Components of Training

Core Training

• A minimum of two years is required.
  
• At least 18 months must be spent in a palliative medicine service under the supervision of a specialist who holds FRACP. If the supervisor is not a Fellow, then a co-supervisor, who holds Fellowship, must be appointed.
  
• A minimum of six months must be spent in a specialist palliative medicine service in a teaching hospital.
  
• During core training a minimum of six months must be spent in a clinical oncology position approved for advanced training in medical oncology or in radiation oncology.
  
• This period should include an adequate exposure to the delivery of palliative care services to the community and in clinics.
  
• Candidates are strongly discouraged from undertaking core palliative medicine training during the year in which they sit for the Examination.

The content of training should include:

• Experience in clinical decision making.
  
• Development of management strategy in the light of personal priorities of the patient.
  
• Experience in communication and counselling with patients, their families and health care professionals, with respect to information transfer, therapeutic strategy development, and for purposes of support.
  
• Assessment, diagnosis and management of various symptom complexes (including various pain syndromes with due regard to medical and non--- medical measures).
  
• Studies of pathology, pathophysiology including clinical pharmacology of relevance to major symptoms.
  
• Experience elucidation and management of confusional states and psychiatic syndrome in liaison with psychiatric staff.
  
• Experience in the psychosocial, cultural and spiritual issues in relation to dying patients.
• Experience in the ward and outpatient and domiciliary situation of the problems encountered by the nursing staff in palliative medicine.
  
• Interdisciplinary contact with professionals.
  
• Development of skills in team management.

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Procedural Skills
Competence in procedures such as paracentesis and thoracocentesis is essential.

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Elective Training

• A maximum of one year could be spent in an area with a strong palliative component such as HIV medicine, respiratory medicine, geriatric medicine, clinical pharmacology, pain management, intensive care, research, liaison psychiatry or further experience in palliative medicine.
  
• Experience in a suitable training post outside Australia is encouraged. Early discussion with the SAC is recommended to ensure suitability.
  
• With respect to training undertaken in other services, the supervisor should be the director or supervisor of training in that service and the program should be approved by the SAC.

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