In Australia, physicians and paediatricians are medical doctors who have completed advanced training with the RACP to manage complex medical conditions.
Physicians treat adults, while paediatricians care for children and adolescents. They work in hospitals, private practices, community centres, and may also specialise in research or medical administration. There are many diverse medical specialties, including six joint programs.
There are many diverse medical specialties, including six joint programs. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) connects, trains and represents over 28,000 medical specialists and trainee specialists across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
| Training Site | Basic Training – min 24 months core | Basic Training- max 12 months non-core | Advanced training – see tabled below | Notes |
| Royal Darwin Hospital (tertiary hospital) | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Palmerston Regional Hospital | ✓ | ✓ | Secondment only – up to 6 months of BPT training (level 2 or 3) | |
| Gove District Hospital | ||||
| Katherine District Hospital | ✓ | ✓ | Secondment only – up to 6 months of BPT training (level 2 or 3) | |
| Alice Springs Hospital (tertiary hospital) | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Tennant Creek Hospital | Accreditation pending |
✓ Training available
To be used as a guide only - refer to the relevant health service and RACP for current training post accreditation options as the duration of training in each site is variable.
Advanced Training - 36 months
| Training Site | Addiction medicine | Adolescent & young adult medicine | Cardiology | Clinical genetics | Clinical pharmacology | Community child health | Dermatology | Endocrinology | Gastroenterology | General & acute medicine | General paediatrics | Geriatric medicine | Haematology | Immunology & allergy | Infectious diseases | Medical oncology | Neonatal & Perinatal medicine | Nephrology | Neurology | Nuclear medicine | Occupational & environmental medicine | Palliative Care | Public health medicine | Rehabilitation medicine | Rehabilitation - Paediatric | Respiratory & Sleep Medicine | Respiratory & Sleep Medicine - Paediatric | Rheumatology | Sexual health medicine |
| Royal Darwin Hospital | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | * | ✓ | *** | ✓ | ✓ | **** | ||||||||||
| Palmerston Regional Hospital | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | *** | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gove District Hospital | ** | *** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Katherine District Hospital | ✓ | *** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alice Springs Hospital | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | *** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennant Creek Hospital | *** |
✓ Training available
To be used as a guide only - refer to the relevant health service and RACP for current training post accreditation options.
* Jobfit Health Group
** General & Acute Care and Medical Oncology short rotations from RDH
*** Various hospital and non-hospital-based locations - refer to RACP website
**** Clinic 34 Darwin
New and current trainees need to apply prospectively for Basic Training each year. Trainees must complete their registration online (when registration is open). Each application for re-registration must have the approval of your local Director of Physician Education.
Applications for Prospective Approval of rotations close:
- 28 February - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the current year.
- 31 August - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the second half of the current year.
- Current general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia or medical registration with general scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand
- An appointment to an appropriate training position at an accredited setting
- Discussed your application and received approval to apply for Basic Training from the hospital or network Director of Physician Education (DPE)
To register and practise as specialists in Australia, overseas trained physicians and paediatricians (OTPs) must apply for the specialist assessment.
The Physician Training Program is delivered over minimum six years (full time equivalent). It can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis.
- Basic Training 36 months full time equivalent
- Minimum 24 months in core training
- Maximum 12 months in non-core training
- Advanced Training 36 months (see the individual disciplines for further information)
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