Public Health Medicine

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Program
overview
Apply
or re-register
Training
requirements
Forms and
resources

Program overview

In Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine, you'll explore in-depth specialty training in the health and care of populations, including health promotion, prevention of disease and illness, assessment of a community's health needs, provision of health services to communities and research. You will train under supervision and prepare for independent practice as a consultant. The program builds your skills through work-based learning and assessment tools.

Program updates

The Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine Program is evaluated biennially by the Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine to ensure that it’s in line with educational best practice. Changes in program requirements may occur and could impact your training plan. The College will provide sufficient notice prior to implementing any change. You must always ensure you’re following the correct requirements during your training.

Entry requirements

1. Medical registration

Prospective trainees must hold a:

full general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia
medical registration with general scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand and a current practising certificate

2. Postgraduate clinical experience

New trainees must hold 3 years full-time equivalent of postgraduate clinical experience comprised of:

an internship year containing regular face-to-face clinical patient contact
at least 1-year full-time equivalent clinical experience in a well-structured position in addition to an internship, with appropriate supervision with regular face-to-face patient contact
a further clinical year or 1 year in a health-related field

Frequently asked questions

Public health is a non-clinical specialty. Why is there an emphasis on clinical experience?

Your prevocational training, which is the first 2 years after your medical education, provides you broad exposure to clinical medicine and the Australian/Aotearoa New Zealand healthcare system.

The Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC), comprised of Postgraduate Medical Councils in each state and territory of Australia and the Medical Council of New Zealand, is responsible for ensuring junior doctors have structured prevocational training with appropriate educational activities and assessments.

The CPMEC promotes competency development in a structured workplace environment and the importance of consolidating your learning as part of your preparation for a career in Public Health Medicine.

What work may be regarded as a postgraduate year of working in a health-related field?

In order to be eligible for consideration, any work in a health-related field should have:

been postgraduate work experience that occurred after the completion of a medical degree (MBBS or equivalent)
made use of medical knowledge or expertise
involved some structure and supervision
the person undertaking this work must have maintained their medical registration during this period

It is recognised that work in a health-related field may include settings that are not usually part of prevocational training for junior doctors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Postgraduate work undertaken in a public health-related role is likely to be favourably considered.

Examples of the settings outside of usual prevocational training that might be acceptable may include, but are not limited to, the following: health related non-government organisations (such as the World Health Organization) and refugee health providers.

A position description should be provided for any position that is outside of a usual prevocational training setting.

Can locum work be recognised as clinical experience?

Locum work is unlikely to meet the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) criteria. This is particularly the case if the position consists of unstructured training which lacks supervision.

In these cases, it is difficult to determine whether the required competencies and professional development for a prevocational doctor have been achieved through the locum work.

Claims for locum experience will need to demonstrate that training was structured and supervised appropriately. Claims will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Can telehealth consultations be recognised as clinical experience?

Maybe. Telehealth consultations provided by general practitioners and specialists in response to COVID-19 restrictions may be acceptable if your clinical setting included capacity for face-to-face consultations and appropriate supervision.

Time spent working in services that solely provide telehealth consultations, where neither face-to-face patient contact nor appropriate supervision were provided, are unlikely to meet the requirements for previous clinical experience.

To discuss your situation, contact PublicHealth@racp.edu.au

Can a surgical assistant position be recognised as clinical experience?

No. While surgical assisting may provide patient contact, it does not allow for the development of independent decision-making skills under supervision. The development of these skills under supervision is a training requirement prescribed by CPMEC.

Can a home doctor service position be recognised as clinical experience?

No. Working for a home doctor service doesn’t meet the CPMEC criteria as it is unstructured training that lacks supervision and a structured assessment process.

Is part-time prevocational training allowed?

Yes, as long as your part-time work, which is calculated at a pro rata basis, meets the training period full-time equivalent for clinical experience.

Further information on accredited prevocational training sites/positions is available through the Postgraduate Medical Councils for each state and territory in Australia and the Medical Council of New Zealand.

3. Completed Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent

You must have completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) (or equivalent) that satisfiesthe 5 Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) compulsory core discipline areas:

Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Health Protection (includes Environmental Health and/or Communicable Disease Prevention and Control)
Health Promotion
Health Policy, Planning or Management

All MPH courses must be an assessed course, not an attendance course.

MPH overview

A Master of Public Health (MPH) usually requires 1 to 2 years of full-time equivalent (FTE) study and is comprised of a range of coursework subjects and may include a research project.

Students must satisfactorily complete core and non-core subjects to fulfil the total number of points required to complete an MPH. Core subjects such as Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Health Promotion are consistent across MPH degrees at many universities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The number of points allocated to each subject and the total number needed to complete an MPH varies by university. Individual subjects range in size but typically require 120 hours of work, with time spent in lectures, tutorials, individual study and preparation for assessments.

Compulsory core discipline areas

These subjects can be used as a guide to satisfy the 5 AFPHM compulsory core discipline areas.

Epidemiology

measures of the frequency of disease — incidence, prevalence, population at risk
measures of association in epidemiological studies
different study designs — observational studies, experimental study designs
bias associated with study designs, misclassification, confounding and effect modification
the ability to critically appraise different epidemiological studies

Biostatistics

classifying health data
summarising data using simple statistical methods and graphical presentation
sampling distributions
quantifying uncertainty in results from a sample
working with statistical distributions
comparing two or more groups using methods involving confidence intervals and hypothesis tests (p-values)
assessing the association between an outcome and an exposure using the chi-squared test
using risk comparisons (RR and OR)
predicting an event or identifying risk factors for an event of interest where the event is measured on a continuous scale or a binary scale (yes/no) using multiple regression

Health Protection

Environmental Health or Communicable Disease Prevention and Control satisfy the compulsory core discipline area. It is strongly recommended trainees complete both as separate subjects.

Environmental Health

current concepts in environmental health using tools of toxicology, epidemiology and social science
the consideration of pollution in different media (air, water and soil etc), chemicals and pesticides
epidemics and food borne illness
the impact of climate change
the creation and interpretation of risk
environmental health risk assessment and health impact assessment
equity in environmental health
environmental politics/health and environmental sustainability/health

Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

infectious diseases as a consequence of complex interactions between microbiological agents, physical/social environments and human hosts
examine how controlling communicable disease requires a variety of strategies to address these interactions
the principles and practice of public health surveillance
disease outbreak recognition and responses
immunisation
variety of other disease control strategies

Health Promotion

models of health and health promotion
consideration of underlying determinants of health
key theoretical approaches explaining change in individuals, organisations and systems
fundamental elements of successful health promotion, its application to different health issues in various settings, sectors and in different populations
overview of contemporary social and cultural perspectives on health/healthcare, and on people's everyday lived experience of health and illness
exploration of the role of health promotion in addressing contemporary public health problems
assessment of health promotion programs

Health Policy, Planning or Management

Health Policy

the nature of health policy, types of policy instruments, policy making processes including agenda setting, the influence of policy on frameworks and theories
the role of evidence in policy formation including the significance of the balance between effectiveness, efficiency and equity as objectives of health policy
introduction to the importance and process of policy analysis, overview of the relevant perspectives (legal, political, managerial, sociological, ethical, epidemiological and economic) that influence policy selection and implementation across a range of health policies

Health Planning

the concepts, frameworks and methods used in prioritising and planning in public health
conceptual approaches and key methods used to conduct a health needs assessment, and prioritise the identified needs for subsequent strategic planning
strategies and interventions commonly used to address health needs in populations, and the criteria that can be used to select an appropriate intervention
essential concepts in the design and evaluation of health programs

Health Management

management theory and skills in public health
people management
strategic and operational leadership
managing in teams
change management
project management
risk analysis and management
quality improvement
management in various settings
teamwork
conflict management
leadership

how different leaders practice
how decisions are made and how resources are allocated
understanding the organisations people work in and yourself as a leader
leadership from various perspectives at different levels
advocacy and methods for getting public health issues onto the public agenda
power structures, people of influence and the characteristics of good leaders
the fundamentals of leading, managing and being a member of a team

Frequently asked questions

Do I still meet the eligibility requirements if my qualification is not an MPH?

