Requirements overview

Time-based requirements

The Joint Training Program ensures adequate time for you to gain the necessary learning experiences across a range of relevant rotations during your total training time of 5 years (60 months FTE).

Training rotations

Core infectious diseases

24 months FTE minimum must be spent in accredited clinical infectious diseases training positions.

Core microbiology

36 months FTE minimum must be spent in accredited laboratory microbiology positions.

Training locations

At least 12 months of Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology must be undertaken in Australia and/or New Zealand. This is to ensure that you receive adequate exposure to local practices and health services.

The RCPA allows a maximum of 12 months of core laboratory training to be completed outside Australia and New Zealand, and all training in non-accredited laboratories must be pre-approved. Refer to the RCPA Trainee Handbook for more information.

Program key dates

January - March

• 31 January: Previous year’s Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due (for trainees not applying for Fellowship in December)
• 15 February: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training due
• mid-February: Applications for RCPA Examinations due – trainees must apply to the RCPA directly
• Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
• Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)

April - June

• Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
• Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)
• Professional Qualities Reflection (core infectious diseases training only)

July - September

• 15 July: Supervisor’s Report due
• 31 August: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for the second half of the year due
• 15 September: Research Project due
• Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
• Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)

October - December

• 15 October: Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due for trainees eligible for Fellowship in December
• Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
• Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)
• Professional Qualities Reflection (core infectious diseases training only)

Advanced Life Support (ALS) course

Case-based Discussions (CbD)

Developmental and Psychosocial Training

Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)

Logbook

Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR)

Supervisor’s Reports

Trainees who commenced before 2019

Trainees commencing 2019 onwards

Case-based Discussion

A Case-based Discussion (CbD) is a work-based assessment and Advanced Training Program requirement used to evaluate an Advanced Trainee’s professional judgement in clinical cases.

A CbD involves a comprehensive review of clinical case or cases between you and an assessor. After the CbD, the assessor provides constructive feedback to help you improve and structure your future learning.

The Case-based Discussion aims to:

• guide your learning through structured feedback
• improve clinical decision making, clinical knowledge and patient management
• provide you with an opportunity to discuss their approach to the case and identify strategies to improve your practice
• enable your assessor to share their professional knowledge and experience

An assessor can choose any case or cases where you'll play a significant role in clinical decision-making and patient management. The discussion should reflect your level of experience and be linked to your relevant Advanced Training curriculum.

The discussion may focus on a single complex case or a series of cases covering a wide range of clinical areas. Areas may include:

• record keeping
• history taking
• clinical findings and interpretation
• management plan
• follow-up and future planning

Learning Need Analysis

A Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) embeds the process of planning and evaluating learning in the trainee’s practice.

A LNA is designed to help you:

• tailor your learning experiences and build on clinical knowledge and skills
• enhance face-to-face communication with your supervisor
• provide information on your learning needs and progress
• reflect on your strengths, limitations and future learning strategies

Your supervisors will discuss your learning needs with you and review your learning plan.

More information

Professional Qualities Reflection

A Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR) allows a trainee to reflect on an event, or series of events, that is medically or professionally significant to them.

Through analysis of the event(s), you’ll be able to identify and integrate new skills and knowledge to improve your performance.

Reflecting on your professional qualities can cause you to question your beliefs, attitudes and behaviours, and develop new ideas and insights to inform your future practice.

When planning your PQR, you should consider:

• What happened?
• Why did it happen?
• What did you learn?
• How can you improve patient care?
• What action did you or will you take?

Refer to your Basic Training Program or Advanced Training Program for more about your specific program requirements.

Choosing an event

Analyse an event or events that impacts your professional practice.

The event(s) can be positive or negative but don’t have to be dramatic or life threatening. The event(s) should relate to a variety of different encounters you might experience in a healthcare setting.

Qualified Privilege

Australia

The PQR is a quality assurance activity that has been declared on behalf of the Minister of Health and Aged Care by the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health under Part VC section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 under the Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme.

New Zealand

Information entered in the PQR tool and which has become known solely as a result of the PQR is protected under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

The Act outlines conditions which apply to use of the PQR, which include:

• information already existing, for example in patient notes, is not protected.
• information entered in the PQR cannot be disclosed to, or recorded by, others who are outside the PQR activity.

The Minister of Health can authorize disclosure for investigation purposes if they are satisfied that the material relates to a serious offence.

Anonymity and confidentiality

The RACP strongly advises de-identifying any information entered in a PQR. Please de-identify any names of patients, peers, persons or organisation(s) to protect the privacy of individuals/organisation(s) in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Medical Association Privacy Handbook.

