Helping medical specialists working in rural and remote Australia deal with professional isolation: the Support Scheme for Rural Specialists.

There are well documented geographical, financial, social and professional barriers to continuing professional development (CPD) and peer support for rural medical practitioners, which significantly influence the recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural areas. The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS) provides a coordinated and collaborative framework to support the CPD and peer-support needs of medical specialists practising in rural and remote Australia. Since 2002, more than 80 CPD projects have been implemented by specialist medical colleges under the auspices of the SSRS. Projects have provided educational up-skilling or support for rural-specific clinical practice improvement initiatives aimed at strengthening clinician competence and capability, and workforce retention.