The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

Physicians perform a unique and vital role in the health-care of communities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

There are 33 specialty training programs with over 60 Fellowship Training Pathways offered by the RACP.

Each training pathway will depend on the medical specialty you select.

Basic Training in either Adult Internal Medicine or Paediatrics & Child health is the first step to becoming a specialist, followed by Advanced Training in your chosen specialty.

Basic and Advanced training is a minimum 6-year training program to becoming a physician and Fellow of the RACP.

To be eligible to start Basic Training at the RACP, you must:

• Complete a medical degree accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) or Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
• Have a general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia, or a medical registration with a general scope of practice with the MCNZ
• Have satisfactorily completed at least an intern year (post graduate year one)
• Be employed by an accredited hospital (where you will do your Basic Training)
• Discuss your application and receive approval from the site (or network) Director of Physician Education (DPE)

Advanced Training allows trainees to continue developing their knowledge and skills through a chosen clinical specialty.

Advanced Training pathways will depend on the chosen medical specialty as each specialty has specific entry requirements that you must meet before applying. For most Advanced Training programs, you will need to complete Basic Training before you can start Advanced Training. More information about Advanced Training specialty programs in on the RACP website.

Indigenous Entry Pathways Description

Not applicable.

Key Dates

Important dates for applying to Basic and Advanced training may change from year to year. Potential applicants should refer to current information published on the Apply for Physician training pages of the website.

All trainees must renew registration with the RACP annually by the due date. More information is available on the RACP website

Any questions regarding the RACP’s Basic Training Program can be sent to the Basic Training team at BasicTraining@racp.edu.au (AUS) or Basic.Training@racp.org.nz (Aotearoa).

Placement Requirements

RACP facilitates training at accredited training sites in Australia, New Zealand and overseas for over 6,000 students in 33 diverse medical specialties, including six joint training programs.

Basic Training must take place in an RACP accredited hospital and involves rotations to a number of sites. Advanced Training positions are accredited by the appropriate Advanced Training Committee and vary depending on the chosen specialty.

Trainees complete work-based assessments and examinations as part of the program requirements for their training program.

Basic Trainees complete:

• Work-based assessments each training rotation / training year
• The Divisional Written Examination and Divisional Clinical Examination at the end of Basic Training

Specific Basic Training requirements are outlined in the relevant handbooks:

• Adult Internal Medicine
• Paediatrics & Child Health

Advanced Trainees complete various work-based assessments during their training. Depending on the Advanced Training program, Advanced Trainees may also complete examinations. More details about the training requirements for Advanced Training are listed under the specific specialty.

Current member training and exam fee information is available on the RACP website.

The College has a range of initiatives and opportunities in place to support Māori and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander members on their specialist medical training journey and progression to Fellowship. Initiatives available include:

• A one-on-one wellbeing and performance coaching program for Basic and Advanced Trainees who identify as Māori. The program is fully funded by the college and provided by two external Māori coaching providers in Aotearoa to appropriately awhi and manaaki trainees.
• Wellbeing and performance support is fully funded for Basic Trainees who identify as Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander through the First Nations Trainee Wellbeing Program.
• The AIDA Specialist Trainee Support Program provides access for Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander members to tailored trainee support, including options for group yarning, trainee workshops, one-on-one well-being support and other resources.
• A complimentary Physician’s Briefcase (with equipment) for Māori and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander members that are eligible for the Divisional Clinical exam (DCE) or other relevant clinical assessments.
• RACP’s Flexible Training Policy improves flexibility, equity, wellbeing and inclusion in training, while ensuring a focus on educational outcomes is maintained.
• The Deadly Doctors ROC which is a private online community for Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander members to connect, network, discuss relevant matters and receive the latest information about opportunities available through the College and partner organisations.
• The Fee Reimbursement Initiative to cover the cost of annual training and / or the first-attempt at exams for Basic and Advanced Training. More details under Financial Assistance (below).

College Scholarships

RACP Indigenous Scholarships & prizes

The College has a range of scholarships on offer to support medical graduates and current RACP trainees who identify as Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pasifika on their chosen career path to becoming a physician.

The scholarships provide a funded pathway through Basic, Advanced, Faculty or Chapter training in Australia and / or Aotearoa New Zealand. More information is available on the RACP website.

Financial Assistance

The RACP’s Fee Reimbursement Initiative

Overview

The Fee Reimbursement Initiative is for eligible trainees who identify as:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Māori and/or Pasifika and are not directly employed by District Health Boards in Aotearoa New Zealand

The reimbursement can be used to cover the cost of annual training and/or the first-attempt at examinations for Basic and Advanced Training.

Eligibility criteria

An application for the Fee Reimbursement Initiative can be made by a College trainee who fulfills all of the following criteria:

1. Is registered as a Basic or Advanced Trainee with the College.
2. Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Māori and/or Pasifika and can show proof of their Indigeneity and/or Pasifika ethnicity as part of the Fee Reimbursement Application process.
3. For College trainees in Aotearoa New Zealand (as applicable), is not directly employed by a District Health Board (DHB).
4. Has paid the training and/or exam fee/s being sought for reimbursement. Noting that for exams, a fee reimbursement can only be sought for the first attempt at an exam.
5. Is seeking reimbursement/s of the annual training fee and/or exam fees for exams undertaken and completed from 2022 onwards.
6. Completes and submits the Fee Reimbursement Initiative Application Form (PDF) by 11:59pm (AEST), 31 December 2024 to Alexandra Kinsey via email to memberservices@racp.edu.au

Apply

Applications to the Fee Reimbursement Initiative need to be made using the Fee Reimbursement Initiative Application Form (PDF) (Application Form).

Submit your completed Application Form, and any supporting documents, to Alexandra Kinsey via email to memberservices@racp.edu.au by the closing date at 11:59pm (AEST), 31 December 2024.

More information about the Fee Reimbursement Initiative is available on the RACP website.