Eligibility requirements include the completion of an MPH degree or equivalent. Complete a Master of Public Health Mapping Exercise (DOC) and describe how your study addresses the 5 compulsory core discipline areas.

Can I apply for entry if I‘ve been given credit for a subject(s) towards the completion of my MPH?

Yes. Provide complete documentation of the credit towards your MPH with your application.

Can I apply for entry if my MPH was completed at an overseas university?

Yes. Complete a Master of Public Health Mapping Exercise (DOC) describing how your study addresses the 5 compulsory core discipline areas and provide an academic transcript for consideration by the Faculty Training Committee (FTC).

What happens if I haven't completed my MPH when I apply, or my subjects don't satisfy the 5 compulsory core discipline areas?

The FTC will assess your eligibility to apply and contact you with the outcome. You may be given conditional eligibility if you provide information showing you can complete the requirements within a reasonable timeframe.

Conditional eligibility requirements must be clearly outlined, completed and emailed to publichealth@racp.edu.au

If you can’t meet the timeframes specified you can re-apply when outstanding eligibility requirements have been met.

Where can I get further advice about whether my intended or completed subjects are likely to be satisfactory?

Contact publichealth@racp.edu.au

Note: Final decisions about eligibility are made by the Faculty Training Committee following consideration of completed forms and supporting documents.

4. Approved training position

Applicants must have secured an approved training position at an accredited setting before commencing training.

The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) isn’t able to offer or arrange training positions for trainees. Regional Education Coordinators (REC) may be aware of positions available in their area and can assist you.

Duration

Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine requires 3 years (36 months) of full-time equivalent (FTE) training.

Fellowship

Once you've completed all requirements of your training and the FTC in Public Health Medicine has recommended you for admission, the College will invite you to apply for Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

See Becoming a Fellow for information on admission to Fellowship.

As a Fellow in active practice in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas, you’ll need to meet the annual requirements of the Continuing Professional Development program.

Apply or re-register

Apply for Entry

Check your eligibility to enter the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Program by submitting:

Application for Eligibility (DOC)
Master of Public Health Mapping Exercise (DOC)

The Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine will assess your eligibility to apply and contact you with the outcome.

Apply to commence

Once your eligibility is confirmed by the FTC, you can apply to commence the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Program.

Application for Commencement of Training (DOC)

As part of your application, you need to:

secure an approved Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine position
identify a supervisor and a mentor (see supervisor requirements)

You can apply for entry and commencement simultaneously.

Apply for approval of training

After the FTC has approved you to commence training, you need to apply for approval of your training.

Learning Contract for Prospective Approval of Advanced Training (DOC)

You, your supervisor and your mentor must all sign your Learning Contract. The FTC will then assess and approve your Learning Contract.

Nominating eligible supervisors

From mid-2023, you’re required to nominate eligible supervisors who meet the supervision requirements of the training program.

You can find a list of eligible supervisors on MyRACP.

This list isn’t available for post-Fellowship trainees. Post-Fellowship trainees can contact us to confirm supervisor eligibility.

Application deadlines

Apply for entry | Due at least 3 months before applying to commence as the assessment period can be lengthy.

If your application is successful, your acceptance date will be from the date your complete application was submitted.

Apply to commence | Due within 24 months of confirmation of your entry eligibility.

Approval of training | Once the FTC have approved you to commence training, submit your Learning Contract with 4 weeks of commencing your position. A Learning Contract is required for every new position.

You're responsible for organising all necessary documentation for submission by the deadline. We recommend that you keep a copy of your Learning Contract for future reference.

See program key dates for trainees and supervisors.

Late applications

Late applications will be considered up to 1 month after the deadline.

Applications received 1 month after the deadline won’t be considered unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated in line with the Special Considerations for Assessment Policy.

Late applications may incur a fee.

Late fees won't apply if supervisor approval is pending after the deadline.

Fees

The standard annual membership fees apply.

Visit MyRACP to pay or view previous training program payments.

About your training position

Training must be undertaken at accredited settings.

Approval of training periods are determined by the FTC in Public Health Medicine. To be approved, your individual training program must be consistent with the training requirements and appropriate for the stage of training you have reached.

Upon completion of each rotation or training year, the FTC reviews your progress according to the training requirements. If you have satisfactorily completed all training requirements, the FTC will certify that training period.

The College is not involved in the recruitment and selection of trainees. Our role is to set and monitor standards for selection and provide advice to settings and their selection committees.

Overseas training placements

Public Health Medicine trainees can complete up to 12 months maximum in overseas placements. Overseas training must be approved prospectively by your Regional Education Coordinator (REC) and the FTC.

Placement process

Select and apply for a public health training position overseas – some overseas Public Health Medicine accredited settings (PDF) are already listed.

If your position isn't accredited, an application for accreditation of a training position can be submitted by the setting. Go to Apply for Accreditation for accreditation documentation including the Accreditation Standards, which the overseeing committee will reference when considering the suitability of a position.

Once your position is accredited, you need to apply for prospective approval of training.

Training variations

See variations in training for processes covering dual, joint, conjoint and post-Fellowship training.

See flexible training options for information on part-time training, interruptions to training, withdrawing from training and time limits.

Rotation or supervision changes

Changes to your rotation require you to re-submit a Learning Contract for Prospective Approval of Advanced Training to the FTC as soon as possible. This includes any changes to sites, dates of rotations and flexible training arrangements.

Change to your supervision must be notified as soon as possible by submitting a Supervisor Details Amendment Form (DOC).

Some changes may require a review of the approval decision and can affect the certification of your training.

More information

Overseas specialists
Trainee responsibilities

Training requirements

At the end of your Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine, you’ll have completed 36 months of certified training time consisting of work-based learning and assessment tools.

The PREP teaching and learning activities are designed to support you in your reflective practice and self-directed learning. A variety of teaching and learning activities and assessments are used, catering to a range of learning needs, styles and situations that may arise in your workplace training.

See forms and resources for the training program curricula.

Requirements overview

Training program
(36 months minimum)

Supervision

1 x supervisor per training period, who is a Fellow of the AFPHM

If your workplace doesn’t have an AFPHM Fellow, you must have an external AFPHM Fellow co-supervising.

1 x mentor per training period, who is a Fellow of the AFPHM (unless exemption is granted by the Faculty Training Committee)

Teaching and learning

1 x Learning Contract (minimum) per training year

Assessments

1 x Learning Contract Report for each Learning Contract

Advanced Training summary

After 36 months of certified training time, you will have completed:

36 months of core training
1 x Advanced Training Research Project (trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards)
3 x Direct Observations of Practical Professional Skills
1 x Oral Examination
3 x Professional Qualities Reflection
2 x Oral Presentation summative assessments
Workplace Reports:
- 3 x Reports (trainees who commenced before 2017 or trainees who have been granted Recognition of Prior Learning for the Advanced Training Research Project)
- 2 x Reports (trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards)
Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course (requirement for trainees who commenced in 2023 onwards, recommended for trainees who commenced before 2023)
Attend the National Training Days once over the course of training (trainees who commenced in 2022 onwards)
Attend the National Training Days each training year (recommended for trainees who commenced before 2022)
Attend Trainee Video Conferencing Sessions each training year (recommended)

Time-based requirements

The Advanced Training Program in Public Health Medicine allows adequate time for you to gain the necessary learning experiences across a range of relevant rotations during your 3-year total training period (36 months FTE).

