Medicine

Become a world-class expert in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of complex diseases and life-threatening illness.

INTRODUCTION

What is Medicine?

Medicine is a science and a profession, in which professionals dedicate their lives to diagnosing, preventing, managing and treating disease, disorders and other problems in human health. Medical Professionals apply scientific principles to help people, communities, and society as a whole to overcome illness and improve quality of life.

PATHWAY

Choosing a Pathway

The interactive map below shows different pathways that highlight the steps taken by real professionals in that field.

SPECIALISATION

Choosing a Medical field

Deciding which Medical specialisation to work toward may be easier than you think. Whether you want to perform surgery, discover new illnesses and treatments, help deliver babies, or work with the elderly, you can do it, and much more with Medicine.

The following specialisations include information about what sort of work is involved, a range of related jobs, the type of skills you might expect to come out of, and steps to becoming a registered Medical professional.

Click on each image to find out more about the relevant specialisation
STUDY

Undergraduate Study

A common first step in the Medicine pathway is undertaking an undergraduate Medicine, Biomedicine or Science degree.

Undergraduate Medicine Courses Coming Soon

Fourth Year Programs

After completing an undergraduate program, some students elect to continue on to a year of honours, especially if they are interested in pursuing medical academic research.

For those who choose to pursue a fourth year, finding a course that accommodates their grades and location preferences can be tough.

Fourth Year Medicine Courses Coming Soon

Postgraduate Study

For those individuals who completed a Biomedicine, Science or related degree, the opportunity to pursue a Medical career comes with a Postgraduate Medicine Degree.

Some individuals who completed an undergraduate or fourth-year program, yet decided not to continue on a direct Medicine pathway, often pursue alternative careers.

All accredited Postgraduate Medicine degrees require completion of the GAMSAT for entry. Previous experience in relevant fields such as medical reception might also help your chances of being accepted.

Finding a suitable accredited program that suits your needs requires research and time. We have done that work for you!

Postgraduate Medicine Courses Coming Soon

Registration

General registration for medical specialisation includes the following Stages:

Complete a medical degree (Undergraduate or Postgraduate) at an Australian or New Zealand university.

On completing your medical degree, you receive provisional registration

The next step is to enter the workforce as an intern or postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) doctor.  This is called pre-vocational training, and lasts for 12 months (full time). Training is usually undertaken in a public hospital – although the Australian Medical Association states that interns will increasingly spend part of their training in general practice, community-based settings and private hospitals.

Learn how to apply for internship programs

At the end of your 1 year program, you will receive general medical registration.

Residency refers to one or two years following an internship that are spent working in hospital or community health settings, in order to gain more clinical experience with increased levels of responsibility.

Some specialist medical colleges accept entrants after successful completion of internship or postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1).

However, most prefer applicants to have completed at least a further 2 to 3 years of pre-vocational training at the level of a resident (PGY-2 to PGY-3 or more).

This is because they prefer additional experience before allowing applicants into a specialist training program.

During this time you may be referred to as any of the following positions:

  • Resident Medical Officer (RMO)/Senior Resident Medical Officer (SRMO);
  • Junior House Officer (JHO)/Senior House Officer (SHO)/Principal House Officer (PHO)
  • Hospital Medical Officer (HMO)
  • Trainee Medical Officer (TMO)

Also known as Specialty medical training, this is attained through a specialist medical college, like the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).

After completing internship and one or more additional years as a resident and meeting the pre-requisites for the relevant specialty college, doctors can apply for admission to a recognised medical specialty training

For specific specialty training information, see each individual specialisation.

Successful completion of a specialty medical training program results in a fellowship in the specialty.

This is an endorsement that the fellow may practise independently in that specialty. This also provides access to an unrestricted Medicare provider number and Medical Board specialist registration.

For specific specialty registration information, see each individual specialisation.

All medical practitioners must maintain the currency of their skills and knowledge through continuing professional development.

Medical practitioners with general registration (who do not have specialist registration) must continue to complete a minimum of 50 hours CPD per year to be facilitated at their own discretion and a logbook to be kept in the case of an audit or disciplinary action.

Download Medical CPD standards

ALTERNATIVES

The skills learnt in Medicine can be applied to various other fields and industries

Below are some alternative pathways you may consider if you decide medicine is not the right career for you.

Chiropractics, Osteopathy & Physiotherapy

Chiropractors are concerned with healing people's musculoskeletal structure, typically focusing on the spine, using spinal manipulation and similar treatments.

Osteopaths are also concerned with healing people's musculoskeletal structure, however they take a broader approach than Chiropractors, and focus on the whole body.

Physiotherapists are concerned with helping people overcome musculoskeletal conditions through rehabilitation, massage and related physical therapies.

Consultancy & Pharmaceutical Advisory

Many medicine graduates who enjoy helping people on a large scale, but also prefer a more flexible and business oriented career might step back from medical practice and instead focus on consultancy or advisory. This is true also of current medical professionals who decide they want to move into a business oriented direction.

The main area in which medical graduates and professionals act as consultants or advisers is Pharmaceuticals, specifically in large Pharmaceutical companies. In these roles, consultants typically provide expert advice and services related to nonclinical safety testing, manufacturing, clinical trial design, submission preparation, regulatory agency interactions, and more.

Policy & Government

The world of Pharmaceuticals is not the only place medical graduates can go to make a difference on a large scale.

Working for local or national governments as healthcare advisers and consultants, or as policy makers, allows individuals to change and improve the field of medicine on a local, national or even global level.

Education

One of the best ways to make an impact is to pursue a career that helps future generations to learn and find their way in life.

Medicine graduates make excellent teachers, with many opting to undertake postgraduate studies in education in order to inspire future generations of science and medicine students.

Other

Other types of careers and roles that medicine students often pursue involve roles such as Program/Project Management, Occupational Health and Safety Advice and Inspection, Welfare Support Work such as Disability Services, Business Management, among many other roles.

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