Geriatric medicine

^{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 a Geriatrician, you will need to apply for fellowship with The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Fellowship is a 6 year (full time equivalent) training pathway consisting of 3 years (full time equivalent) Adult Internal Medicine – Basic Training followed by 3 years (full time equivalent) Advanced Training in Geriatric Medicine.

Basic

Years 1-3

Adult Internal Medicine - Basic Training: 36 months (full time) consisting of:

24 months (full time) core training (including 3 months general and acute care medicine & 12 months in medical specialties)
Maximum 12 months non-core training, which can be replaced by additional core training.
At least 12 months at a Level 3 Teaching Hospital and at least 3 months outside of a Level 3 Teaching Hospital

Advanced

Years 4-6

Advanced Training in Geriatric Medicine - 36 months (full time) consisting of:

24 months (full time) core training
12 months (full time) non-core training

Entry requirements/pre-requisites

Basic Training:

General Medical Registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
Eligible for registration with the RACP as a basic physician trainee.
Qualify as postgraduate year three (PGY3) or above.
Secured a Basic Training position at an accredited training hospital or health service.
Discussed your application and received approval to apply for Basic Training from the hospital (or network) Director of Physician Education (DPE). Please note that DPE approval is limited to trainees that have been formally selected onto the network.

Advanced Training:

Completion of RACP Basic Training (including written and clinical examinations.
Current medical registration.
Secured employment in an appropriate Advanced Training position.

Application and selection process

Applicants will first need to apply and complete Basic Physician Training (BPT) through the Queensland Basic Physician Training Network. The network provides centralised recruitment, selection and allocation of RACP registered Basic Physician Trainees (BPT) intending to commence basic physician training in Queensland. Applicants must apply through the RMO campaign to secure an employment contract for a position in an accredited facility.

Once you have secured an Basic Training position, you must prospectively apply for approval as per the RACP Progression through Training Policy.

To proceed to Advanced Training, applicants can secure an Advanced Training position at an accredited training site by applying through the RMO Campaign to the Queensland Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training Pathway. The network facilitates centralised recruitment, selection and allocation to registrar positions across the state, emphasising consistency and quality, in association with trainee equity, flexibility and choice.

Once you have secured an Advanced Training position, you must prospectively apply for approval as per the RACP Progression through Training Policy.

Program requirements

Regional training opportunities

In Queensland, the accredited facilities for Geriatric Advanced Training positions include: Cairns Hospital, Gold Coast University Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, Logan Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Redcliffe Hospital, Redland Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, The Prince Charles Hospital, Toowoomba Hospital and Townsville University Hospital.

The following table outlines the Geriatric Medicine training pathway and stages accredited in the Southern Queensland, Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions:

Geriatric Advanced Training	6 years total vocational training
	Prevocational		Basic Training			Advanced Training
	PGY1	PGY2+	3 Years			3 Years
Toowoomba Level 2 Teaching Hospital - allows up to 24 months of Basic Physician Training. Trainees must spend the additional 12 months at a Level 3 Teaching Hospital. Advanced training accredited for 24 months training including Toowoomba Base Hospital with St Vincent’s Private Hospital (Trainee to spend no longer than six months at St Vincent’s Private Hospital). A maximum of six months training in the following areas of training/positions: • Stroke • Acute Geriatric Services • Orthogeriatrics • Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) • Hospital in the Home (HITH) Service – Community Aged Care • Rehabilitation/Acute Geriatric (St Vincent’s Private Hospital)	*	*	*	*	Level 3 hospital within the network (eg. Greenslopes, Princess Alexandra, Mater hospitals)	*	*

Career Champions and Useful Links

Medical Colleges and Training

Peak Bodies and Clinical Networks

Fact Sheets and Guides

Research and Journals

Australasian Journal on Ageing
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (Access via UQ Library Online)
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine (Access via UQ Library Online)

Social

Career Opportunities and Promotion

Queensland Health RMO and Registrar Recruitment Campaign

Career Champion

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