Medical Training Review Panel 19th Report

Vocational Medical Training

Most junior doctors seek entry into specialist or vocational training, which leads to a fellowship from an accredited specialist medical college.

In 2014-15, training was provided through the specialist medical colleges, and until the end of 2014 the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program was managed by General Practice Education and Training Ltd (GPET). This organisation was funded by the Australian Government to deliver training to the standards set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). In December 2014, GPET was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Australian Government Department of Health.

Vocational training programs are accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Each medical college has its own training program and requirements.

Data covers all Australian trainees, as well as international medical graduates who were registered vocational trainees and who were working or training in an accredited training position, post, facility or program.

There were 20,069 vocational trainees in 2015 (Figure 7). This is over two and a half times the number reported in 2000 (7,262 vocational trainees).

In 2015, there were 6,259 basic trainees, representing one-third (31.2%) of all trainees. There has been a constant increase in the number of basic trainees since 2005, mainly due to some colleges having introduced basic training as a pre-requisite to entry into their advanced training programs. Of the total number of basic trainees, 1,955 or 31.2% were in their first year.

In total, there were 13,810 advanced trainees in 2015, making up a larger proportion (68.8%) of the total number of trainees. The increase in basic trainees has resulted in advanced trainees declining as a proportion of all trainees. However, total advanced trainee numbers have risen by 127.9% since 2005.

Figure 7: Vocational medical trainees, 2000-2015

Source: State and territory government health departments

The education and training requirements of each medical specialty depend on the type of clinical medical practice, but commonly include basic and advanced training. Where required, a trainee can only apply for and compete for a position on an advanced specialist training program after successfully completing a basic training program or at a minimum PGY2.

Over one-quarter (26.1%) of all vocational trainees positions were in specialities related to general practice, governed by colleges such as the RACGP and the ACCRM. Adult medicine and emergency made up 22.7% and 10.8% respectively of the cohort (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Vocational trainee positions by medical specialty, 2015

Source: Medical colleges and the Australian Government Department of Health