The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is dedicated to improving healthcare access for rural, remote and First Nations communities across Australia. The Rural and Remote Community Support Grant offers funding of up to $50,000 for community-led initiatives designed to enhance healthcare delivery and directly support the recruitment and retention of doctors in communities classified from MM4 to MM7.

Who can apply? 

ACRRM invites applications from organisations passionate about building a sustainable local healthcare workforce in areas of need. You may be eligible if you are: 

  • An ACRRM accredited training post
  • A community group located in a town with an ACRRM-accredited training post
  • A health service operating in an eligible rural/remote area
  • A Rural Clinical Hub involved in local training and workforce development
  • A Rural Generalist proposing community-focused initiative
  • An Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) that is an ACRRM-accredited training post. 

Funding focus areas

This grant supports a wide range of innovative, community-driven activities, prioritising areas of workforce need. We're looking for projects that directly improve local healthcare delivery and support for doctors, particularly those completing ACRRM Fellowship training.  We welcome applications for projects focusing on: 

Initiatives enhancing the support within a community. Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Supporting the establishment of childcare or schooling support where local services are limited
  • Developing programs to attract supervisors and registrars to communities with limited GP services, potentially including roving models.  

Principles:

  • Targeted at increasing the level of education support for ACRRM registrars in the community
  • May include activities that foster communities of practice for training 
  • Must have a direct positive impact on the education and / or training delivered to an ACRRM registrar 
  • Must be sustainable 
  • Must align with Fellowship program requirements. 

Criteria:

  • Funding proposal must be aligned to the education and / or training delivered to a ACRRM registrar
  • Must be an accredited training post or community group in the same town as the accredited training post 

Projects designed to attract doctors to a community and support them to stay long term. Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Providing or securing suitable accommodation for doctors where housing shortages hinder recruitment
  • Creating community orientation programs for medical students or doctors in training to showcase local life and opportunities
  • Conducting community needs analysis to identify specific barriers to recruitment/retention and propose evidence-based solutions. 

Principles:

  • Targeted at rural generalist and multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals
  • Must have a direct positive impact on the capability or capacity of healthcare that is provided to the community
  • Must directly relate to increasing the workforce of healthcare professionals within the community or maintaining the workforce of healthcare professionals within the community. 

Criteria:

  • Funding proposal must be aligned to the recruitment or retention of a registrar or a staff member directly related to a registrar’s progression on the Fellowship Training Program
  • Must be linked to an accredited training post  

Initiatives specifically aimed at improving healthcare delivery, training, or workforce within Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS). Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Developing multidisciplinary education programs relevant to local health needs
  • Piloting regional rotational pop-up clinics to extend service reach
  • First Nations sporting club sponsorship as an avenue to address community health issues.

Principles:

  • Must have a direct positive impact on the capability or capacity of healthcare that is provided to First Nations people in the community.
  • Must be directly linked to an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS)
  • Must be sustainable 
  • Must show consultation with First Nations people on development of the proposal
  • Targeted at multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals

Criteria:

  • Funding proposal must be aligned to improving the healthcare provided to residents in a community that an AMS or ACCHS supports
  • Must be an accredited training post 
  • Must include an evaluation model to demonstrate the effectiveness of the grant opportunity 

Collaborative projects addressing barriers to Fellowship and strengthening pathways from university into Rural Generalist training. Examples include (but are not limited to): 

  • Establishing medical scholarships for school students with rural intent
  • Funding university programs that address Fellowship entry barriers, support selection, and directly increase the local healthcare workforce in areas of need. 

Principles:

  • Targeted at universities who deliver programs that address barriers to section to fellowship and support opportunities and transition to selection
  • Must directly relate to increasing the workforce of healthcare professionals within the community

Criteria:

  • Funding proposal must be aligned to increasing the number of students who could apply to be selected on the Fellowship program 
Key Requirement: Supporting ACRRM Registrars 
  • All proposed initiatives must demonstrate a clear link to supporting ACRRM registrars (doctors completing the ACRRM Fellowship program)
  • If your training post doesn't currently host an ACRRM registrar, your application should detail how the initiative will specifically help attract ACRRM registrars or increase their number in your community. 

Interested? Request more information or a callback

If you have specific questions about eligibility, the focus areas, or would like to discuss your potential project before applying, please complete contact form via the button below and we will get in touch with you. 

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Application Process

To submit an application:  

  1. Complete the online application form
  2. Final applications close 1 October 2025

A review panel assesses grant applications bi-monthly. Following their review, we will contact you regarding the outcome of your application or to request additional information if required.

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Need more information? 

If you have questions about this grant, please contact payments@acrrm.org.au or phone 1800 223 226.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, if you are partnering with other organisations and / or community groups. 
The activity is expected to be delivered in 12 months, however this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Grants of up to $50,000 will be available for a broad range of Rural Generalist community-led initiatives that directly and clearly lead to benefiting the provision of community healthcare, Rural Generalist training, and recruitment of registrars in rural and remote communities.  

The focus areas are: 

  • Education and training 
  • Recruitment and retention 
  • First Nations support 
  • University partnerships and training pathway development. 

All proposed initiatives must demonstrate a clear link to supporting an ACRRM registrar or be used to attract and/or increase the number of ACRRM registrars in the community. 
Grants are not able to be applied for if funding is already being received from state, Federal Government or a government-funded body such as RG Hubs and PHNs. 
Yes, periodic progress reports will be required to be submitted.
Yes, more than one application can be made.
Not necessarily. Applications are welcome from accredited training posts, hospitals (ideally in partnership), Rural Generalists, health services, local community groups (partnered with training posts), and rural clinical hubs. However, the funded activity must demonstrate a clear benefit and link to supporting an ACRRM registrar.