Medical education in Australia is concerned with both the basic training of medical practitioner and further post-graduate training.

Medical school

Various models of medical education exist in Australia. Undergraduate-entry program typically last 5-6 years, and permit entry from secondary school matriculation. Graduate medical programs typically last 4-4.5 years, and require the entrant to have attained a previous bachelor degree qualification at a certain level of achievement in addition to aptitude tests and interviews.

In early years, theoretical domains of study predominate, with increasing clinical focus during the program. However, early clinical exposure — in which students commence clinical skills from very early in the course, concurrently with theoretical study — is a component of many degrees, most notably the graduate medical programs.

Depending on the program undertaken, students graduate as Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or simply a Bachelor of Medicine (BMed), in addition to any other degrees attained during study.

Internship

All States and Territories require recently qualified medical practitioners to successfully undertake and complete at least one year of supervised practise, generally known as an internship. Internship is undertaken in hospital positions accredited for this purpose. Unlike the US counterparts who have essentially begun traineeships in their chosen field of specialty, interns in Australia are 'undifferentiated', meaning that they undertake rotations through many different specialties. Rotations differ from hospital to hospital and state to state. However, most states require three core terms to be completed - General Medicine (also known as Internal Medicine) or one of its subspecialties, General Surgery or one of its subspecialties, and Emergency Medicine. In some states, a General Practice (GP) term is offered instead of the Emergency Medicine term.

Aside from experience gained through working, formal educational opportunities are required to be provided by hospitals for junior doctors. Accreditation and oversight of this phase of medical education is by each State's postgraduate medical council. There has been some movement towards a national standard for internship.

Residency

Upon successful conclusion of the intern year, doctors qualify for a full registration in the Medical Board of their State or Territory, and are licensed to engage in independent medical practice. Most, however, choose to continue their training as Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) in hospitals, which typically last two years.

Some states (e.g. New South Wales) also require junior doctors to undertake a second generalist year, that is their first RMO year. Other states permit streaming from the first RMO year.

Specialist training

Specialist training varies considerably from specialist college to college. In some specialist college training programs (e.g. surgery) a trainee continues as a RMO in their early training, whilst in others trainees begin at registrar level.

At the same time as working in hospitals, registrars also prepare for examinations for admission into specialist medical colleges, such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, etc.

Those successful in completing the requirements of their college program become fellows of that college. They are now specialists in the case of most areas of medicine (and typically work in specialist private practice and/or as a consultant in a hospital); an exception are fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, who are general practitioners, not specialists.

Continuing medical education

All professional colleges require their members to undertake continuing medical education; the requirements of each college vary.

Medical education