The training program doesn’t have specified core and non-core training or formal rotations. Trainees are required to find one or more approved training positions over the course of their training that provides exposure to training that spans the curriculum.

You may be employed at an individual training position, meaning that you’re based at 1 primary or base location for an entire placement. In this situation, you may be required to travel to other locations to participate in learning opportunities and/or service provision.

Clinical or laboratory work

The Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine recognises that some training positions may require a certain amount of clinical and/or laboratory work. This may be necessary on a week-to-week basis or might consist of brief periods of full-time work (for example, as part of a research initiative). This work needs to relate qualitatively to your public health work, as determined by the FTC.

Clinical work in a training position is defined as seeing patients face-to-face, including treatment of these individuals.

Clinical and/or laboratory work during Advanced Training may be made up of:

one-third of the total amount of time/hours you work per week — if the amount of clinical and/or laboratory work exceeds this limit, your public health training will be regarded as part-time, the proportional rate being at the discretion of the FTC

For example, if you’re working 1.0 FTE in total, then a maximum of 0.3 FTE can be clinical

limited periods of more than one-third of the working week for special projects or research initiatives — the maximum period permitted of greater than one-third clinical and/or laboratory work per week is 1 unit/month

Public health work must be two-thirds of the total amount of time/hours you work per week.

Over the course of 3 years of training, clinical and/or laboratory work cannot exceed a total of 12 units/months. Trainees seeking to include clinical or laboratory work in their training programs must provide details of their experience in their Learning Contracts and obtain prospective approval from their Regional Education Coordinator (REC) and the FTC.

Credit for PhD study

You can include a maximum of 12 units/months of PhD-related activity in your training program. The REC must prospectively approve your training plan by assessing the relevance of the PhD to the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum competency areas. All standard application, assessment and accreditation procedures apply.

Credit for other studies

Trainees can apply to have a maximum of 3 units/months coursework accredited during training, provided that:

the coursework relates to a competency area that represents a gap in training
it cannot be met during the overall training program

This must be approved prospectively by the REC and FTC.

Training time

You can only complete 1 year (12 units/months) of Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine overseas.

Your remaining 2 years (24 units/months) of your 3 years of training must be completed in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

Related postgraduate activity completed overseas will be considered as overseas training. Additional training overseas exceeding 1 year will not be approved.

Supervision requirements

The Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Program supervision requirement aims to provide you with appropriate support and guidance to complete the training program.

You’re required to have:

1 x supervisor (minimum) for each public health training position
1 x mentor (minimum) over the course of your training experience

Typically, you’ll have a primary supervisor for your entire placement. You may be employed in a network training position, meaning that they’re based at one location for a set period of time (3 months minimum) and at the end of this period they rotate to another facility or work location. In some cases, you may have a different supervisor for each rotation.

A Regional Education Coordinator (REC) for each region oversees your work experience.

Supervisor

Your supervisor must be a:

person with direct responsibility for overseeing you at your workplace
Fellow of AFPHM

If it’s not possible for your supervisor to be a Fellow of AFPHM, they can be a:

non-medical public health practitioner
specialist in another field of medicine
scientist or researcher in a public health area, such as health economics, biostatistics or health services evaluation

When your workplace supervisor isn’t a Fellow of the AFPHM, you must have a Fellow of the AFPHM as co-supervisor.

Your supervisor will:

assess and report on your training
establish a learning plan with you
meet with you fortnightly to review your performance and provide constructive feedback to help you meet the competencies for Public Health Medicine

Discuss your choice of supervisor with your REC.

Mentor

The mentor:

provides an overview of the training and your development as a public health physician
doesn’t need to be in the same region that you’re currently training
is the first contact if you're having difficulty with training or assessment items
must be a Fellow of the AFPHM

Your mentor will:

sign off on Application to Commence Training, Learning Contracts and Learning Contract Reports
be familiar with training program requirements
be available for regular communication with you

Discuss your choice of mentor with your REC. For more information about mentors, see Advanced Training Supervision.

Regional Education Coordinator

Each region has a senior Fellow of the AFPHM who acts as REC. Their role is to:

advise trainees and prospective trainees of training opportunities in their region
discuss choice of supervisor and mentor with trainees
review all applications and supervisor reports and present them to the regional committee
assist in remediation for trainees where appropriate
attend the national teaching and learning subcommittee meetings
keep regional committees informed of training matters

Trainees can contact their REC through your RACP Education Officer at Public.Health@racp.edu.au

Program key dates

January — June

1 to 15 March | Workplace Report/Advanced Training Research Project submission round 1^* due
31 March | Advanced Training Research Project may be submitted
1 to 15 June | Workplace Report/Advanced Training Research Project submission round 2^* due
15 June | Advanced Training Research Project may be submitted
June | APFHM Oral Examination applications open
Learning Contracts due within 4 weeks of commencing a position
Learning Contract Reports due within 6 weeks of completing a position

July — December

31 July | Eligibility for Oral Examination determined
1 to 29 September | Workplace Report and Advanced Training Research Project submission round 3 due
October | APFHM Oral Examination
Learning Contracts due within 4 weeks of commencing a position
Learning Contract Reports due within 6 weeks of completing a position

^{* Trainees sitting the Oral Examination must have successfully passed 2 Workplace Reports OR 1 Workplace Report and 1 Advanced Training Research Project by 31 July in the year that they wish to sit the examination. Trainees who have been granted Recognition of Prior Learning for the Advanced Training Research Project must submit 2 Workplace Reports by 31 July in the year that they wish to sit the examination.}

Entry and commencement

Application for Entry for new trainees should be submitted at least 3 months before applying for the program.
Application to Commence Training must be submitted within 24 months of receiving eligibility into the program.
Learning Contract must be submitted within 4 weeks of commencing a position.

Work-based learning and assessment requirements

A work-based learning and assessment tool requirement stipulates what you must achieve as part of your training program.

Type of assessment

Formative: Focuses on learning through feedback and guidance, assisting trainees and supervisors through the formal feedback process, which should prompt discussion of or highlight areas of a trainee’s performance. Assessments are based on existing workplace-based assessment methods and are best practice in medical education.

Summative: Focuses on judgements about trainee progression, resulting in pass or fail decisions on a trainee’s performance.

Suggested assessment schedule

Assessment	0 to 12 units/months (Year 1)	13 to 24 units/months (Year 2)	25 to 36 units/months (Year 3)
Formative
3 x Direct Observation of Practical Skills (1 per year)	X	X	X
Summative
2 x Oral Presentation assessments (1 per year)		X	X
Trainees who commenced from 2017 onwards: 2 x Workplace Reports 1 x Advanced Training Research Project	X	X	X
Trainees who commenced before 2017: 3 x Workplace Reports	X	X	X
Trainees who have been granted Recognition of Prior Learning for the Advanced Training Research Project: 3 x Workplace Reports	X	X	X

Advanced Training Research Project

Requirement for trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards

Open all

Overview

The Advanced Training Research Project (ATRP) is a report on a project that you have had significant involvement in designing, conducting of research and analysis of data. It enables you to gain experience in:

research methods
interpretation of research literature
participation in research at some stage of your career
developing quality improvement skills

ATRPs aren't required to be specialty-specific but must be broadly relevant to your area of specialty. ‘Broadly relevant’ is defined as topics that can enhance, complement and inform your practice in the chosen specialty.

The ATRP, introduced to most trainees who commenced after 2017, addresses wide variations in purpose, type, quantity and assessment criteria across the RACP Training Programs. An ATRP submission provides evidence of the skills of:

considering and defining research problems
the systematic acquisition, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of data
effective written communication

The ATRP requirement must be undertaken and completed during your Advanced Training. If you're dual training, you only need to complete one ATRP over the course of Advanced Training.

Review your training program requirements to confirm whether there are any additional research requirements beyond completing your ATRP.

