Join us in the Fight to Continue Regional Dermatology Training
The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) acknowledges that fewer than 10% of dermatologists currently base their practice outside of Australia’s capital cities, which results in people living in regional, rural and remote areas having less access to high quality specialist dermatological services, despite high levels of need.
Read our letter to the Department of Health
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WPRS and Professor Werner Sinclair have offered specialist dermatology services in regional Victoria and South Australia since 2017 and have offered privately-funded training positions for registrars and international medical graduates since 2021.
WPRS offers one of only two accredited dermatology training positions in a regional setting nation-wide. However, the costs associated with establishing, employing, and supporting trainees mean we can no longer privately fund these positions.
We have been advised by the ACD that all STP funding is allocated through 2025 and our training positions will go un-funded. The ACD are unwilling to reverse this decision.
We have recently written to the Department of Health and Aged Care to formally request that the Department compel the ACD to reallocate STP funding from metropolitan to regional positions for 2025. Without such funding, our regional training position will cease, causing significantly longer wait times for patients and a threat to the ongoing viability of the service as a whole, due to the burnout and fatigue faced by our consultant specialists.
Federal Member for Wannon, the Hon Dan Tehan will present in the Federal Parliament in November our petition urging the Minister for Health to formally request that the Department direct the ACD to redistribute STP funding to support regional positions in 2025 and beyond.
To show your support in our fight to continue Dermatology training in the regions, we ask that you sign our petition.
To the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives and Members of the House of Representatives
Access to dermatology services in rural and regional areas is critically limited due to a shortage of dermatologists and clinics. This results in long wait times for appointments, challenges in accessing qualified specialists, and insufficient preventative and early intervention care.
WPRS offers one of only two accredited dermatology training positions in a regional setting. However, the high costs associated with establishing, employing, and supporting trainees mean we can no longer privately fund these positions and need additional STP funding.
The provision of STP funding has already improved dermatology services in southwest Victoria. WPRS is urging the Minister for Health to formally request that the Department direct the Australasian College of Dermatologists to redistribute STP funding to support regional positions in 2025 and beyond.
Without this funding, our regional training position will be at risk, leading to even longer wait times for patients and jeopardizing the overall sustainability of our services due to the burnout and fatigue experienced by our consultant specialists.
Chief Petitioner
Christopher Kiroff, CEO, WPRS
Option 1
Sign the petition here
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Option 2
To submit a hard copy, please download the form and email to info@wprs.net.au