A career path in medicine is lengthy and encompasses intellectual, physical and mental challenges. However, it is a very interesting journey of professional life that brings one from the medical school to prevocational and vocational training and eventually College Fellowship.
Many medical professionals, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical practitioners, face barriers including lack of knowledge of the options available and lack of access and contact with key people. This page, therefore, is intended to provide links of the different specialist medical Colleges which can be of assistance in choosing a specialist medical career pathway into Fellowship.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is responsible for the training and assessment of doctors who have completed their medical degree and an internship at a hospital, and wish to practise as physicians or paediatricians by undergoing further training through the RACP in order to specialise in a certain area of medicine.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) provides surgical training in Australia and New Zealand, which usually takes five to six years following completion of a medical degree. This section of the site contains information for people interested in a surgical career – including an explanation of selection requirements, the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program and information for International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) provides standards, education and training for general practice. The link below contains information on the general practice.
Specific information about the efforts of the RACGP in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Health is also available.
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is the General Practice specialty medical college training generalists to work anywhere in Australia, but with a particular focus on the unique scope and depth of clinical skills, knowledge and values required by practitioners working in a rural and remote context.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) offers specialist training for qualified and experienced medical graduates in obstetrics and gynaecology to pursue excellence in the delivery of health care to women and their families.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand. The College is responsible for training, examining and awarding the Fellowship of the College qualification to medical practitioners. Through its internationally recognised training programs, innovative continuous professional development and strong representation, the College is committed to creating better outcomes for mental health in the community.
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), which includes the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM), is responsible for the training, examination and specialist accreditation of specialist anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians. Please see the following links for career specific information on anaesthesia and pain medicine.
ANZCA has an Indigenous Health Committee, with indigenous representation from both Australia and New Zealand. Committee members can be contacted through the College, and would be pleased to discuss any questions potential applicants may have.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) is the professional body for Ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand and as such, is the body responsible for creating and maintaining standards in ophthalmologist training and practice. RANZCO is dedicated to providing excellent quality eye care to all Australians, New Zealanders and people in the Pacific region. We are aware of, and work to mitigate, the issues surrounding accessibility for those in rural, remote and indigenous communities.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) is the leading professional organisation for the promotion of the sciences and practice of the medical specialities of Radiology and Medical Imaging (Diagnostic and Interventional) and Radiation Oncology in Australia and New Zealand.
College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM) provides training in intensive care medicine. Many CICM advanced trainees have completed basic training in another discipline, such as anaesthetics, emergency medicine or physician training, and often go on to complete dual fellowships in both disciplines.
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) conducts training in pathology and is involved in professional development of pathologists and promotion of the science and practice of pathology.
The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) provides accredited training in dermatology to those who have completed medical degree and have at least two years (PGY 1 and PGY2) acceptable training in a teaching hospital or equivalent. Once accepted to the program, a trainee must complete four to five years of defined clinical and educational experience in accredited training programs and pass a series of assessments.
The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) is involved in the training and examination of specialist emergency physicians and the continuing professional development of their Fellows.
The Australasian College of Sports Physicians is a recently recognised speciality committed to excellence in the practice of medicine as it applies to all aspects of physical activity and its medical implications. The ACSP provides training in sports and exercise medicine at a post graduate level.
The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) is a medical specialty college of more than 800 members in public and private health services organisations across Australia, New Zealand and overseas.
Medical administration is administration or management utilising the medical and clinical knowledge, skill, and judgement of a registered medical practitioner, and capable of affecting the health and safety of the public or any person. This may include administering or managing a hospital or other health service, or developing health operational policy, or planning or purchasing health services.
RACMA provides training in medical leadership, administration and management utilising the medical and clinical knowledge, skill, and judgment of registered medical practitioners.
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) is dedicated to the pursuit of leadership, partnership and scholarship in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, education and workforce, and is committed to achieving positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and graduates across the medical education and training continuum. AIDA is an active partner of the CPMC’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Specialist Framework Project and is committed to working with the CPMC to increase the number of Indigenous medical specialists in Australia.