Requirements

Requirement

1 x Advanced Training Research Project, to be completed during Advanced Training

Deadline

Due 31 March, 15 June or 29 September.

It's recommended that you submit your research project in your penultimate year. If you submit in your final year, you may not have enough time to address any feedback or resubmit it if needed. This could delay your progression of training or admission to Fellowship.

Resources

Advanced Training Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Recognition of Prior Learning

You can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for the ATRP requirement if you meet the following 2 criteria:

You successfully completed one of the following before entering Advanced Training:

research doctoral degree, like MD or PhD
Master's/higher degree by research
major project completed through a Master's by coursework
publication of research as first author in a peer-reviewed, indexed medical scientific journal

Research completed through your primary medical qualification is not eligible for RPL.

You completed the above in one or more of the following accepted project topics:

human subjects, populations and communities and laboratory research
epidemiology
education
leadership
medical humanities
areas of study which can be applied to care of patients or populations

Applications for recognition of research completed prior to entry into training are considered in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Applying

You must apply for RPL for research activities within 6 months of commencing your first approved rotation in your Advanced Training Program. You'll need to submit evidence of satisfactory completion with your application.

To apply:

complete the Recognition of Prior Learning application form (PDF)

email your completed form and supporting evidence to:
- Advanced Training (Australia): advancedtraining@racp.edu.au
- Advanced Training (Aotearoa New Zealand): advanced.training@racp.org.nz

Your Advanced Training Committee or Subcommittee, which reviews all RPL applications, will contact you about the outcome.

Resources

Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning application form (PDF)

Exemption during training

You can apply for an exemption from the ATRP if you meet the following 2 criteria:

You’re currently undertaking or have successfully completed one of the following during your Advanced Training^*:
- research doctoral degree, like MD or PhD
- Master’s/higher degree by research
- major project completed through a Master’s by coursework
- publication of research as first author in a peer-reviewed, indexed medical scientific journal
^* or during an interruption of Advanced Training.
You're currently undertaking or have completed the above during Advanced Training in one or more of the following accepted project topics:

human subjects, populations and communities and laboratory research
epidemiology
education
leadership
medical humanities
areas of study which can be applied to care of patients or populations

Applying

An application for exemption may be submitted to the College at any time during Advanced Training. We recommend you apply as soon as possible once you have commenced one of the above options, to allow time for review and to avoid delays in recommendation to Fellowship.

To apply:

complete the Advanced Training Research Project exemption application form (DOC)
email your completed exemption application form and supporting evidence to:
- Advanced Training (Australia): advancedtraining@racp.edu.au
- Advanced Training (Aotearoa New Zealand): advanced.training@racp.org.nz

Exemption outcome

Your exemption application will be assessed by your Advanced Training Committee or Subcommittee and you will be notified of the outcome.

An exemption will only be granted if the evidence provided demonstrates that your research meets the learning outcomes of the research requirement.

If your application is successful but you have not yet completed your degree, you will be considered ‘eligible for exemption’ until you submit evidence of satisfactory completion. This evidence must be submitted before the end of your Advanced Training for the exemption to be granted.

Learning outcomes

Trainees will demonstrate skills in:

considering and defining research problems
interpretation of research literature
the systematic acquisition, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of data
quality improvement
effective written communication

Master’s by coursework

Your project will be reviewed by your training committee, using the ATRP exemption assessment form (DOC), to determine if it meets the learning outcomes of the research requirement.

If it's determined that the learning outcomes of the research requirement are met, an exemption will be granted.

Resources

Advanced Training Research Project exemption application form (DOC)
Advanced Training Research Project exemption assessment form (DOC) – for major project completed through a Master’s by coursework.

Accepted project formats

Three research project types are accepted:

research in:
- human subjects, populations and communities and laboratory research
- epidemiology
- education
- leadership
- medical humanities
- areas of study which can be applied to care of patients or populations
audit
systematic review

Additional project formats may be considered provided they meet the Advanced Training Research Project (ATRP) guidelines and marking criteria. Trainees and supervisors seeking additional format approval need to provide justification as to how the project submission meets the criteria.

Research in human subjects, populations and communities or laboratory research

This project type also includes epidemiology, education, leadership, medical humanities and areas of study which can be applied to care of patients or populations.

Step-by-step: Research in human subjects, populations and communities or laboratory research

1. General preparation

Identify a supervisor and review the ATRP guidelines.
Develop skills in scientific writing to apply for grant support, publish scientific and medical papers.

2. Identify the problem and formulate research questions

Consider and define a health-related problem.
Review, analyse and synthesise evidence related to the existing literature, or your current practice, to identify research gaps and formulate research questions or hypotheses.

3. Develop the research design

Convert information needs into answerable questions and clearly identify the specific aims of a study designed to address the question.
Identify an appropriate research method and techniques.
Identify the ethical issues arising from conduct of the study.
Obtain ethics approval from the appropriate body, if required.

4. Collect or identify data to achieve the study objectives

Apply quantitative or qualitative methods.

5. Write up research

Appraise and synthesise the research findings in consideration of the research objectives and hypotheses.
Set findings within the context of the wider literature on the topic.
Apply the results of the study to practice.
Demonstrate effective and succinct written communication.
Outline how research should and could contribute to the practice of evidence-based medicine.
Assess strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the research project.
Reference using a consistent style.

6. Self-reflection

Evaluate your performance.
Discuss your performance with your supervisor — consider any issues that arose during the research project and how the findings might change your practice.

Audit

An audit project aims to assess, evaluate and improve the quality of healthcare through the systematic review of practice. A specific component of practice to be reviewed is identified and local performance is assessed against specific criteria in relation to the gold standard.

An audit will identify substandard areas and develop recommendations for implementation, based on a succinct review of the literature. The audit should then be repeated to assess the success of the interventions. AT Research Project audit diagram

If a repeated audit isn’t possible due to time constraints, then a plan for implementing, measuring and sustaining improvements must be presented.

Your audit should be of an area of interest to you. Look at opportunities to audit a novel project or program within your training setting.

The size of your audit is dependent on the topic and nature of the audit undertaken. The presentation of the audit must adhere to the standards for presentation of research, including the suggested word count.

You must demonstrate a clear understanding of the audit cycle, with evidence of how your work will lead to an improvement in clinical practice.

Step-by-step: Audit

Follow the paradigm of ‘joined-up research’, which begins by assessing a problem, moving on to implementing change and completing the circle by evaluating change over an appropriate period.

1. Identify a topic that is important to audit.

2. Review the literature and other relevant information to determine standards against which to audit.

3. Develop audit criteria that will measure performance against the agreed standard.

4. Collect and analyse data and report results.

5. Reflect on results and develop improvement plan.

6. Implement improvement plan.

7. Repeat data collection to measure improvement.

Systematic review

A systematic review is a method of critically appraising bodies of research studies with a high level of rigour. Systematic reviews are different to narrative reviews and expert commentaries because they use a well-defined protocol to ensure high coverage of all relevant information and can be replicated easily. A standard, published protocol, such as the PRISMA guidelines could be used.

For ATRPs, the systematic review should be conducted in an area of relevance of your practice.

Step-by-step: Systematic review

1. Define the review question and rationale behind question.

2. Develop inclusion and exclusion criteria for including studies, search for studies and explain search syntax, define search strategy — for example a brief description of PICO, identify and defend databases searched.

3. Assess study quality.

4. Select studies and collect data.

5. Assess risk of bias of included studies.

6. Analyse data.

7. Interpret results and draw conclusions.

Resources

RACP Online Learning Resource: Research Project

Presentation guidelines

You're encouraged to present your Advanced Training Research Project (ATRP) orally at hospital, state or national meetings and submit your work for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal. It should meet the requirements of that journal and instructions to authors for the journal should be submitted with the ATRP.

