How to Become a Gastroenterologist in Australia

Prerequisites

Basic Training: RACP Basic Training in adult medicine or in paediatrics and child health, with the FRACP Divisional Written and Clinical Examinations passed
Registration: general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, or registration with a general scope of practice and a practising certificate in Aotearoa New Zealand
Training position: an Advanced Training position in an accredited setting or network, or an approved non-core position
College registration: registration with the RACP
Postgraduate years: postgraduate year 4 or later by February

Applications

Timeline

Next year

Applications

Applications open late JuneFor the first-year advanced trainee registrar position, through Canberra Health Services

No information available on interview dates.

When to apply

Getting a training position and joining the College program are two separate steps. Apply for a position in postgraduate year 4 at the earliest, to start Advanced Training in postgraduate year 5.

Selection format

Interview
Referee report

Competition

Very high

Places are limited by how many trainees each accredited setting can take.

Program structure

Total training
6 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
36 months of Advanced Training in gastroenterology, at least 12 in each phase
Fellowship
Year 6
FRACP, at the end of Advanced Training

Throughout training

Core training: 24 months; At least, in accredited gastroenterology rotations
Non-core training: 12 months; At most, approved case by case
Training settings: 2; At least, no more than 24 months in one
On call: 12 months; At least, every fourth weekend, within core training
In Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand: 24 months; At least
Child development training: 6 months; Full-time equivalent in Australia, Paediatrics and Child Health Division only

Rules and conditions

Three phases of at least 12 months full-time equivalent each: specialty foundation, to orient you, specialty consolidation, toward the learning goals, and transition to Fellowship, to confirm you meet the standards for practice without supervision
Moving to the next phase takes evidence of competence as well as the time. The panel can keep you in a phase until you meet its learning goals, or let you move on with conditions
Two settings, and no more than 24 months in one, are required in adult medicine and recommended in paediatrics and child health
At least one year at a setting accredited for 2 core years is recommended, for the widest range of cases, and 6 to 12 months of general gastroenterology
Two core years at one setting take a second-year position different from the first, with more responsibility and more complex patients. An endoscopy year is not a suitable second year
Non-core training is clinical training closely related to gastroenterology, or gastroenterology research. Its rotation plan shows how at least 4 of the knowledge learning goals are covered, and core training first is recommended
Developmental and psychosocial training is needed for Fellowship through the Paediatrics and Child Health Division, in Basic or Advanced Training
Child development areas in Australia: child and adolescent psychiatry, child protection, community paediatrics, developmental and behavioural paediatrics, disability and rehabilitation paediatrics, and palliative medicine
Child development options in Australia: a prospectively approved psychosocial position, as two 3-month terms, one 6-month block or a continuous part-time post, or an approved rural position with a weekly program
Or an approved clinic, twice a week for 18 months or weekly for 3 years, with an approved learning module
In Aotearoa New Zealand: a 3-month rotation in adolescent medicine, child protection and adolescent psychiatry, community, developmental and behavioural, or disability and rehabilitation paediatrics, or a logbook of at least 12 cases

What every accredited gastroenterology setting must give you

Teaching ward rounds: 2; Each week at least, each patient considered in depth
Clinics: 2; Each week on average, following the same patients through the year
Inpatients: 5; Active patients on average for each trainee on ward service, at least
Your presentations: 2; Each month at least, at the weekly department meetings
Endoscopy lists: 3; Each week at most, averaged over the year, as a supernumerary

Rules and conditions

Upper endoscopy, oesophageal dilatation and colonoscopy lists, and preferably ERCP. You attend ERCP lists to learn the technique, and are not expected to perform it
Emergency endoscopy in and out of hours, as your stage of training allows
Inpatients with acute and chronic gut and liver disease, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, enteric infection, liver disease and portal hypertension, and regular assessments in the emergency department
Referrals from other departments, which you assess and review with a consultant
Formal teaching such as journal club, grand rounds, seminars and case presentations, with radiology and histopathology teaching for at least 1 hour a fortnight
Regular meetings with the gastrointestinal surgeons, and the chance to teach junior doctors, medical students, nurses and allied health staff
A research or quality assurance project in each year of training, preferably presented at a national or international meeting and published
The chance to attend the Gastroenterological Society of Australia's Australian Gastroenterology Week or an international meeting each year. Attend Australian Gastroenterology Week in one of your core years
In a second core year: first on call for ward and emergency calls at least 1 in 4, specialised clinics under an expert, and tertiary medical and surgical services with complex patients
A setting accredited for 2 core years covers the whole curriculum, with capsule endoscopy, oesophageal physiology and a drug and alcohol service on site or by arrangement

