RACP / AChSHM
Sexual health physicians care for people's sexual and reproductive health through life, mostly in outpatient clinics. They diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections and HIV, provide contraception and care after sexual assault, and work to prevent infection across the community.
Applications
Applications open mid-JulyThrough the Annual Medical Recruitment
No information available on interview dates.
Getting a training position and joining the program are separate steps. Through Basic Training, apply for a position in postgraduate year 4 at the earliest, to start Advanced Training in postgraduate year 5. A Fellow of an eligible college can apply after Fellowship.
Moderate
Total training
6 years
Through Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
36 months of Advanced Training, at least 12 in each phase, or after another Fellowship
Fellowship
Year 6
FAChSHM, at the end of Advanced Training
Throughout training
What every accredited sexual health medicine setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
Before Advanced Training
Entry follows RACP Basic Training or a Fellowship of an eligible college.
Divisional examinations
The Divisional Written Examination and the Divisional Clinical Examination, both passed before Advanced Training, on the Basic Training route
Stage 2 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
The first phase, which orients you to the program and confirms you are ready to progress.
Training application
At the start of the phase, due 28 February for the first half or the whole year, or 31 August for the second half
By the end, every professional activity with indirect supervision
By the end, knowing how to apply each knowledge guide in practice, and the topics and concepts of sexual assault care
RACP Advanced Training Orientation resource
In the first 6 months
Cultural safety
The RACP Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety resource, before specialty consolidation, recommended, unless done in Basic Training
An epidemiology subject
Recommended early, from the program's list of university subjects in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Progress decision
At the end of the phase, on evidence of competence
Laboratory methods, about half a day with your clinic laboratory staff, recommended in this phase and signed off by your supervisor
Stage 3 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
The second phase, continuing your development towards the learning goals.
By the end, every professional activity with supervision at a distance, each knowledge guide applied often in practice, and knowing how to apply sexual assault care knowledge
RACP Health Policy, Systems and Advocacy resource
Before transition to Fellowship, recommended, and by the end of training
Progress decision
At the end of the phase, on evidence of competence
Research project
Submitted by the end of this phase, so there is time to resubmit
Stage 4 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
The final phase, confirming you are ready for unsupervised practice.
20 learning goals, rated at the end of each phase on a five-point scale: professional behaviours, 10 professional activities and 9 knowledge guides
The professional activities are team leadership, supervision and teaching, quality improvement, clinical assessment, transitions in care, emergency and longitudinal care, communication, prescribing, investigations and procedures, and clinic management
The knowledge guides cover the scientific foundations of sexual health medicine, infections, HIV, dermatological conditions, sexual function and dysfunction, reproductive health, gender-affirming care, sexual assault, and public health
By the end, every learning goal well enough to supervise others, except sexual assault care knowledge, applied often in practice
AChSHM Exit Assessment
In the final year, applications in April
Completion decision
Then admission to Fellowship of the Chapter
Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice
Postgraduate years 2 and 3
Research
Courses
Prior learning
Trainees starting Advanced Training from 2026 follow a new sexual health medicine curriculum.
Fellows in Australia
109
At 31 December 2025
| Jurisdiction | Fellows |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (your selected state) | 50 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Health. Medical Education and Training (2025), Chapter 4: Fellows, College Fellows by state, as at 31 December 2025.
None available.
New South Wales
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Hospital locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. State boundaries from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Requirements, application windows and criteria change every year. Verify with RACP / AChSHM before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.