The ATRP word limit should be appropriate to the study type:

quantitative research | up to 3500 words
qualitative research | up to 5000 words

You must comply with the Academic Integrity in Training Policy.

Your ATRP presentation should contain:

1. Abstract | approx 10% of word count

concise summary of the background, aims, methods, results and conclusions

2. Introduction

discussion and placement of the research in context of published literature
critique of literature if there are alternative views

3. Aims

define the research aim, questions and hypotheses

4. Methodology

describe the methods used in enough detail to allow it to be replicated

5. Statistical analysis

perform appropriate statistical analysis of the data

6. Results

present the results in figure and tabular format to the standard of published literature
include figure and table legends with a brief description of your data and statistical analysis

7. Discussion

discuss and interpret the results
discuss the results in context of published literature - for example, do your results support or disagree with published literature and do they enhance what is already published?
consider the limitations of the study

8. Conclusion

brief conclusion of the research
potential project improvements if you were to repeat the study
future steps/directions

9. Reference list

Resources

RACP Online Learning Resource: Research Project
Research Project checklist and planner (XLS)

Submission guidelines

When electronically submitting your Advanced Training Research Project (ATRP), you’re to provide:

an Advanced Training Research Project cover sheet (DOC)
Turnitin similarity report

The Turnitin submission and reporting process is outlined in the project cover sheet.

Email your research project submission to Research.Project@racp.edu.au

About Turnitin

Turnitin is an originality and plagiarism detection tool, which compares projects against electronic texts from the Internet, published works and assignments previously submitted to Turnitin by other users.

The similarity report you’re to obtain from Turnitin provides you the opportunity to make any changes prior to submitting your project to the College for marking.

An updated similarity report must be submitted with the project if changes are made. If an updated report isn’t submitted, the College will obtain a report on your behalf and you won’t have the opportunity to make changes.

Find out more about Turnitin detection tool.

For most Advanced Training Programs, submission of your research project is due by your second last year of training to ensure enough time for marking the project and the opportunity to resubmit if required. Refer to the requirements for submission dates.

To request an extension, contact your specialty’s Education Officer.

If you don’t meet the prescribed deadline, it could delay your progression of training, or if you're near the end of training, it can delay your admission to Fellowship. It’s important to plan early and submit your project as soon as possible.

Resources

Advanced Training Research Project cover sheet (DOC)
Advanced Training Research Project marking criteria (DOC)
Research Project checklist and planner (XLS)

Marking outcomes

Research projects are independently marked by 2 assessors using the Advanced Training Research Project marking criteria (DOC) common to all Advanced Training Programs.

In the case that the assessors cannot reach agreement, the research project is sent to a third assessor who will determine an outcome.

There are 3 grading outcomes that a project reviewer can make:

Pass — meets expected standard, below expected standard in no more than 1 criterion
Resubmit — 2 or more areas below the expected standard
Fail — doesn’t meet any of the criteria for a research project

You’ll receive the outcome of your project within approximately 8 to 12 weeks of submission to the College. Delays in receiving project outcomes can happen between September and January, when the majority of project submissions are expected to occur.

If your project is marked as ‘resubmit’, you’ll have 2 more opportunities to resubmit the same project to assessors with revisions. If you’re dissatisfied with the outcome following 2 resubmissions, you can request for 2 new assessors to mark the project.

You can also request 2 new assessors to mark your project if it’s marked as a ‘fail’ in the first instance.

In this stage of marking, there are only 2 marking outcomes new assessors can provide — ‘pass’ or ‘fail’. If your project is marked as a ‘fail’ by the 2 new assessors, you cannot resubmit again and will need to complete a substantially new project to meet your ATRP requirement.

Resources

Advanced Training Research Project marking criteria (DOC)

Project supervisor's role

Your research project supervisor guides you with your project choice, method, data analysis and interpretation, and quality of written and oral presentation.

A project supervisor requires specific skills and experience and likely won't be your training rotation supervisor. To find an appropriate supervisor:

explore the work of notable researchers in your hospital or network who may be able to help you find suitable potential project supervisors
ask your training rotation supervisor for advice, relevant contacts or to direct you to another colleague who can
attend research groups or events held at your hospital to get ideas, meet research supervisors and network with trainees

These steps are important if you’re at a small training site with limited research opportunities.

If you end up with a project supervisor and a training rotation supervisor, clear communication between both supervisors is important so that they’re both aware of your progress in your research project work.

A project supervisor should:

familiarise themselves with the guidelines and marking standards
recommend colleagues to assist with supervision, if necessary
meet with you early in the period of supervision to clarify the research project goals and requirements
consider and provide feedback regarding the merits of the proposed research project early in the process
ensure that your planned research project is feasible and of a suitable standard
review the feasibility of your developed project timeline
clarify access to statistical support or other resources required
monitor progress at regular intervals
review the research project prior to submission, ensuring it’s of an acceptable standard
support you to find a forum to present the research project
approve the research project prior to submission to indicate that the proportion of work attributed you is correct

When selecting a research project supervisor, choose someone who:

aligns with your goals
is an expert in the area of your research
is available for regular meetings or other correspondence
is interested in providing mentorship and guidance on the project
is interested in the topic of the proposal
provides constructive criticism on completed work, such as abstracts and academic writing
enjoys sharing knowledge, such as laboratory or technical skills, academic research and writing skills
is experienced supervising research students

You should establish manageable expectations and practice open and clear communication with your research project supervisor from the beginning.

Resources

RACP Online Learning Resource: Research Project

Cultural Safety

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Overview

Specialist training requires you to:

examine your own implicit biases
be mindful of power differentials
develop reflective practice
undertake transformative unlearning
contribute to a decolonisation of health services for Indigenous peoples

The Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course teaches best practice medicine for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori patients through reflection on your own cultural values and recognition of their influence on professional practice.

Resources

RACP Online Learning: Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety

Requirements

Trainees who commenced in 2023 onwards

Requirement | 1 x Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course

Trainees who commenced before 2023

Recommended | 1 x Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course

Certification

You immediately receive your certificate on RACP Online Learning when you complete the course.

Deadline

Complete the course by the end of your Advanced Training.

Resources

RACP Online Learning: Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety

Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills

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Overview

A Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills (DOPPS) encounter aims to guide your learning and achievement of competency in professional skills such as communication, leadership, management and teamwork.

You’ll perform a practical professional activity in the workplace while being observed by an experienced and knowledgeable assessor who reviews the performance against a structured checklist.

The assessor will provide feedback, which will allow you, the assessor and your supervisor to collaboratively identify learning needs and plan future learning opportunities.

When observing a practical professional skill and breaking it down into components in a structured manner, focused feedback can be given on all parts that comprise that skill. Assessing each component of the skill can be of greater value than an overall appraisal of your performance.

Assessable skills

The type of work that may be suitable for assessment:

chairing a meeting
speaking at a community forum
conducting an environmental audit or a site inspection
doing a media interview

Step-by-step: Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills

In your first meeting for the rotation, you and your supervisor discuss each other’s responsibilities in organisation and completing formative assessments and the importance of DOPPS as part of training

You and the assessor negotiate and agree on an encounter to be observed

Before your DOPPS encounter, provide your assessor a DOPPS rating form (PDF)

The assessor observes your performance of the practical professional skill

The assessor rates your performance on the DOPPS rating form

You're provided feedback by the assessor following your performance

You and the assessor both sign the DOPPS rating form

You must enter the DOPPS rating form data into the AFPHM Training Portal and keep a copy of the form for your records

You and your assessor must ensure all information submitted is accurate

Once you’ve submitted the data, your assessor is emailed the completed DOPPS entry

You supervisor can view your DOPPS rating via the AFPHM Training Portal at any time

During your final meeting of the rotation, you and your supervisor are to discuss actions required following completion of your formative assessments

Requirements

Requirement

3 x Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills (DOPPS) over the course of your Advanced Training (1 per year recommended)

Deadline

Due by the end of your Advanced Training.

