- Do I need to meet all eligibility criteria before applying for entry to the Fellowship Training Program?
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Yes. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria. Information about the eligibility criteria can be found HERE.
- Do I need to hold medical registration to be eligible for entry to the Fellowship Training Program?
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Yes, applicants to the Fellowship Training Program must hold general and/or specialist* registration with the Medical Board of Australia or Medical Council of New Zealand#.
* Prior to commencement in the Fellowship Training Program a successful applicant who holds only specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia will be required to seek and receive a change to their scope of practice for the purpose of undertaking the RACMA Fellowship Training Program.
#All successful applicants registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand will need to advise the MCNZ that they are in training with RACMA.
- Do I need to have completed the minimum three years full-time clinical experience involving direct patient care at the time of application to Fellowship Training Program?
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Yes. Applicants must have completed a minimum of three years full-time clinical experience involving direct patient care at the time of application.
- Can I undertake Fellowship Training part-time?
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Yes. The Fellowship Training Program can be undertaken part-time. Training must be undertaken at a minimum of 0.4 FTE in Medical Administration. When training is undertaken at the minimum of 0.4 FTE it must be undertaken in a single Accredited Training Post. For more information refer to the Flexible Training Policy.
- Are any fees discounted for Candidates undertaking training part-time?
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Yes, Candidates who are in an Accredited Training Post which has been approved for training at 0.7 full time equivalent (FTE) or less, receive a discount on their Annual Training Fee.
- What is the minimum time that the Fellowship Training Program can be completed in?
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The Fellowship Training Program takes a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent* training to complete.
* The program is structured into 2 phases – Foundation and Advanced. Each Phase has minimum and maximum time in training requirements. More information is available HERE. - What is the maximum time that the Fellowship Training Program must be completed in?
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Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program have a maximum of 10* calendar years to complete the training program.
*The program is structured into 2 phases – Foundation and Advanced. Each Phase has minimum and maximum time in training requirements. More information is available HERE.
- Is the application fee refundable if my application is not successful?
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The application fee for the Fellowship Training Program is non-refundable.
- What are the Fellowship Training Program application periods?
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There are two applications periods. Application Period 1 (standard) and Application Period 2. Application period dates are published on the website.
The application fee for Application Period 2 incurs a surcharge.
- What happens if I can’t start training by the census date?
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The latest date an applicant can commence training in the relevant training year is the census date published HERE.
Applicants may seek to defer commencement of training to the start of the training year immediately following the training year for which they were offered a position if they meet the conditions specified in the Entry to Training Policy.
Applicants who do not complete enrolment processes and/or commence training by the dates specified in their letter of offer will forfeit their position in the RACMA Fellowship Training Program. Individuals may choose to reapply the following year.
- Can I apply for entry into the Fellowship Training Program if I do not have an Accredited Training Post?
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No. Applicants must be in a RACMA Accredited Training Post or be due to commence in an Accredited Training Post prior to the commencement of training. Where the applicant is not in, or due to commence in an Accredited Training Post the applicant’s employer/intended employer must apply to RACMA to have the position accredited for RACMA Fellowship Training. Additional information about Training Post Accreditation can be found HERE.
- What fees do applicants for the Fellowship Training Program pay?
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Application to the FTP involves the payment of the FTP Application Fee and a maximum of two RPLE Application Fees (one for Masters level study or one at Senior Medical Leadership and Management level or both RPLE fees, depending on eligibility). Please note that these fees are non-refundable.
Further information about fees is available HERE.
- Who can complete the application for Accreditation of a Training Post?
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The applying officer must have the appropriate delegation from the health setting/organisation to complete the application form for the Fellowship Training Program.
- Who should my referees be?
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Applicants must nominate three referees in their application. Applicants should nominate referees that best support their application.
- Do I need to undertake Supervised Practice in the workplace to be able to undertake the Fellowship Training Program?
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Yes, training occurs under supervision in posts accredited by RACMA. Candidates must be in an Accredited Training Post under supervision for the duration of training unless on an approved interruption to training.
- Can Candidates take leave from the Fellowship Training Program?
