Medical Training Review Panel 19th Report

Internship in Rural Location

Tables 3.3a and 3.3b present data on internship in rural location using the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system and a new Modified Monash Model (MMM).

Rural areas were classified as RA2 to RA5 under the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas system. Under the new Modified Monash Model there are more specific classifications, and MMM3-MMM7 will be considered rural locations for the purpose of this report.

In 2015, there were 684 rural intern positions (Table 3.3a) where PGY1 trainees could undertake the majority of their internship in a rural location. The largest number of positions was 261 in Queensland, followed by Victoria (159) and New South Wales (129). Under the new Modified Monash Model there were 231 rural intern positions in 2015 (Table 3.3b), with the majority being located in New South Wales (100) and Victoria (86).

There were 649 PGY1 trainees undertaking a rural internship, a type of internship when all or majority of it is undertaken in an RA2-RA5 hospital. The new Modified Monash Model classified 202 PGY1 trainees as undertaking rural internships in the MMM3 to MMM7 classifications.

In addition, in 2015 there were 156 rotational positions in rural hospitals in Australia. The highest number of rural based intern positions filled on rotation by PGY1 trainees from a metropolitan hospital was in Victoria (64), followed by New South Wales (37). According to the Modified Monash Model this would equate to 149 rotational positions in rural hospitals.

Table 3.3a: Commencing postgraduate year 1 trainees (RA2-RA5)^(a) by state/territory, 2015