Submit your DOPPS form data via the AFPHM Training Portal

Resources

Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills rating form (PDF)

Learning Contract

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Overview

You’re required to complete a Learning Contract at the beginning of a training period (annually at least). The contract includes a description of professional roles, activities and projects in that training period that are linked to the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

A Learning Contract is a negotiated document drawn up between you and your supervisor, who is familiar with the workplace learning opportunities, that summarises the workplace-based projects and activities that will contribute to your learning outcomes. That way, it ensures that you’re addressing the curriculum.

Once finalised and reviewed by you and your supervisor, the Learning Contract is submitted to the Faculty Training Committee in Public Health Medicine for approval.

A Learning Contract covers a maximum of 12 months training.

New positions and placement rotation

Trainees who rotate placements or move to a new position must notify the College of the move.

You must finalise each Learning Contract by submitting Learning Contract Report.

A new Learning Contract must be developed for every new position or placement, including secondments, and approved by your supervisor.

Resources

Learning Contract for Prospective Approval form (DOC)
Example 1 | Learning Contract (de-identified) (PDF)
Example 2 | Learning Contract (de-identified) (PDF)
Example 3 | Learning Contract (de-identified) (PDF)

Requirements

Requirement

1 x Learning Contract for each training rotation (a minimum of 1 per 12 months)

Deadline

Submit your finalised Learning Contract within 4 weeks of commencing your training position.

First year trainees have an additional 2 weeks to submit their first Learning Contract.

Email your Learning Contract to PublicHealth@racp.edu.au

Resources

Learning Contact Report

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Overview

The Learning Contract Report (LCR) assists you and your supervisor to review your learning outcomes achieved during a training period.

Your LCR should summarise all activities and projects that you actually undertook, with reference to those planned in your Learning Contract submitted at the beginning of your rotation or placement. It must also record the outcomes of these activities and examines how they link to the learning objectives outlined in the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

The LCR contains:

a retrospective account of the professional roles, activities and projects that link to the learning objectives of the Curriculum
outputs from the projects that demonstrate progress across competencies
training and conferences attended
a reflection on the training period by you and your supervisor
submission dates of and any known outcomes from assessments and teaching and learning requirements completed during the period
signatures of you, your supervisor and/or co-supervisor (if required) and your mentor

Your LCR will include a summary of competencies by both project/activity and period of training, forming an accumulative record of competencies addressed throughout training. This makes it valuable when planning future Learning Contracts and addressing your learning needs.

New positions and placement rotation

Trainees who rotate placements or move to a new position must notify the College of the move.

You must submit your LCR in order to finalise your Learning Contract for that training period.

LCRs must be submitted to the Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine for certification. Progression to the next year of training is confirmed by the FTC and you’ll be notified in writing of the outcome.

Resources

Learning Contract Report form (DOC)
Learning Contract Report Competencies form (XLS)
Example | Learning Contract Report (de-identified) (PDF)

Requirements

Requirement

1 x Learning Contract Report (LCR) minimum for every Learning Contract

Deadline

Submit your LCR within 6 weeks of completing your training position.

LCRs must be submitted to the Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine for certification.

Submit your LCR to PublicHealth@racp.edu.au

The FTC will confirm your satisfactory completion of training and progression to the next year of training,

Resources

Learning Contract Report form (DOC)
Learning Contract Report Competencies form (XLS)
Example | Learning Contract Report (de-identified) (PDF)

National Training Days

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Overview

Attending AFPHM National Training Days (NTDs) support your workplace-based learning and competency achievement.

NTDs consist of several sessions presented across 1 to 2 days during RACP Congress. Sessions feature a number of interactive workshops on identified public health topics and associated competencies that may not be readily available in some workplace settings.

Requirements

Trainees who commenced in 2022 onwards

Attend the National Training Days once over the course of training (required)

Trainees who commenced before 2022

Attend the National Training Days once per year^* (recommended)

^*Failure to attend the NTDs during your Advanced Training will not impact your training progression and certification.

Oral Presentation

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Overview

Public health physicians need to make oral presentations in a variety of settings, from presenting a research paper at a conference to addressing a public meeting about a contentious public health issue.

The Oral Presentation is a 10-minute (minimum) summative assessment designed to evaluate your competency in your ‘ability to communicate effectively through oral discussions and presentations’ (learning objective 1.2.9). It also provides you an opportunity to receive feedback from AFPHM assessors.

It’s not designed to assess the scientific quality of any work that the presentation is based on except if you present as part of the Gerry Murphy Prize competition. The scientific quality of the work and the significance for public health are considered and the competition has additional criteria beyond the training requirement.

You should practice oral presentations prior to undertaking your Oral Presentation summative assessments.

Step-by-step: Oral Presentation

Before the presentation

Choose an occasion to make your oral presentation. Suitable settings for your Oral Presentation include:
- conferences
- team meetings
- public presentations
- Gerry Murphy Prize at a regional level^*
^* The Gerry Murphy Prize final presentations at the Annual Scientific Meeting or RACP Congress cannot count towards Oral Presentation assessments.

Arrange for 2 assessors who are AFPHM Fellows. If this isn’t possible, liaise with your Regional Education Coordinator to arrange 1 assessor who is a non-Fellow with appropriate seniority.

Your current supervisor or mentor cannot be your assessor.

Remember to confirm the date, time and location of your presentation with your assessors.

Prior to the presentation, provide each assessor copies of the required rating forms:
- Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF)
- Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF)

During the presentation

While you present, the assessors rate each domain using the assessment criteria on the back of the Assessor Form and write their comments.

After the presentation

Your assessors will complete the Consensus Form.

You and at least 1 of your assessors will discuss your presentation:
- You’ll be asked to reflect first on your performance.
- The assessor(s) provide you constructive feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement.

Following the discussion, your assessor(s) will provide you with their completed Consensus Form. You're to enter the Consensus Form data into the AFPHM Training Portal

You and your assessors must ensure all information submitted is accurate.
Within 1 week of the discussion, email a copy of the Consensus Form to PublicHealth@racp.edu.au.

Resources

Gerry Murphy Prize
Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF)
Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF)

Requirements

Requirement

2 x Oral Presentation summative assessments over the course of training

Deadlines

Due by the end of Advanced Training.

Recommended schedule:

First year — practice assessments
Second year — summative assessment
Third year — summative assessment

Resources

Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF)
Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF)

Assessment criteria

Your assessors rate your performance against each domain using the criteria on the Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF) during your presentation.

Content

Clear content appropriate to purpose
Introduction — background/context/aims clearly described
Body of talk — key messages soundly based and presented
Coherent conclusions and implications

Organisation

Appropriate to purpose
Coherent and logical, easy to follow
Main points clearly structured
Time management — appropriate time on each section
Appropriate level of complexity for target audience

Delivery

Captures attention of audience: engagement, eye contact
Clear, audible, fluent, appropriate pace
Speaks confidently, with interest and enthusiasm
Uses notes unobtrusively

Language

Straightforward, understandable
Avoids unnecessary jargon
Appropriate for target audience

Visual aids

Appropriate for presentation and message
Clear, readable, well-designed
Add to understanding

Responses to questions

Understands and responds directly, seeks clarification if needed
Responses knowledgeable, concise, reasoned
Language appropriate to target audience

The Gerry Murphy Prize presentation also assesses additional criteria:

Quality of project

Sound methods
Appropriate analysis
Findings justified

Importance of findings

Originality
Significance for public health

Note: Not all presentations will include visual aids or responses to questions. In this situation, the presentation should be assessed only on the presented elements.

Resources

Gerry Murphy Prize
Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF)
Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF)

Assessor's role

You cannot be an assessor if you’re the trainee’s current supervisor or mentor.

Before the presentation

Liaise with the trainee about the date, time and location of the presentation.
Ensure you’re familiar with the assessment guidelines, Assessor Form and Consensus Form before the presentation.
Agree with your co-assessor to complete the Consensus Form after the presentation.
Decide which of you will have the follow-up discussion with the trainee.

During the presentation

Assessors are to use the Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF).
Rate the trainee against each domain using the criteria on the back of the Assessor Form.
Not all presentations will include visual aids or responses to questions, therefore assessors should only assess trainees on the presented elements.
Assessors must provide detailed comments regarding the trainee's strengths and areas for improvement.
Comments should be as specific as possible and align with the ratings to allow for constructive feedback.

After the presentation

Following the presentation, assessors discuss and complete the Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF) together.
Within 24 hours, a nominated assessor discusses the presentation, provides feedback and gives the Consensus Form to the trainee for submission to the AFPHM Training Portal

Gerry Murphy Prize

For regional Gerry Murphy Prize presentations, assessors use the Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF) and calculate the ratings for all domains to provide a ranking.
At least one assessor and the trainee discuss the presentation:
- First, ask the trainee to reflect first on their performance.
- The assessor then provides constructive feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.

Assessors and trainees must ensure all information submitted is accurate.

Trainees should practice oral presentations prior to undertaking their Oral Presentation summative assessments. Assessors can use the Oral Presentation Assessor Form during practice presentations and should provide feedback to the trainee immediately following the presentation.

Resources

Gerry Murphy Prize
Oral Presentation Assessor Form (PDF)
Oral Presentation Consensus Form (PDF)

Professional Qualities Reflection

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Overview

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, 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.

Trainees are helped with identifying the link between their everyday experiences and the learning objectives relating to professionalism contained in the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum Domains 1, 2 and 6 (PDF).

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?

Choosing an event

Analyse an event or events that impacts your professional practice.

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

Step-by-step: Professional Qualities Reflection

Go to the AFPHM Training Portal.

Select the PQR tool and create a new entry.

Describe an event, or series of events, of professional significance.

Reflect on the event. How did you respond to it?

Detail the insights you gained from the event(s) and how it will impact your medical professionalism.

Submit your completed PQR to your supervisor through the online training portal.

Arrange with your supervisor a time to discuss your PQR.

At your meeting/interview, discuss your PQR with your supervisor and seek feedback on your future practice.

Qualified privilege

Australia

The Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme for the PQR expired on 1 October 2021.

The PQR was a quality assurance activity that had 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.

Documents and information that became known when the activity was a declared quality assurance activity will continue to be protected from disclosure under the Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme.

Statutory protection will not apply to documents or information provided as part of a quality assurance activity after 1 October 2021.

See Anonymity and confidentiality.

Aotearoa 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 authorise 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.

If you receive a subpoena or court order requesting quality assurance activity records, you can seek legal advice about whether the records must be produced.

Requirements

Requirement

3 x Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR) over the course of your training

It is strongly recommended at least 1 PQR is related to Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori cultural competence.

Deadline

2 PQRs are due by 31 July in the same year of the AFPHM Oral Examination. Your final PQR is due by the end of Advanced Training.

Submit your PQR via the AFPHM Training Portal.

Trainee webinars

A recommended activity

Open all

Overview

Trainee video conferences support your workplace-based learning and competency achievement.

These sessions feature subject matter experts presenting alongside a public health medicine trainee on a range of public health topics.

Each session runs for up to 90 minutes in length and are available to all trainees. Supervisors and mentors are also encouraged to attend.

Past sessions can be found under AFPHM resources.

Although a non-compulsory component of training, participation is highly recommended, especially for those trainees in rural or more isolated regions of Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

Resources

AFPHM training resources

Requirements

Requirement

Attend video conference sessions on a monthly basis (recommended)

Failure to attend video conference sessions during your Advanced Training will not impact your training progression and certification.

If you have any questions about the AFPHM trainee webinars, email afphm@racp.edu.au

Resources

AFPHM training resources

Workplace Reports

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Overview

Workplace Reports (WPR) demonstrate that you’re capable of producing high quality written documentation when undertaking public health work, which addresses the competencies and encounters in the Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine Program.

Your WPR must adequately describe the background and context of the work, to plan and execute and report on the work effectively and to discuss the findings and their implications. The ability to present reports in a concise and organised way, with correct spelling and grammar, and to reference source material accurately, applies to all types of reports.

Your report needs to be on a project where you have played a major role, for example:

an outbreak investigation
analysis of routinely collected data
literature review for policy development
evaluation of public health policy

Before starting your project and before submission, you should discuss your proposed WPR with your supervisor. Your supervisor may not be aware of the requirements of WPR, and it's recommended that you discuss these requirements, including the marking criteria, before submission.

Resources

Public Health Medicine Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC)
Public Health Medicine Workplace Report marking form (PDF)

Requirements

Requirement | Trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards

2 x Workplace Reports over the course of training

Trainees who have been granted Recognition of Prior Learning for the Advanced Training Research Project

3 x Workplace Reports over the course of training

Requirement | Trainees who commenced before 2017

3 x Workplace Reports over the course of training

Deadlines

Round 1: 1 to 28 March
Round 2: 1 to 27 June
Round 3: 1 to 29 September

Note: Workplace Reports should be submitted in the first round of the year that you wish to sit the Oral Examination to ensure your report(s) are marked in time. All Oral Examination eligibility requirements must be successfully completed by 31 July of that year.

Each WPR must be submitted with a completed Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC) through the AFPHM Training Portal.

Resources

Public Health Medicine Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC)
Public Health Medicine Workplace Report marking form (PDF)

Accepted formats

You’ll be placed in a broad range of employment settings during your training, with different work opportunities. This leads to a range of Workplace Report (WPR) formats being deemed acceptable.

A report on a project where you have played a major role, for example:
- an outbreak investigation
- analysis of routinely collected data
- literature review for policy development
- evaluation of public health policy
Paper in a peer-reviewed journal, submitted or published
Policy proposal relevant to a population health initiative
Grant application for a specific project
Public health textbook chapter
Other reports may be appropriate, pending approval from the Lead Fellow, and the Faculty Assessment Committee for Workplace Reports.

Word count: 3000 to 10,000 words is expected for a substantial report. You’re encouraged to keep your report clear and concise.

If you’re planning on submitting non-standard reports, you should seek advice from the Lead Fellow, Workplace Reports via the RACP Education Officer at Publichealth@racp.edu.au

Abstract

All WPRs must be accompanied by a separate abstract of no more than 400 words.

Some WPR submissions may need to be rewritten from the workplace format to allow for marking, or alternatively, you may need to provide additional material.

The WPR is assessed on 8 key areas. The abstract should cover each key area which are:

the introduction
offering background and rationale
aims or objectives outlining the project's purpose
study design and methods detailing the approach
data analysis or information synthesis
results or findings highlighting key outcomes
discussion
and conclusions summarising the project's significance.

Each section ensures a comprehensive assessment of the candidate's ability to conduct and present public health work. This structured format guides the assessor in evaluating the clarity, methodology, and impact of the project.

Additional materials

In most cases, your WPR should stand alone with no additional material needed as the marking criteria is designed to cover a wide variety of reports.

A report may include appendices to demonstrate communication of the work and how it has had a public health impact but will not be marked as part of the WPR.

These appendices may be used as evidence of achievement of additional competencies as well as assist the marker in their assessment of competencies in your WPR. Examples of supplementary information are:

a backgrounder on the preparation of an information sheet for consumers or medical practitioners on a particular public health issue, which the marker is assessing (approximately 1 to 2 pages)
present background material supporting a literature review

Up to 7 separate documents per WPR may be submitted, such as a cover sheet, appendix, report or media article.

Resources

Public Health Medicine Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC)
Public Health Medicine Workplace Report marking form (PDF)

Submission guidelines

You have 3 opportunities to submit your Workplace Report (WPR) every year so that the reports can be marked in an appropriate timeframe. It’s your responsibility to note these dates and to plan accordingly (see requirements).

Statement of contribution

All WPRs must be accompanied by a statement of your contribution to the work completed and the report.

The statement must contain sufficient information to support that you have made a substantial contribution and must be endorsed by your supervisor.

This statement is to be completed in the section provided in the Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC).

Multiple Authors

If there are multiple authors, it's essential to specify your role and the roles of the other authors in the WPR. The expectation is that the trainee is the first author and has led the project.

Joint projects

Many public health projects are collaborative and complex projects are likely to have more than one person working on them.

In the rare instance where 2 trainees are working on the same project, approval for both trainees to use the same project as the basis for their WPR must be obtained from the Lead Fellow, Workplace Reports before undertaking the project.

A request for approval must include:

a brief description of the project
identification of the distinct and separate contribution that each trainee will make to the project
specification of the resulting WPR planned for submission by each trainee
- each trainee should provide a distinct, separate report — both trainees submitting the same report is unacceptable even if the outcome is a multi-author paper that both have contributed to
- report may be based on their own contribution to the project or to some other aspect of the project
confirmation of these arrangements by the supervisor

Confidential information

The assessors are professionals with experience in dealing with confidential information. If your project is highly sensitive in nature or commercial-in-confidence, ensure that your workplace has provided agreement for the submission.

If your workplace requires a confidentiality form to be signed by the assessors, you must supply this as part of your submission and ensure your submission is clearly marked “Confidential.” Additionally, any identifiable data (primarily identifiable at an individual level) in the report needs to be de-identified prior to submission.

Submission

Each WPR must be submitted with a completed Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC) through the AFPHM Training Portal.

Late submissions will not be accepted. If you’re unable to submit via the Portal within a submission period, you must apply for special consideration (DOC) to submit outside the submission deadline.

Re-submission

A previously failed WPR can be resubmitted after addressing the feedback provided by the assessors. You should discuss the original report, the feedback and your resubmission draft with your supervisor before submitting it for re-assessment.

Consultation

If you’re concerned about the appropriateness of your proposed report, and the possible need to submit additional material, you can consult with the Lead Fellow, Workplace Reports from the Faculty Assessment Committee who will be able to discuss the matter with you or your supervisor.

Email your abstract (400 words maximum) requesting advice from the Lead Fellow to the RACP Education Officer to Publichealth@racp.edu.au

You should request consultation as early as possible and no later than 3 weeks before the submission date.

Resources

Public Health Medicine Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC)
Public Health Medicine Workplace Report marking form (PDF)

Marking criteria

A Workplace Report (WPR) must meet the standard required by the Faculty Training Committee (FTC) in Public Health Medicine. The acceptance of a report by your workplace doesn't automatically mean that it meets the training program’s standard.

While the WPR is flexible regarding what's submitted, the marking criteria provides assessors with the framework for marking. The Public Health Medicine Workplace Report Marking form (PDF) is used by assessors.

Each WPR will be marked either:

Below expected standard
Meets expected standard
Exceeds expected standard

The content of your WPR will be assessed against these 8 areas:

Abstract
Introduction/background/rationale
Aims/objectives/purpose of the project
Study design and methods
Analysis of data or synthesis of information
Results/findings
Discussion and conclusions
Format of the report

Most WPRs will address all 8 areas, with few exceptions. However, the report you have produced for your workplace may be difficult to mark unless it is presented in a format that allows assessment against the WPR marking criteria. If your WPR doesn't address all areas, your options are to:

seek advice from your supervisor regarding suitability of submission,
present the report in a format that can be marked appropriately, or
contact the Lead Fellow, Workplace Reports for further advice.

With the exception of ‘Abstract’, these areas don’t need to be specific headings in your WPR but the marker should be able to easily adjudicate each area by reading your report.

Markers also have the ability to assess an area ‘Not Applicable (N/A)’. For example, in the case of a grant proposal, the results section would be N/A and the WPR would be assessed on all the other areas.

Assessors

Your WPR is marked by 2 assessors independently. If each assessor’s grade differs, the report will be forwarded on for review by a third assessor or you may be offered the opportunity to re-submit.

Resources

Public Health Medicine Workplace Report cover sheet (DOC)
Public Health Medicine Workplace Report marking form (PDF)

Examination

AFPHM Oral Examination

The AFPHM Oral Examination demonstrates your knowledge of key areas in public health as outlined in the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum.

You will be tested on your ability to respond to real-life public health scenarios in a manner appropriate to a specialist in public health medicine.

You need to successfully complete 1 Oral Examination to complete your Advanced Training.

Eligibility

To be eligible to sit the exam, you must:

apply and pay for the exam by the due date
hold a current general medical registration
have completed at least 29 units/months of training by 31 December in the same year of the exam
have completed or passed these assessments by 31 July in the same year of the exam:
- 2 x Direct Observation of Practical Professional Skills
- 2 x Professional Qualities Reflections
- 1 x Oral Presentation summative assessment
- 2 x Workplace Reports
  or
  1 x Workplace Report and 1 x Advanced Training Research Project*
meet the requirements in the Progression Through Training Policy

^* Trainees who have been granted Recognition of Prior Learning for the Advanced Training Research Project must submit 2 x Workplace Reports to be eligible to sit the exam.

If you have outstanding training fees, you’re ineligible to sit the exam. See College Fees Terms and Conditions.

Exam attempts

You complete 1 Oral Examination (maximum of 3 attempts allowed) towards the end of your training.

If you’re unable to successfully complete the exam within 3 attempts, you will be ineligible to continue in training.

More information

Education policies
RACP Online Learning resources
Trainee support

Forms and resources

Curricula

Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF)
Professional Qualities Curriculum (PDF)

AFPHM training portal

Forms and reports

RACP resources

Trainee support is available through the Training Support Pathway, assisting you in navigating the progression through training process and reporting on your progress to your training committee.

AFPHM training resources features the latest webinars and information on the program and examination.

RACP Online learning resources is home to all online learning opportunities for trainees, with its range of online learning courses, resources and interactive learning content. It also hosts:

College Learning Series is an interactive online resource specifically targeted to the needs of Basic Trainees.
Curated collections are learning resource guides based on the contributions and peer review of RACP Fellows and other experts.

Pomegranate Health podcast is a monthly medical podcast created by physicians, for physicians.

Evolve is a physician-led initiative to ensure the highest quality patient care through the identification and reduction of low-value practices and interventions.

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Public Health Medicine

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Program overview

Program updates

Entry requirements

1. Medical registration

2. Postgraduate clinical experience

Frequently asked questions

Public health is a non-clinical specialty. Why is there an emphasis on clinical experience?

What work may be regarded as a postgraduate year of working in a health-related field?

Can locum work be recognised as clinical experience?

Can telehealth consultations be recognised as clinical experience?

Can a surgical assistant position be recognised as clinical experience?

Can a home doctor service position be recognised as clinical experience?

Is part-time prevocational training allowed?

3. Completed Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent

MPH overview

Compulsory core discipline areas

Epidemiology

Biostatistics

Health Protection

Environmental Health

Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

Health Promotion

Health Policy, Planning or Management

Health Policy

Health Planning

Health Management

Frequently asked questions

Do I still meet the eligibility requirements if my qualification is not an MPH?

Can I apply for entry if I‘ve been given credit for a subject(s) towards the completion of my MPH?

Can I apply for entry if my MPH was completed at an overseas university?

What happens if I haven't completed my MPH when I apply, or my subjects don't satisfy the 5 compulsory core discipline areas?

Where can I get further advice about whether my intended or completed subjects are likely to be satisfactory?

4. Approved training position

Duration

Fellowship