting is not a publicly owned facility treating private patients. A private setting is one that does not receive its operational funding directly from a state or territory government.

Eligibility for the PICS determined is at the time of application.

PICS Guidelines [PDF; 199KB] are available to assist fundholders on eligibility, use of funding and payment.

PWP reporting requirements

Rotation 1 PWP Progress Reports close on 20 August and Rotation 2 PWP Reports close on 20 February of each respective training year. 

Reports are available through our online portal with access provided to a nominated representative within each health service. Communications regarding reporting will be undertaken directly with the nominated user.

Please note that:

• a report is to be submitted even if a post has been or will be vacant
• information regarding the locations a trainee has delivered services or undertaken training must be included
• reports and invoices must be completed prior to the closing date of each rotation i.e. 20 August / 20 February, respectively
• payment terms are 30 days (subject to full completion of reporting requirements) and incomplete information will delay payment
• fundholders are unable to claim for the next funding instalment until the RANZCP has received all outstanding reports and invoices.

Overdue progress reports

If you are unsure of your current reporting status, please contact the AGFTP team at stp@ranzcp.org or 1800 337 448 (select option 5).

PWP posts – changes to approved post parameters

Fundholders are required to complete an PWP Post – Change Request Form if they would like to include new or remove existing training sites (even if they are part of an existing fundholder portfolio), FTE, trainee level, subspecialty or private/Modified Monash Model (MM)2-7 fraction.

The request will be reviewed, and a decision made by the Australian Government Funded Training Programs (AGFTP) Management Group. Approval is required prior to the change occurring.

Eligibility to work in a PWP post

Those working in PWP posts must be on the RANZCP pathway to Fellowship.

PWP posts are rotational, therefore a trainee is not expected to be in a post for more than 2 rotations.

Trainees who are eligible to be in a PWP post include:

• Trainees registered within the RANZCP Fellowship training program
• Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMG) on either the partially comparable pathway or the substantially comparable pathway to RANZCP Fellowship.

Trainees who are not eligible to be placed into a PWP post:

• Overseas trainees seeking or undertaking specialist training.

PWP training post directory

Current PWP posts are listed in the RANZCP's PWP training post directory [member sign-in required]. 

Contact

stp@ranzcp.org