The University of Sydney announced the inaugural launch of the 2023-2024 Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) Scholarship, an initiative aimed at supporting future opioid agonist treatment prescribers in NSW.
The OTAC Scholarship assists general practitioners and nurse practitioners in regional and rural areas of NSW to gain accreditation for opioid pharmacotherapy prescribing in the treatment of opioid dependence. It also recognises and encourages professionals to complete their professional development in opioid dependence treatment and contribute to enhancing the accessibility of opioid dependence treatment services, especially for people living in NSW regional areas.
Each quarter, three eligible recipients of the OTAC Scholarship will receive up to $2,000.
Eligibility for the OTAC Scholarship extends to unaccredited general practitioners and nurse practitioners, currently working in general practice or private settings in regional, rural, and metropolitan areas of NSW, including Aboriginal Medical Services or other community-based clinics. The Scholarship does exclude those working substantively in public settings, such as Local Health Districts or Specialty Networks.
First round applications are now open and will close on Monday 11th December, 2023.
This is a pilot initiative that will run between October 2023 – December 2024. It is funded by the NSW Ministry of Health and administered by the University of Sydney, Specialty of Addiction Medicine.
