General Paediatrics

General Principles

1. Advanced Training in General Paediatrics will be for three years following satisfactory completion of Basic Training and the FRACP Examination in Paediatrics.
2. At least two years must consist of structured supervised clinical training (ie no more than one year of research is acceptable during Advanced Training).
3. You are strongly encouraged to work in more than one institution or community environment, and in a variety of settings.
   
4. You must develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the philosophy and knowledge unique to a broad perspective of child health and skills in inpatient care. Understanding of aboriginal health is important in the Australian context. During your Advanced Training there should be particular empahsis on:
   • consultative skills
   • communication and counselling skills
   • continuity of care and care planning
   • preventative strategies for child health
   • ethics and resource planning
   • critical appraisal
   • child advocacy
   • autonomous functioning and leadership
   • teaching
   • continuing medical education
   • acute care general paediatrics
   • ambulatory and community paediatrics
   • development, learning and behaviour
   • quality assurance.

5. Advanced Training allows flexibility and diversity of opportunity. It is expected that when you apply to enter Advanced Training, you and your supervisor, under the guidance of the Director of Paediatric Physician Training (DPPT) will review your previous training and plan your subsequent training according to your individual long term goals. Mandatory requirements for training should be noted at this stage.
6. As a trainee, you will be working towards achieving competencies of the Consultant Paediatrician. The desired competencies listed below are based on The Royal College of Paediatricians and Surgeons of Canada: Specialty Training Requirements in Pediatrics, 1998.
   

Medical Expertise

• demonstrate diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge and skills for ethical and effective patient care
• access and apply information relevant to clinical practice
• demonstrate effective consultation services.
  

Communication

• establish therapeutic relationships with patients and their families
• obtain and synthesise relevant history from patients, families and communities
• listen effectively
• discuss appropriate information with patients, families and health-care team members.
  

Teacher and Scholar

• develop, implement and monitor a personal continuing education strategy
• critically appraise sources of medical information
• facilitate learning of patients, trainee medical officers, students and other health professionals
• contribute to the development of new knowledge.
  

Collaborator

• consult effectively with other paediatricians and health care professionals
• contribute to interdisciplinary team activities.
  

Management

• use resources to balance patient-care, learning needs and personal needs
• allocate finite health care resources appropriately
• work effectively and efficiently
• use information technology to optimise patient care and continuing education.
  

Health Advocacy

• identify the important determinants affecting patients
• contribute to improved health of patients and communities
• respond appropriately.
  

Professional Behaviour

• deliver the highest quality care with integrity, honesty and compassion
• exhibit appropriate personal and interpersonal professional behaviours
• practice the ethical obligations of a paediatrician (see Ethics: A Manual for Consultant Paediatricians RACP, Sydney 1992).
  

7. The CPPT should be consulted in the first year of Advanced Training to determine whether any changes to the program is permitted and to prospectively approve elective experience.

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