The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)

The objective of the Vocational Training Program (VTP) is to produce a specialist ophthalmologist who, on completion of training, is equipped to undertake safe, unsupervised, comprehensive, general ophthalmology practice.

Training and assessment through the VTP continue to produce ophthalmologists of the highest order through the seven key roles that underpin the selection of trainees. These are ophthalmic expert and clinical decision maker, communicator, collaborator, manager, health advocate, scholar, and professional.

The RANZCO Vocational Training Program takes a minimum of five years to complete and comprises:

• Basic Training – 2 years of basic training during which trainees must demonstrate integrated clinical skills and knowledge in the Ophthalmic Sciences (OS) and the Ophthalmic Basic Competencies and Knowledge (OBCK)
• Advanced Training – 2 years of advanced training during which trainees are expected to demonstrate integrated knowledge, clinical and surgical skills as documented in the clinical standards.
• Final Year Training– a final year during which the trainee develops their experience in preparation for specialist qualification and to function in the community as an independent general ophthalmologist.

Medical practitioners are eligible to register for selection if they meet all RANZCO prerequisites:

• Medical degree with full registration to practice medicine in either Australia or New Zealand at the time of application;
• Citizenship or permanent resident status of Australia or New Zealand; and
• Completion of a minimum of two years (including the intern year) of full-time postgraduate prevocational experience at the commencement of ophthalmology training, including a minimum of 18 months of broad experience in non-ophthalmic medical, clinical and surgical settings within such posts.

Indigenous Entry Pathways Description

In order to encourage more Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Island doctors into a career in ophthalmology, RANZCO has adopted a centralised recruitment process that will automatically allocate an interview to qualified applicants who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Islander.

RANZCO uses the following selection tools, items and weightings to select trainees for the vocational training program:

• Curriculum vitae 20% – scholar 5%, rural exposure 5%, indigeneity 5%, and other attributes 5%
• References 35% – medical expert 24%, scholar 1%, and professional attributes (communicator, collaborator, manager, health advocate, and professional) 10%
• Situational Judgement Test 20% – professional attributes 20%
• Multiple Mini Interview 25% – medical expert 5% and professional attributes 20%

Key Dates

Selection

Each year, selection to the RANZCO Vocational Training Program is undertaken in several stages over a 7-month period.  Opening in February each year, and progressing through 10 stages including registration, collation of referee reports, a series of interviews and the National Ophthalmology Matching Program (NOMP), with offers of employment / training position finalised in September.

Examinations

Each RANZCO examination is offered twice per training year.  Semester 1 sittings run from January to June; Semester 2 sittings run from July to December.  Registrations for the Basic examinations open approximately 6 months prior to the examination date, and close 6 weeks before the examination date.  Advanced examinations have a 10-week window within which to register, closing approximately 6 weeks before the examination date.

Placement Requirements

Structure and duration of training – Basic Training (Year 1 and Year 2)

Trainees undertake basic training in structured terms in accredited training hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. The trainee must demonstrate integrated clinical skills and knowledge in the Ophthalmic Sciences (OS) and Ophthalmic Basic Competencies and Knowledge (OBCK).

Ophthalmic Sciences (OS)

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Optics
• Clinical Ophthalmic Pharmacology and Emergency Medicine (COPEM 1 & COPEM 2)

Assessment in the first four subjects is by examination. The competencies which relate to each of the Ophthalmic Sciences subjects are covered in the Curriculum Standards.

Basic training is underpinned by the six non-medical competencies outlined in the Social and Professional Responsibilities Curriculum Standard. Selection for Advanced training takes place in the second half of each calendar year, therefore, Basic trainees are required to pass all OS requirements by June of the second year of training (i.e. within 18 months of commencement), to be eligible to continue to advanced training.

Structure and duration of training – Advanced Training (Year 3 and Year 4)

Having progressed to Advanced training, the trainee in years 3 and 4 must demonstrate integrated clinical and surgical skills and knowledge in each of the following clinical practice areas, as indicated in the Curriculum Standards:

• Cataract
• Clinical Genetics and Microbiology
• Clinical Refraction
• Cornea and External Eye
• Glaucoma
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Ocular Inflammation
• Ocular Motility
• Oculoplastics and Orbit
• Ophthalmic Ultrasound
• Paediatrics
• Refractive Surgery
• Vitreo-retinal

The training is underpinned by the six non-medical competencies outlined in the Social and Professional Responsibilities Curriculum Standard. Formal assessment comprises on-the-job assessments, the Ophthalmic Pathology examination and the RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination (RACE).

Structure and duration of training – Final Year

Subject to passing RACE, and satisfactorily completing four years of training, the trainee may undertake the final year. The trainee is expected to broaden their specialist experience in final preparation for specialist qualification and to function in the community as an independent ophthalmologist.

The final year experience may be taken in Australia, New Zealand or overseas, preferably in an institution or network other than that in which the trainee completed the basic and advanced in-service component of their training.

Assessment of progress on the Vocational Training Program is both by examination and work-based reporting.

Information regarding fees can be found here.

Research Requirement: Evidence-Based Ophthalmic Practice

Prior to applying for Fellowship of the College, trainees must meet the research requirement in Evidence-based Ophthalmic Practice. This can be achieved through:

• A publication in a peer-reviewed journal as first author.
• Being first author and significant contributor to a paper presented at a meeting for which abstracts are subject to peer review and selection, for example: The College’s Scientific Congress, the Australian Visual and Ophthalmic Science Conference, or a State/New Zealand College meeting.
• An approved period of full-time research (confirmed by a written report from a College Fellow).
• A higher degree gained by research or thesis. A higher degree by course work alone is not sufficient.

Indigenous Mentoring Programs, networks, support programs etc

N/A

College Scholarships

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pasifika Scholarships

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), in conjunction with the Trevelyan-Smith Scholarship Fund, offers up to four scholarships of AUD $2,000 each for medical students (graduate/undergraduate) or junior doctors (PGY 1,2,3) who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pasifika and are interested in pursuing a career in ophthalmology. The Scholarships are intended to cover the costs of undertaking ophthalmology surgical or clinical related education, professional development, training and/or research in Australia or New Zealand that will result in the acquisition of new knowledge or skills which will strengthen or enrich their career portfolios.

RANZCO offers a number of other scholarships during the year open to all eligible applicants.

Financial Assistance

Any trainee requiring financial assistance to cover fees, examination costs, etc. may apply directly to the Finance Team to discuss the available payment options.