The College won’t release any information that you give in this self-reflective tool to any third party without consent unless it’s required to do so by law.

Supervisor’s Report

A Supervisor's Report provides a comprehensive overview of your progress and achievement during the training year. It provides you with structured feedback on your performance from your Supervisor and will inform the decision on the certification of your training.

You and your supervisor are to discuss and sign every report.

A Supervisor’s Report is also required to complete Developmental and Psychosocial Training (if applicable).

Refer to the Supervisor’s Report under Program Requirements for specialty-specific requirements and submission deadlines.

Late submission

The College reserves the right to not certify training if your Supervisor’s Report is submitted after the specified deadline.

If you submit your Supervisor’s Report late, you must attach an Application for Special Consideration. You can also submit a letter of explanation to support your application.

You must attempt to apply for Special Consideration to the College prior to the Supervisor’s Report deadline.

Applications will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy.

More information

See education policies for further details, documents and forms.

Australia

A mandatory period of Developmental and Psychosocial Training for all paediatricians was introduced to ensure that the changing nature of developmental and behavioural aspects in paediatric practice

Areas of training

• Developmental/behavioural paediatrics
• Community paediatrics
• Disability/rehabilitation paediatrics
• Child protection
• Child and adolescent mental health
• Palliative Medicine

These areas reflect a holistic approach to the health problems of children and young people. An understanding of the roles and inter-relationships of many allied health and community-based services, in a way that distinguishes them from experience in organ-based specialties, is required.

Requirements

Time length: 6 months (minimum) in one or more training areas.

Approved training options

A prospectively approved psychosocial training position (6 months)
The 6-month training program can be completed as either:

• 2 x 3-month terms
• 1 x 6-month block
• A continuous part-time position, such as 2.5 days a week for 12 months^*

A prospectively approved rural position (6 months)
The 6-month training comprised of a documented weekly program in the psychosocial training areas with an appropriate level of supervision.

Attendance at a prospectively approved clinic
For 2 sessions a week for 18 months or for 1 session a week for 3 years, plus completion of an approved learning module

Approved clinics

An approved clinic is determined to be a clinic where other health and/or educational professionals are involved, and supervision is directed by a paediatrician who is experienced in one or multiple areas of Developmental and Psychosocial Training, such as behaviour, development, rehabilitation and child protection.

Approved learning module options

• Evidence of attendance at a lecture series at a recognise institution, related to the Developmental and Psychosocial Training areas
• 3 x referenced case reports/essays – demonstrating comprehensive understanding of 3 different issues in the areas of psychosocial training, for example rehabilitation or community paediatrics (1500–2000 words each)
• Completion of the Griffith Mental Developmental Scales course

Other prospectively approved modules may be considered.

Supervision

Trainees must nominate a supervisor for their Developmental and Psychosocial Training component, either during Basic Training or Advanced Training.

A satisfactory Supervisor’s Report for Developmental and Psychosocial Training is required for your training to be certified.

Approval and certification

Basic Training

Apply prospectively through the Basic Training online registration system and check the box to apply Developmental and Psychosocial training.

Didn’t apply in your online application? Submit a Basic Training Developmental and Psychosocial Training application form by the application deadline.

At the end of your rotation, you must submit a Basic Training Developmental and Psychosocial Training Supervisor's Report.

Advanced Training

Apply prospectively through your Advanced Training specialty.

If you want your Developmental and Psychosocial Training rotation to count towards your specialty training time, you must submit a Supervisor’s Report for your specialty.

All other trainees must submit an Advanced Training Developmental and Psychosocial Training Supervisor's Report.

New Zealand

Time length: 3 months (minimum) in one or more training areas

Alternatively, trainees can gain the required training by managing suitable cases over a longer period with appropriate supervision. The training must be documented in a logbook.

For trainees, attempting Developmental and Psychosocial Training during their Basic Training, see suitable rotations.

Logbook

Trainees must keep a record of at least 12 cases they have personally managed under supervision.

In your logbook, your entries must cover a range of conditions:

• Developmental problems, with a focus on the response of parents, families and care-givers to the diagnosis and ongoing care of the child with special needs
• Pervasive developmental disorders
• General learning disability – the behaviour problems that arise secondary to this condition
• Chronic illness – behavioural and psychological problems resulting from chronic illness, and parent and family difficulties resulting from chronic conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, chronic arthritis, chronic respiratory disease, physical disability and childhood cancer
• Common behavioural paediatric problems such as enuresis, encopresis, sleep disturbance, eating difficulties, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, depression, and pre-school behavioural adjustment disorders.

