Anaesthesia

^{Disclaimer: Training pathway information is current as at July 2020 and is subject to change. Please check and confirm specific details with relevant colleges and health authorities directly.}

To become an Anaesthetist, you will need to apply for fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). Fellowship is a 5-year (full time) training pathway consisting of:

Introductory Training: 6 months
Basic Training: 18 months
Advanced Training: 24 months
Provisional Fellowship: 12 months

Entry requirements/pre-requisites

General Medical Registration with the Medical Board of Australia
Be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand or a permanent resident of Australia
Hold registration with or be able to apply to ANZCA
Completion of PGY2 (earliest year of entry is PGY3)
Be free of chemical dependence and other health related conditions that will prevent you from performing the duties of an Anaesthetic registrar.

Application and selection process

There is a two stage process to becoming an anaesthetic trainee. The first is the application to the College (ANZCA) which can occur after a minimum of 52 weeks of prevocational medical training. Selection into the ANZCA program is based on your written application addressing the selection criteria and CV, an interview and supporting referee reports.

The second stage is to register as a trainee which occurs once a trainee has secured a training position within an ANZCA accredited department.

In Queensland, the Queensland Anaesthetic Rotational Training Scheme (QARTS) is a sponsored body that is responsible for the overall recruitment and administration of the placement process, and they work closely with Queensland Health, therefore, prospective trainees need to apply for an accredited training position through the RMO campaign.

Once you have secured the training position through the RMO campaign, you can then apply for registration with ANZCA and commence your training.

Program requirements

Regional training opportunities

It is expected that all ANZCA trainees complete rotations in core, metropolitan and regional hospitals. In Queensland, there are 4 networks:

Central Hospital Rotation

Core – Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital
Metropolitan – Redcliffe, Caboolture, Sunshine coast Hospital and Health Service, Ipswich Hospital and Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS)
Regional – Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Rockhampton Hospitals

Gold Coast Hospital Rotation

Core – Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
Metropolitan – The Tweed and Logan Hospitals
Regional – Rockhampton and Lismore Base Hospitals

Northern Hospital Rotation

Core – Townsville University Hospital
Metropolitan – Cairns and Royal Darwin Hospitals
Regional – Mackay Hospital

Southern Hospital Rotation

Core – Princess Alexandra, Mater Health Services
Metropolitan – Logan, QEII Jubilee, Redland, STARS, Ipswich
Regional – Bundaberg, Toowoomba Hospitals

The following table outlines the Anaesthetics Trainee pathway and stages accredited in the Southern Queensland, Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions.

Anaesthetics	5 years total vocational training
	Prevocational		Intro Training	Basic Training			Advanced Training	Provisional Fellowship
	PGY1	PGY2+	6 months	18 months			24 months	12 months
Toowoomba Approved for 104 weeks of training total across all stages of training	*	*		*	*	*	*
Rockhampton Approved for 52 weeks of training total across all stages of training	*	*		*	*
Bundaberg Approved for 52 weeks of training total across all stages of training	*	*		*	*
Hervey Bay Approved for 52 weeks of training total across all stages of training	*	*		*	*

Career Champions and Useful Links

Medical Colleges and Training

Peak Bodies and Clinical Networks

Fact Sheets and Guides

Research and Journals

ANZCA Institutional Research Repository
The International Journal of Anaesthesia
Australian Medical Student Journal
Anaesthesia Oxford (Access via UQ Library Online)
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (Access via UQ Library Online)

Social

onthewards - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube
IncisionUQ - Facebook
Faculty of Pain Medicine (Faculty of ANZCA) - Twitter, YouTube

Career Opportunities and Promotion

Career Champion

To speak with a Career Champion, please contact your local Regional Training Hub Team.