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Higher training in the land down under

BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0706238 (Published 01 June 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:0706238
  1. Zudin Puthucheary, specialist registrar in respiratory medicine1,
  2. Adrian Blundell, specialist registrar in geriatric medicine2
  1. 1epartment of Intensive Care, King's College Hospital, London
  2. 2Department of Medical Education, Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield

What does it mean to train as a higher specialist in Australia? Having worked in New South Wales, Zudin Puthucheary and Adrian Blundell give a UK perspective

With no language barrier, a better climate, stunning beaches, and a superior quality of life, the question is surely not when to work in Australia as a doctor, but for how long. Each year a large number of British and Irish junior doctors make the break to work in a variety of positions in rural and metropolitan locations in one of the largest countries in the world. Most of these doctors gain employment as resident medical officers, either in emergency medicine or as part of a rotation (in a similar manner to the foundation programme recently introduced in the United Kingdom). Some of the positions are classed as “relief work” and involve covering the duties of doctors who are on leave (that is, most of the jobs do not involve prospective cover).

The reason for most British graduates being employed at this grade is that traditionally graduates travelled down under after jobs as preregistration house officers, or sometime within the following 12 months. The length of stay varies but in general an overseas doctor will remain for between six and 24 months. Increasingly, however, doctors are spending time in Australia in higher specialist training. These posts are more difficult to obtain because membership of the Royal College of Physicians is not accepted in place of the fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRACP); competition for posts is high and local candidates are supposed to have priority, irrespective of skill and experience.

Before discussing higher specialist training in more detail it is essential to explain the difference in titles of doctors in training in the southern hemisphere. Some colleagues have been caught …

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