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Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program can apply to interrupt their training. Information about interrupted training can be found in the Flexible Training Policy.
- Where are the Fellowship Training Program Foundation and Advanced Workshops held?
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The Foundation and Advanced Workshops are held in Melbourne. Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program are required to travel to Melbourne to attend the workshops. Candidates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements and expenses. Key dates for the Fellowship Training Program can be found HERE.
- Where is the Fellowship Training Program Oral Examination held?
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The Oral Examination is held in Melbourne. Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program are required to travel to Melbourne to sit the examination. Candidates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements and expenses.
Key dates for the Fellowship Training Program can be found HERE.
- What fees do Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program pay?
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Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program are required to pay a number of fees related to their training including annual training fees, workshop and examination fees. Further information about fees is available HERE.
Upon acceptance into the FTP, Candidates will be invoiced a one-off training enrolment fee. The payment of annual training fees and RACMA membership fees as a Candidate member will also be required.
In the Foundation Phase of training, Candidates must complete the Foundation Workshop held in Melbourne. This will involve payment of the applicable Foundation Workshop fee. Travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as associated expenses, are the responsibility of the Candidate.
As part of the Foundation Phase of the program, Candidates are also required to complete the RACMA Indigenous Health Program. This includes completing the following two external modules at their own expense:
- Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Online Module: Cultural Awareness – an Introduction to Cultural Safety and
- Mauri Ora Online Course: Foundations in Cultural Competency.
In the Advanced Phase of the program, Candidates are required to pay annual training and membership fees. They must also complete the Advanced Workshop and the Oral Examination, both held in Melbourne. Each of these components attracts a separate fee. Travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as associated expenses, are the responsibility of the Candidate.
Candidates are also required to complete the five RACMA Core Masters Subjects, with at least two to be completed during the Foundation Phase and the remaining subjects completed during the Advanced Phase. Candidates are responsible for covering all costs associated with completing these subjects within a RACMA approved Masters program.
- Do I need to undertake Workplace Based Assessments in the Fellowship Training Program?
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Yes, Candidates are required to complete 15 Workplace Based Assessments in Foundation Phase and 14 Workplace Based Assessments in Advanced Phase of training. More information about Workplace Based Assessments can be found HERE.
- Can I get credit for or exemptions from training requirements and/or assessments?
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Applicants for the Fellowship Training Program may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE). RPLE refers to the recognition of relevant knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through prior learning or experience. An application for RPLE must be submitted within 14 days of applying for the Fellowship Training Program.
Two types of RPLE are available. Applicants may apply for RPLE for previous Masters level study and/or for their learning and experience at Senior Medical Leadership and Management (SMLM) level, providing all of the eligibility requirements are met.
Further information about RPLE is available HERE.
- What are the timelines for applying for Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE)?
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An application for Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE) must be submitted to RACMA within 14 days of submitting an application for the Fellowship Training Program.
Further information about RPLE is available HERE.
- Are there courses external to RACMA that I must complete as part of the Fellowship Training Program requirements?
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Yes, Candidates in the Fellowship Training Program are required to complete the following modules at their own expense during the Foundation Phase of training:
- Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Online Module: Cultural Awareness – an Introduction to Cultural Safety
- Mauri Ora Online Course: Foundations in Cultural Competency
Candidates are also required to complete the five RACMA Core Masters Subjects, with at least two to be completed during the Foundation Phase and the remaining subjects completed during the Advanced Phase. Candidates are responsible for covering all costs associated with completing these subjects within a RACMA approved Masters program.
- How do I apply for the Fellowship Training Program if I am an overseas trained doctor without general registration?
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If you are an overseas trained doctor without general/vocational registration in Australia or New Zealand, you will be required to apply to the Medical Board of Australia or the Medical Council of New Zealand to obtain general registration.
- If I am an overseas doctor with prior medical management and leadership experience, can I apply for the Fellowship Training Program?
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If you are a doctor trained overseas, you may be eligible to apply for the Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG) assessment. The SIMG assessment process will involve evaluating your training, qualifications, and experience to determine how comparable they are to those of doctors trained in Medical Administration in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. Further information can be found HERE.