You are to provide a summary of the issues involved in each case and how they were managed. Copies of clinical letters are not appropriate.

Cases will generally accumulate over a 2-year period and each case record must be signed by the supervisor.

Supervision

Trainees must nominate a paediatrician with a special interest and skill in behavioural paediatrics or, where available, a child psychiatrist or paediatric clinical psychologist, to act as their supervisor.

The RACP program director will provide the nominated supervisor with information about the requirements for the logbook as well as review the logbook.

Approval and certification

Basic Training

Apply prospectively through the Basic Training online registration system and check the box to apply Developmental and Psychosocial training.

Didn’t apply in your online application? Submit a Basic Training Developmental and Psychosocial application form to basic.training@racp.org.nz 

At the end of your rotation, complete and submit your Basic Training Developmental and Psychosocial Supervisors Report to basic.training@racp.org.nz

Advanced Training

Apply prospectively through your Advanced Training specialty.

If you want your Developmental and Psychosocial Training rotation to count towards your specialty training time, you must submit a Supervisor’s Report for that specialty.

All other trainees must submit an Advanced Training Developmental and Psychosocial Training Supervisor's Report.

If you are completing your Developmental and Psychosocial Training by logbook, submit your logbook via your Advanced Training specialty.

Logbook resources

Psychosocial Logbook template
Psychosocial Logbook example

Guidelines

The Advanced Training Committee (ATC) in Infectious Diseases, the Committee for Joint College Training (CJCT) in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and the New Zealand Training Subcommittee (ATS) in Infectious Diseases require each trainee to have the ability to:

• review the relevant literature
• synthesise the evidence into a research question
• analyse the data to answer the research question in a logical and scientific manner
• generate conclusions which are supported by data (either the trainee’s data or published literature)
• submit the project in a format suitable for publication in a peer reviewed national or international journal

Accepted project formats

^*Preferred submission format.

Style guide

The Committee doesn’t prescribe a specific style guide, but projects need to be of a standard and format suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal.

See Preparing for Submission by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Submissions

You’re required to submit a written project for each year of Advanced Training. Certification of your training is deferred until a satisfactory project is received for that training year.

Multiple projects can be submitted within the one training year and be counted towards another training year.

You must have submitted at least one project by the end of your second year of training, otherwise the core training period may be ineligible for certification.

Dual trainees: Projects that have submitted to another RACP committee cannot be accepted by the ATC in Infectious Diseases and the CJCT in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.

For prompt assessment by the ATC and CJCT, you’re encouraged to submit projects before the deadline.

All Research Projects must be accompanied by a cover sheet and submitted via email to InfectiousDiseases@racp.edu.au

Grading outcomes and criteria

Each project is sent to two anonymous reviewers who will grade each project one of three ways:

Satisfactory: The project meets the Committee’s requirements for project submissions in line with the grading table.

Borderline: The reviewer is unable to determine the project’s grade and would like to discuss the project with the second reviewer or the relevant Committee before making a final decision.

Unsatisfactory: The project doesn’t meet the Committee’s requirements for project submissions in line with the grading table.

Grading outcomes

2 x satisfactory reviews: The project is determined as satisfactory.

You will be notified of the result and be provided with the reviewers' comments.

2 x unsatisfactory reviews: The project is determined as unsatisfactory.

You and your current supervisor will be notified of the result and be provided with the reviewers' comments. You will be asked to revise and resubmit the project, considering the reviewers' comments and the guidelines for that project type.

1 x satisfactory review + 1 x unsatisfactory review: The project is sent to a third reviewer and then presented to the relevant Committee Chair (or delegate) or full Committee for a final decision.

1 x borderline review: If one of the reviewers gives a borderline grade, the reviewers will be asked to discuss the project and reach a consensus on your grade.

If no consensus can be reached, the project will be sent to a third reviewer and then presented to the relevant Committee Chair (or delegate) or full Committee for a final decision.

2 x borderline reviews: If both reviewers give a borderline grade, the project is determined to be unsatisfactory.

You and your current supervisor will be notified of the result and be provided with the reviewers’ comments. You will be asked to revise and resubmit the project, considering the reviewers’ comments and the guidelines for that project type.

When a final decision on your resubmitted project is made, you will be notified as to whether the result is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory and be provided with the anonymous reviewers' comments as above.

Grading criteria