Current Trainees

Obstetrics
Internal Medicine
Mental Health
Indigenous Health

Rural Generalists are integral members of their communities, providing invaluable services to rural communities across Australia every day. Advanced skills training adds depth to your training and enhances your clinical practice by providing focused, specialised training for twelve months* in a specific discipline.

Essential Information

Essential Information

Advanced skills training adds depth to your general practice training and enhances your clinical practice by providing focused, specialised training for twelve months* in a specific discipline. We encourage Generalist Pathway trainees to select an AST position based on the needs of the rural community that they wish to relocate to following completion of training.

Information regarding the 2023 recruitment round is outlined below.

For any queries, clarification or additional information, please contact our team.

*Surgical AST takes two years to complete.

Curriculum statements are available from the ACRRM and RACGP websites.

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Applying for AST

The QRGP coordinates a statewide recruitment and placement process for medical officers wishing to undertake AST in mental health, adult internal medicine, anaesthetics, obstetrics and paediatrics. The campaign opens in April/May each year for commencement the following year. You do not need to be a Queensland Rural Generalist Trainee to apply.

AST in emergency medicine, surgery and Indigenous health is coordinated via Queensland Health’s Resident Medical Officer Campaign. Applications for these disciplines open in June for commencement the following year. We encourage you to discuss your interest in applying for AST with department Directors, your Regional Training Organisation and the QRGP. We’re here to support you and help you navigate the path to your career goals.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Be PGY2 or greater at the time of application
Hold general registration with the Medical Board of Australia
Demonstrate commitment to providing services to a rural community in the chosen advanced skill discipline

Important preferencing information

Applications for advanced skills training positions through either the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway’s centralised process or through the Resident Medical Officer Campaign require you to submit your preference for training locations. The Australian General Practice Training Rural Generalist Policy enables registrars to undertake AST outside of their home RTO region. More than one AST may also be undertaken where the conditions outlined in the policy are met.

Applicants external to the Pathway

If you are not a Generalist Pathway Trainee and you would like to express interest in undertaking AST, email us.

Disciplines and Locations

Disciplines and locations

Advanced Skills Training (AST) position offerings vary year to year and so do the job opportunities available in rural facilities after training. The QRGP team, in collaboration with other training partners, has collated and mapped advanced skill training positions and rural vacancies to help trainees make informed career decisions.

The information below is updated annually and is historical. For future recruitment opportunities, please refer to the relevant QRGP position list for anaesthetics, O&G, paediatrics, mental health and internal medicine; and the RMO Campaign and Regional Training Organisations (RTOs) for other disciplines.

If you’d like to know whether it’s possible to complete training in a particular discipline, or work in a particular location with that advanced skill, and it doesn’t appear in the resources below, get in touch with the QRGP team for advice and support.

These resources were last updated in September 2022:

AST sites by discipline and location (where you can train)

Employing facilities by advanced skill discipline and location

Downloadable table with training and employment site information

Key Dates

Key Dates

Event	Date
AST Campaign information session with Department Directors via Microsoft Teams	10.30am Wednesday 16 March 2022
Applications for anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and mental health open	9am Monday 11 April 2022
Applications for anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and mental health close	3pm Tuesday 3 May 2022
Collation of applications and panel shortlisting	Wednesday 4 May to Wednesday 11 May 2022
Interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams	Monday 16 May to Wednesday 25 May 2022
Ranked candidates presented to hospitals	During above period
Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Campaign opens for those wishing to apply for AST in emergency medicine, surgery and Indigenous health Unsuccessful candidates in anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and mental health can amend their application to be considered for the RMO Campaign	Monday 6 June 2022
Candidates and Regional Training Organisations (RTOs) notified of outcome of anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and mental health applications	Early to mid June 2022
RMO Campaign closes	3pm Monday 4 July 2022
RMO Campaign outcome released	Mid October 2022