Overview | Eligibility | Apply | Selection | Contact

Overview

Basic Physician Training is possible in 2 regional networks in the Northern Territory:

• Central Australia Health Service – Alice Springs Hospital
• Top End Health Service –Royal Darwin Hospital, Palmerston Regional Hospital, Katherine District Hospital, Gove District Hospital

There’s an annual recruitment cycle between May and August but applications are welcome throughout the year.

The application process for both health services requires separate applications and should be made to Alice Springs Hospital or Royal Darwin Hospital.

Top End Health Service

The Top End Health Service (TEHS) covers a large and diverse geographical region with a multicultural population. The service provides care to aboriginal patients from a wide variety of cultural and language backgrounds.

TEHS offers a remote setting where trainees are faced with the difficulties of a resource-limited environment and its impact on patient care.

Training positions are available across:

• Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH)
• Palmerston Regional Hospital (PRH)
• Katherine District Hospital (KDH)
• Gove District Hospital (GDH)

PRH and KDH are secondment hospitals of Royal Darwin Hospital. GDH supplies a non-core general practice rotation for basic trainees as part of the overall TEHS basic training program.

The program aims to produce well-rounded trainees who are particularly competent within a rural and remote Australian setting.

Royal Darwin Hospital is a Level 3 accredited teaching hospital. Entry into basic training may be in PGY 2 or 3 year depending on prior experience and general readiness to enter training. 

In the TEHS, trainees have access to a variety of specialties within the unique generalist setting of Nhulunbuy (GDH), including:

• cardiology
• nephrology
• respiratory
• infectious diseases
• drug and alcohol
• general medicine
• oncology
• palliative care
• intensive care
• gastroenterology
• neurology
• geriatrics

Remote general medicine in Katherine, general practice nights and relieving work is also part of training. Trainees can also choose to have a broad Junior Medical Officer experience and undertake terms in the emergency department. Paediatrics or obstetrics and gynaecology are subject to availability of those terms and whether the training has selected a streamed or non-streamed pathway.

Trainees may be seconded out to rural placements earlier in a training period and brought back into RDH leading up to the written and clinical examinations.

Central Australia Health Service

The Central Australia Health Service covers an extensive area of more than 1.5million km2 with a relatively small population of 50,000. Rich in Aboriginal culture, the Arrernte people are the traditional custodians of the lands Alice Springs, having lived there for over 30,000 years. The Central Australia region covers approximately 15 different indigenous language groups.

The medicine here is entirely unique and is the home of true general medicine. Trainees are part of service delivery across a large geographical area, engaging with remote Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal led health organisations. Effective communication skills are essential due to complex social conditions and co-morbidities encountered. Clinical work combined with the rich cultural experience make Alice Springs an excellent training site. 

Alice Spring Hospital (ASH) is a Level 2 accredited teaching hospital with 183 beds. It has strong links and visiting specialists from Tennant Creek Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre. It shares its campus with Flinders NT Medical School and the Remote Centre for Health, offering opportunities for staff to engage in research and teaching.

The hospital has a strong training program. It covers a range of general and specialty rotations and has a well-established teaching program, preparing trainees for success in the written and clinical exams.

Trainees receive a balance of core and non-core training terms over the 12 to 24 months of training. As a Level 2 hospital the maximum amount of training time that can be completed at ASH is 24 months. The hospital has strong connections with Level 3 training hospitals interstate, giving trainees the opportunity of being successful in gaining employment elsewhere to complete their 3rd year of training.

Trainees have access to acute general medicine and rotations through subspecialties in:

• nephrology
• cardiology
• oncology
• haematology
• rehabilitation
• geriatrics
• gastroenterology
• palliative care
• alcohol and other drugs

Remote outreach clinics are part of many of the positions available and provide an incredibly rich experience.

See the Specialist Training Program initiative for more information on working at Alice Springs Hospital.

Eligibility

To apply for Basic Physician Training (BPT) in the TEHS or CAHS, you must have:

• a medical degree accredited by the Australian Medical Council
• general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia.

Overseas trained physicians with appropriate medical training and experience are welcome to apply and should reach out to discuss opportunities.

Entry into basic training can be PGY 2, 3 or above, depending on prior experience and general readiness to enter training. All levels of BPT trainees are accepted.

Apply

The application process for the TEHS and CAHS requires separate applications.

There’s an annual recruitment cycle between May and August but applications are welcome throughout the year.

Top End Health Service

You need to clearly state you’re applying for a basic physician training position in your expression of interest letter.

To apply, submit your application to DivMedRecruitment.THS@nt.gov.au

Central Australia Health Service

For BPT1 you should generally apply for a Resident Medical Officer role through Alice Springs Hospital.

If you’re unsure whether to apply for an RMO or Registrar role, contact the hospital DPE or recruitment team to discuss.

Selection

Selection into training is based on:

• resume
• cover letter outlining your training goals, aspirations and whether you wish to enter training at the RMO or registrar level
• at least 2 consultant referee reports
• an interview with the DPE or another local specialist

Referees will be asked about your:

• clinical work and ability to work within a team
• reliability
• perceived ability to engage with a demanding training program

You’ll be assessed on:

• your aptitude for entry into and engagement with training
• interest in medicine as a discipline
• demonstrated respect for patients
• ability to work within and manage a team
• interest and motivation for working in remote Australia

Selection into basic training in the Northern Territory is consistent with the College’s .

For more information, visit Top End Health Service specialities and rotations and Central Australia medical officer positions.

Contact

Contact Colleen Fuda at colleen.fuda@nt.gov.au for more information about NT Basic Trainee (Adult Internal Medicine) program information.

Contact Member Services for more information about RACP orientation evenings.

Recruitment team

Jolene Preece, Medical Administration | jolene.preece@nt.gov.au

Dr Kirsten Neal, Registrar Recruitment | kirsten.neal@nt.gov.au

Dr Sajan Thomas, Director of Physician Education | sajan.thomas@nt.gov.au

Medical Recruitment, Alice Springs | MedicalRecruitmentAsh.THS@nt.gov.au