Information for Applicants
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) sets the standards for and accredits mental health training and education for GPs. It operates under the auspices of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
In 2023, the RACGP and GPMHSC first secured funding from the Department of Health to support further delivery of online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST). The development of training provider grants to develop and deliver FPS ST will ensure increased opportunities for more GPs to undertake accredited FPS ST. These grants provided GPs with alternatives to face-to-face training, as well as opportunities to complete online FPS ST.
Now, the GPMHSC is offering funding for both online and face-to-face training provider grants, in order to support the uptake of FPS and increase the number of GPs able to offer FPS as a service to their patients.
General
- These terms apply to the FPS Training Provider Grants Program unless otherwise indicated. By submitting an application, applicants agree to these terms.
- In these terms:
- “applicants” means the training provider listed on an application for a grant.
- “grant” means the funding provided by the RACGP.
- “offer date” means the date on which the applicant is notified of the successful outcome of their application.
- “terms” means these FPS Training Provider Grants Program terms.
- “uncommitted funds” means any grant funds awarded that have not been legally committed for spending and that are not payable by the applicant to the RACGP as a current liability.
- “training” refers to GPMHSC-accredited Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) that is delivered using either an online learning platform or face to face.
- “delivery of first online training” refers to the date on which the training provider launches the online training for use by GP participants who have enrolled to complete the requirements of the training.
- “delivery of training” refers to the date on which the training provider completes the first face to face training with GP participants who have enrolled to complete the training.
- “blended activity” refers to a GPMHSC-accredited FPS ST that consists of an online and face-to-face component.
- Personal information provided to the GPMHSC for the purposes of submitting an application will be used in accordance with the RACGP Privacy Statement, available at https://www.racgp.org.au/privacy-policy any may be passed on to the Commonwealth Department of Health if required.
- Applicants acknowledge and agree they are independent of the RACGP and GPMHSC and not an employee or agent and have no authority to bind the RACGP or GPMHSC by contract or otherwise.
- No rights or obligations provided under a grant may be assigned, novated or otherwise transferred.
- The grant recipient cannot commission a third-party organisation to develop and deliver the online training.
- Any action, including any act of grace by the GPMHSC is only effective as a waiver if it is reduced in writing and provided to the other party, and then only to the extent of that written waiver.
- The grant recipient must notify the GPMHSC in writing, outlining any known or expected issues, setbacks or delays which may adversely affect their ability to deliver the first online training before 31 December 2025.
- The grant recipient cannot use the grant funds to upgrade an existing accredited FPS ST activity that is exclusively delivered online but can use the grant funds to upgrade the online component of an existing accredited blended activity.
- The applicant can only apply for one grant funding for the allocated period.
- These terms are governed by the laws exercised by the courts in the State of Victoria.
- The grant recipient must do all things reasonably required by the RACGP (including executing all documents) to give effect to a grant and the transactions contemplated by it.
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must:
- develop online or face to face training, depending on the grant awarded, that meets GPMHSC requirements for FPS ST accreditation.
- agree and commit to delivering the first online training before 31 December 2025
- have the training available for GPs to access and complete until the end of the 2023–25 CPD triennium (31 December 2025). Training providers are required to apply for re-accreditation if they wish to have the online training accredited for the 2026–28 CPD triennium.
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- have at least one other FPS ST activity accredited for the 2023–25 CPD triennium
- can demonstrate some past experience and success in developing and delivering online training and education in mental health
- can develop online training that addresses the mental health and wellbeing of rural and remote communities.
- The GPMHSC is responsible for the independent, objective evaluation and review of grant applications.
- All decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Decisions made in relation to grants are not subject to reconsideration, review or appeal.
- The GPMHSC may remove an application from consideration during the selection process if it is considered uncompetitive, incomplete, incorrect or if the application does not meet the eligibility criteria.
- The GPMHSC may elect not to grant funding for any particular activity (or part thereof) about which it considers applicants already have received, or may receive in the future, funding from other sources. Applicants must notify the GPMHSC if they received funding from another source for a project that is the subject of a grant application to the GPMHSC.
- Unsuccessful grant applications will be advised in writing; however detailed feedback will not be provided.
- The grant will be paid only to incorporated bodies in Australia that have an ABN and ACN and not to individual entities.
- Grant recipients must:
- use the grant funds for the purpose(s) stipulated in the application, obtaining prior written consent from the GPMHSC before making any changes to the purpose or activities;
- comply with any funding conditions stipulated by the RACGP; and
- keep financial accounts and records relating to the use of the grant funds sufficient to identify all receipts and payments to be identified and reported and for the preparation of financial statements, for a period of 7 years after the completion of the activity.
- Grant funds awarded may only be used for the development, delivery and maintenance of the online training and not for any overhead or management fees of the grant recipient.
- All uncommitted funds must be paid to the RACGP within 14 days of delivering the first online training.
- Where the GPMHSC is satisfied the purpose or conditions of the grant cannot be fulfilled in accordance with the application or these terms, or a grant recipient cannot undertake a meaningful activity with the grant, it will notify the grant recipient, following which the grant is immediately forfeited and all uncommitted funds must be paid to the RACGP within 14 days.
- A grant may be forfeited at any time on three months’ notice given by the GPMHSC following which all uncommitted funds must be paid to the RACGP within 14 days.
- Where the GPMHSC determines grant funds have been used in breach of these terms or for purposes other than those stipulated in the application, it may require the grant recipients to pay back the relevant amounts to RACGP within 14 days.
- Any grant funds requiring repayment is a debt owed to the RACGP. The RACGP reserves the right to charge interest on any such amount, at the prevailing rate pursuant to the Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983 (Vic) for the period from the date until the date of payment in full, with any such funds being offset against any accrued interest prior to being applied against the outstanding grant funds.
- Grants will be paid according to the following payment schedule:
| Milestone | Payment |
| Offer date | 50% of grant funds |
| 5 business days after delivery and acceptance by GPMHSC of first online training | 50% of grant funds |
- Grant funds are expressed as GST exclusive amounts.
- Despite the above, the RACGP may withhold or suspend any payments in whole or in part until it is satisfied grant recipient have satisfied the above milestones.
- Payment of the grant fund is conditional on the provision of a valid tax invoice, listing the name of the grant recipient and description of grant activity to:
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Ltd, 100 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne 3002.