• the investigation, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Infectious Diseases;
• the prevention and control of infectious Diseases;
• laboratory procedures, management and administration of a Microbiology laboratory.

1. Trainees will generally enter the joint training program following completion of at least three years of basic physician training and success in the FRACP written and clinical examinations.
    
   Where a trainee is yet to successfully complete the FRACP examination, provided that basic training has been satisfactorily completed, the Joint Sub-committee in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases may consider conditional approval for advanced training of part or all of the year in which the examination is successfully completed, subject to prospective application and RACP guidelines.
    
2. Joint training is a five-year training program combining clinical training in Infectious Diseases and laboratory training in Microbiology. Joint trainees must be registered with and supervised by the Joint Sub-committee in and Infectious Diseases Microbiology and registered with the Board of Censors, RCPA.
    
3. Infectious Diseases advanced training is conducted by the RACP and leads to the award of FRACP and the ability to practise as an Infectious Diseases Physician.
    
4. Laboratory training in Microbiology is conducted by the RCPA and leads to the award of FRCPA and the ability to practise as a Microbiologist.
    
5. Joint training should be undertaken at at least two separate sites.
   

Components of Joint Training
The training period of 5 years is expected to encompass 2 years of core training in Infectious Diseases and 3 years in Laboratory Microbiology. These years can be undertaken in any order. In some cases trainees will occupy joint laboratory/clinical positions. In this case trainees in discussion with the supervisor and, if necessary, the Joint Sub-committee, will be required to nominate the breakdown of time sought for approval for each of the core Infectious Diseases or Microbiology training.

Infectious Diseases Trainees
Fellows of the RACP may not enter the joint training program. They may however apply to the Registrar of the Board of Censors (RCPA) for retrospective accreditation of training in Microbiology.
 
Infectious Diseases Trainees can enter the Joint Infectious Diseases/Microbiology Program any time; however they will have to pay retrospective fees to the RCPA.
 
Trainees entering the joint program after commencing ID training will not be granted retrospective accreditation of their 6 months required laboratory time unless they can demonstrate that this time was wholly devoted to Microbiology training.
 
Retrospective acceptance of training under another SAC is generally not applicable under this training program. Training under a different SAC (eg General Medicine) is accepted by the SAC in Infectious Diseases as an elective term of training. However, the Joint Infectious Diseases/Microbiology Program encompasses five years of core training (two years of clinical Infectious Diseases and three years of microbiology), thus not allowing for retrospective acceptance of training undertaken under a different SAC.

Core Training in Infectious Diseases (2 years)
The required 2 clinical years must be a comprehensive and structured program, prospectively approved the Specialist Advisory Committee. Exposure to inpatients and outpatients with a broad range of Infectious Diseases is required.

Laboratory Training in Microbiology (3 years)
Training in Microbiology may only be undertaken in laboratories accredited with the RCPA Board of Censors and under approved supervision. It is expected that only a small proportion of time (approx. 10%) would be spent in direct patient care during this time.
 
Trainees will be expected to develop comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in all facets of Microbiology and to be proficient at handling specimens and identifying the range of organisms expected to be encountered in a tertiary care hospital, with attention to safety and quality assurance.

Assessment in Infectious Diseases
It is anticipated, that the majority of candidates will undertake their two core clinical training years required for the FRACP, commencing in the year immediately following completion of the FRACP Written Exam. Consecutive years of clinical training are not necessarily required.
 
Assessment of the clinical years by the joint committee will occur on the basis of the current guidelines for core clinical training. Conjoint clinical and laboratory training will be assessed on an individual basis by the Joint Sub-Committee.
 
Trainees are required undertake three projects; two clinical projects to satisfy the requirements of the Infectious Diseases component and one more substantive project to meet the Microbiology training requirements. The two infectious diseases projects must be commenced during, and relate to work undertaken in, the two core clinical years of infectious diseases training. At least one infectious diseases project must be submitted by the end of the second year of clinical infectious diseases training. These two projects will be reviewed by members of the Joint Sub-Committee. The third project should be based on work completed during training for the RCPA Part II Examination (i.e. after successful completion of the Part I Examination) and must be submitted to the RCPA one month before the Part II Viva Exam. The RCPA will give the Sub-Committee the title of the projects that have passed. The Sub-Committee will accept this project as the third project.