Apply now for an AUSLARC scholarship

After securing Federal Government funding in September, AUSLARC is providing fully funded registration and travel scholarships for health professionals to access training in the insertion and remove intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants.
 
With Australia’s long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) uptake lower than many other developed countries, the program aims to expand access to contraceptive choice, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, build workforce capacity, and reduce unintended pregnancies.
 
Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia (SRHA) is leading the AUSLARC scholarships in partnership with the RACGP, with training delivered through state and territory Sexual and Reproductive Health Organisations.
 
The scholarships cover healthcare professionals’ full registration fees for the training components (theory, simulation, clinical placement) of IUD and implant insertion and removal. 
 
They offer travel reimbursement for eligible medical practitioners who must travel more than 100 kilometres to attend face‑to‑face training or clinical placement, and access to a centralised online portal for registration, scholarships and reimbursement claims. 
 
The LARC training and accompanying webinars are fully RACGP CPD approved, with training providers to record the CPD hours and report them to participants’ RACGP CPD statements.
 
Below, SRHA chief executive Daile Kelleher answers common questions many practitioners have asked about the scholarships.
 
Q: Why is AUSLARC so important and what difference can it make to both medical professionals and patients?
 
A: The AUSLARC program plays a critical role in building national capacity for LARC, specifically training in both IUDs and contraceptive implants.
 
For medical professionals, AUSLARC means access to fully funded training in IUD and implant insertion and removal, reducing the cost barrier to upskilling, as well as skill‑building opportunities that enable practitioners to broaden the scope of services they offer, enhancing professional development and practice offering
 
For patients, it means improved access to qualified providers able to provide LARC services in more locations, especially in regional, rural or remote areas where options have been limited, as well as better access to evidence‑based contraceptive choices which are among the most effective reversible methods.
 
The program also aims to reduce waiting times, reduce travel burdens to access services, and enhance equity of reproductive health care across Australia.
 
Q: Why is it so important to have a scholarship for this training? 

A: The scholarship component of AUSLARC matters because training in LARC (theory, simulation, clinical placement) often carries cost and travel burdens – the scholarship removes those financial and geographic barriers. By offering the training fully funded, eligible health professionals are more likely to participate, which helps build the workforce. 
 
The scholarships also prioritise equity – they include prioritisation and travel reimbursement to support practitioners from rural or remote locations and those delivering care to priority populations. 
 
The scholarship helps ensure that the training isn’t just taken up in metropolitan centres but extends to under-served areas, thereby delivering improved access and outcomes for patients. We acknowledge this isn’t the only barrier to accessing training, but it is an important one that this scholarship helps to address. 
 
Q: Who is eligible for the scholarship and what is included in it? 
 
A: Health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and working in a clinical setting where LARC insertion and removal is part of, or will be part of, their practice. These health professionals include GPs, including those in training, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, midwives, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners.
 
Applicants must intend to include LARC services in their clinical practice and meet the prerequisites of the selected training program. Additional priority is given to those working in rural or remote areas or those serving populations with greater need for reproductive health services. 
 
Applying for a scholarship
Applications for an AUSLARC scholarship can be made through the SRHA website, with applicants to be notified by their state or territory’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Organisation (SRHO) of the outcome within six weeks.
 
Successful applicants can book into LARC training directly with their state SRHO and submit travel and accommodation receipts for reimbursement within the capped allowance.
 
Applications will be prioritised for practitioners who intend to offer LARC services as part of their clinical practice and meet the prerequisites for their chosen training.
 
A significant number of registrations for IUD theory and clinical attachment training scholarships have already been received.
 
Scholarships have been equitably allocated to each state and territory for delivery, and due to allocations being exceeded in some areas, registration has been closed while current applications are being assessed.
 
Interested practitioners are encouraged to check back on the SRHA website to see which states are currently open for registrations.
 
An RACGP ‘Training rural GPs for better LARC access’ webinar, supported by SRHA will also be held on 4 February 2026, raising awareness of the benefits of LARCs and their effectiveness and suitability across life stages, while addressing common barriers to their use in rural settings.
 
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