Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine

Supervising Committee

Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine

Definition of Specialty

The College recognises that the practice of modern neonatal/perinatal medicine is different from the standard practice of paediatrics and a separate program is required. The practice encompasses the care of the fetus, the premature and ill new born.

General Principles

1. Advanced Training in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine will be supervised by the SAC in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine (SAC NPM)
   
2. Advanced Training in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine will be for three years following satisfactory completion of basic paediatric training and the FRACP Examination in paediatrics.
   
3. Supervised training in both neonatal and fetal medicine with accredited teaching units throughout this training time is essential. This program should be closely associated with a comprehensive training program in obstetrics.
   
4. A minimum of 12 months clinical perinatal training is essential
   
5. In general, it is recommended where possible that no more than 2 years be spent training in any one centre. Neonatal units are accredited for varying lengths of time.
   
6. Up to 6 months of approved elective training may be spent in a recognized teaching centre in a closely related discipline for example: obstetrics, paediatric cardiology, neonatal emergency transport service or developmental paediatrics will be acceptable as part of the three years of training.
   
7. Adequate experience with the care of surgical neonates is essential (usually 6 months).
   
8. Adequate experience in the transport of sick neonates is essential. At least 25 retrievals with a broad range of complexities must be carried out.
   
9. No more than 18 months of neonatal training in a childrens's hospital will be accepted towards the required 3 years of neonatal/perinatal content.
   
10. No more than 12 months in pure research will be accepted towards the required 3 years of neonatal/perinatal content.
    
11. An approved training program in neonatal/perinatal medicine must be under the direction of one or more neonatologists based full-time in a Level 3 (Intensive Care) Neonatal Unit.
    
12. Positions must be held in an accredited training unit. Tertiary perinatal centres in Australia are accredited for neonatal/perinatal training for varying periods of 6 months to three years.
    
13. The number of trainees taken into the program should be restricted according to the number of teaching staff and the number of patients available. There should be no more than one trainee for each full-time neonatologist or equivalent. The number of patients must be sufficient to provide each trainee with experience in caring for a broad spectrum of perinatal/neonatal problems.
    
14. Applications to complete Advanced Training in overseas hospitals will be reviewed on an individual basis.
    
15. Mandatory requirements must be satisfied.

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