Learning captures: 12; Each phase, at least one a month
Observation captures: 12; Each phase, at least one a month
Progress reports: 4; Each phase, at least one every 3 months
Rotation plans: 1; For each rotation, at its start
Research project: 1; Before the end of training, submitted by the end of specialty consolidation, recommended

Endoscopy logbook, by the end of training

200Upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, unassisted and complete, 20 of them therapeutic
200Large bowel examinations, such as colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy
100Complete colonoscopies to the caecum or ileum, unassisted
50Patients with a successful snare polypectomy

Rules and conditions

Rotation plans are due 28 February for rotations in the first half or whole of the year, and 31 August for the second half, with the position description and weekly timetable
A Progress Review Panel decides at the end of each phase
The research project is research, an audit or a systematic review, broadly relevant to gastroenterology, with significant input of your own. It can be part of a larger study
Research project submission dates are 31 March, 15 June and 15 September, and the project is marked pass, fail or resubmit
The Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recognises your endoscopy training once Advanced Training is complete
Register with the committee when you start, and log every procedure you attempt, in order, within 6 months of it. Your supervisor acknowledges each one, and two supervisors send rating reports
Apply for recognition in your final year, by 15 March or 15 October. Colonoscopy needs a caecal intubation rate of at least 90%, and a polypectomy or biopsy is not a therapeutic procedure

Stage by stage

Stage 1 of 4

Basic Training

Before Advanced Training

Entry follows RACP Basic Training, in adult medicine or in paediatrics and child health.

Examinations

Divisional examinations
The Divisional Written Examination and the Divisional Clinical Examination, both passed before Advanced Training

Dual training

Dual training with
General Medicine
Both Fellowships
48 months
At the least, full-time equivalent
Core time counted
6 months
One gastroenterology or hepatology term, toward general and acute care medicine
Non-core time counted
12 months
At most, toward general and acute care medicine
Non-core time accepted
12 months
At most, of closely related clinical training toward gastroenterology, approved case by case
To apply
Apply to each program on the Training Management Platform, with a rotation plan for each.
Assessments
A shared rotation needs half of each program's learning and observation captures, and a progress report for each.
Research
One research project serves both.
Time limit
Each program keeps its own time limit, with an extra year.
- RACP dual training

Selection criteria

Score your portfolio

Clinical experience

Gastroenterology experience: clinical experience in gastroenterology and hepatology, such as terms, electives, conferences and courses in the field

Academic

Higher degrees: postgraduate degrees and qualifications
Teaching: teaching and supervising medical students and junior doctors

Publications & research

Research plan: arrive with a developed research plan, which the appointments committee regards highly. Publish and present during the year

Academic achievement

Academic record: undergraduate achievements
Awards: awards and other significant achievements

Personal statement

A written statement of how your experience, skills and qualities meet the selection criteria

Referees

Reports from the consultants who supervise your work now and recently

Interview

Selection interview: assesses team leadership, supervision and teaching, and professional behaviours
- Domains: knowledge and clinical judgement, multidisciplinary teamwork, communication with patients, families and colleagues, empathetic and expert care, and safety and quality standards

Application process

1. Apply for a position at an accredited gastroenterology setting. The College does not select trainees. Apply to the first-year gastroenterology and hepatology advanced trainee registrar position in the Canberra Health Services junior medical officer campaign
2. The selection panel draws up a shortlist
3. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed
4. Positions are offered. The appointments committee assesses your resume, experience and referee reports. Offers go out in rounds
5. Submit a training application to the College through the Training Management Platform
6. College staff confirm you meet the entry criteria

Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice

Entry tips

Postgraduate years 2 and 3

Do a gastroenterology term as a resident medical officer, since that is where you meet the gastroenterologists who mentor you and bring you into their research.

Basic Training

Take a gastroenterology rotation during Basic Training, since it gives you the experience selection weighs and consultants who can referee your work.

Research

Read the research interests of the Canberra Hospital gastroenterology unit and ask the unit about your proposed research before you apply, so your research plan fits work the unit does.

What the college has changed

2024-01
A new curriculum applies to trainees starting in 2024 or later, in three phases with learning and observation captures. Earlier starters stay on PREP.

Training posts

None available.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology