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Sexual Health Medicine

Interim changes to program requirements

Interim requirements for all trainees are listed under training requirements in this handbook. This follows a review by the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine. You're expected to satisfactorily complete the 2021 training program requirements where possible. The interim changes made are to provide flexibility and support to trainees who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. See COVID-19 FAQs and education and training changes for additional information.

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

Program overview

In Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine, you'll explore in-depth specialty training in the medical practice concerned with healthy sexual relations, including freedom from sexually transmissible infections, unplanned pregnancy, coercion and physical or psychological discomfort associated with sexuality. 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

See announced interim changes to program requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine Program is evaluated biennially by the Training Committee in Sexual 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

There are 2 entry pathways into Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine.

RACP Basic Training

You can apply for Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine after completing RACP Basic Training, including passing the Divisional Written and Clinical Examinations.

You must hold a current medical registration and have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position at a suitable training site.

Already a Fellow

New trainees can apply to enter the Sexual Health Medicine Advanced Training Program after obtaining Fellowship of a medical college.

Fellows of the RACP and the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) are eligible to apply.

Other medical colleges generally eligible to apply are:

If your medical college isn’t listed, you can still apply. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Overseas trained doctors, including general practitioners, must have been considered comparable by their Australasian medical college.

You must also hold a current medical registration and have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position at a suitable training site.

New and current trainees need to apply for Advanced Training each year.

Duration

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

Fellowship

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

New Fellows receive formal notification from the College of their successful admission to Fellowship and a letter confirming the completion of their training.

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

New trainees

Submit an Application for Entry (DOC) and an Application for Prospective Approval (DOC) via email to SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Current trainees

Australia

Australian trainees can complete their registration online.

Apply online

If online registration is closed, email an Application for Prospective Approval Form (DOC) to SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Aotearoa New Zealand

Submit an Application for Prospective Approval Form (DOC) to SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Application deadlines

15 February | first half or whole of the current year

31 August | second half of the current year

You’re responsible for organising all necessary documentation for submission by the deadline. We recommend that you keep a copy of your application 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 incur a fee.

Fees

The standard annual membership fees apply.

Visit MyRACP to pay or view previous training program payments.

About your training position

Core training must be undertaken at accredited settings.

Once you have secured a training position, you must prospectively apply for approval as per the Progression Through Training Policy.

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.

Training approval and certification

Approval of training periods are determined by the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine (TCSHM). 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 calendar year of training, the TCSHM reviews your progress according to the training requirements. If you have satisfactorily completed all training requirements, the TCSHM will certify that training period.

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 an application form (if online registration is closed) to your training committee 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 Sexual 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)

Supervision

1 x supervisor per rotation, who is a Fellow of the AChSHM

1 x mentor per rotation, who is a Fellow of the AChSHM (recommended)

Where a supervisor who is a Fellow of the AChSHM isn’t available on-site, co-supervision with an on-site supervisor who has a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the relevant field and an off-site AChSHM Fellow supervisor will be considered for specific rotations, for example reproductive health.

Teaching and learning

2 x Learning Needs Analysis per training year

Assessments

2 x Case-based Discussions per training year

2 x Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises per training year

2 x Supervisor’s Reports per training year

Advanced Training summary

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

6 months (equivalent) of reproductive health training
6 months (equivalent) of HIV medicine training
9 months minimum of female sexual health training
9 months minimum of male sexual health training
6 months of elective training (optional)
1 x Advanced Training Research Project (trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards)
1 x Sexual Health Medicine Research Project (trainees who commenced before 2017)
1 x AChSHM Exit Assessment
Formal study requirements:
- Fertility regulation
- Epidemiology
- HIV medicine
- Laboratory methods
1 x HIV medicine logbook
1 x Reproductive health logbook
1 x Logbook for any 6-month elective undertaken (recommended)

Time-based requirements

The Advanced Training Program in Sexual 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).

Training rotations

You’re expected to complete your Advanced Training at more than 1 training site.

Training	Time requirement
Reproductive health	6 months
HIV medicine	6 months
Female sexual health with a focus on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and appropriate differential diagnosis	9 months minimum
Male sexual health with a focus on STIs and appropriate differential diagnosis	9 months minimum
Elective (optional) ^* Forensic and medical sexual assault Infectious diseases Obstetrics and gynaecology Sexual dysfunction Transgender medicine	6 months

^* Other areas which may be relevant to sexual health medicine will be prospectively considered on a case-by-case basis.

Training time

You’re required to complete a minimum of 24 months of Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine in Australia and/or Aotearoa New Zealand.

You can elect to undertake a further 12 months training overseas pending prospective approval of training by the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine (TCSHM).

Part-time training

The TCSHM stipulates that training must be undertaken at a minimum of 0.4 FTE.

The TCSHM in the past has approved training rotations for less than 0.4 FTE training but all applications for Prospective Approval of Advanced Training are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In accordance with the Progression Through Training Policy, all training requirements of a 3-year training program must be completed within 8 years from the date of you commencing training.

Program key dates

January — March

31 January | Previous year’s Supervisor’s Report and all PREP learning and assessment tools due (trainees not applying for Fellowship in December)
15 February | Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for first half or whole of the current year due
Learning Needs Analysis

April — June

Case-based Discussion
Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

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 | Advanced Training Research Project due (trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards)
15 September | Sexual Health Medicine Research Project due (trainees who commenced before 2017)
Learning Needs Analysis

October — December

15 October | Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due (trainees eligible for Fellowship in December)
Case-based Discussion
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation

COVID-19 interim changes

Interim requirement changes apply from the start of the 2021 clinical year. Training Committees will review requirements again in late 2021.

Interim requirements

Entry requirements

Application for Entry
Current requirement	Interim change requirement
Completion of RACP Basic Training, including the Written and Clinical Examinations	See Provisional Advanced Training.
Current medical registration
Appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position

Time-based requirements

Training time
Current requirement	Interim change requirement
36 months of certified core training, including: 6 months equivalent of reproductive health training 6 months equivalent of HIV medicine training 9 months minimum of female sexual health training 9 months minimum of male sexual health training 6 months elective (optional)	No change. Redeployment as a result of COVID-19 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and can be approved under the elective training component.
Eligibility
All trainees in 2021 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to apply
Submit an Advanced Training Rotation Amendment Form (DOC). Indicate in your Supervisor’s Report how you have been impacted. The Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine (TCSHM) will take into account these documents when considering your certification of training.

Work-based learning and assessment requirements

Case-based Discussion
Current requirement	Interim change requirement
2 x Case-based Discussions (CbD) per year	No change. Trainees can complete their CbDs via video conferencing/telehealth instead of face-to-face collaboration.
Eligibility
All trainees in 2021.

Learning Needs Analysis
Current requirement	Interim change requirement
2 x Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) per year	No change. Trainees can complete their LNAs via video conferencing/telehealth instead of face-to-face collaboration.
Eligibility
All trainees in 2021.

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Current requirement	Interim change requirement
2 x Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) per year	No change. Trainees can complete their Mini-CEXs via video conferencing/telehealth instead of face-to-face collaboration.
Eligibility
All trainees in 2021.

Leave allowances

In 2021, up to 14 days of leave related to COVID-19 for quarantine or sickness can be taken.

If you exceed your 14-day COVID-19 leave allowance, and it impacts your progression, you can apply to the TCSHM for special consideration.

Requests for special consideration are considered by the Committee COVID-19 Lead on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply

Submit an application for special consideration (DOC) with supporting evidence from your employer, GP and/or other relevant medical practitioners.

Your TCSHM will take into account this documentation when considering your certification of training.

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.

Advanced Training Research Project

Requirement for trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards

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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 are not 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

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

The ATRP requirement must be undertaken and completed during your Advanced Training.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You can apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) exemption from the ATRP requirement if you can demonstrate that you’ve successfully completed an approved exemption. This can include:

research doctoral degree, like MD or PhD
Masters by research
major project completed through a Masters by coursework

An ATRP completed through Masters by coursework must meet project type requirements and be submitted for marking according to the marking process.

Recognition of all project exemptions completed prior to entry into training are considered in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Exemptions completed during your Advanced Training Program will be assessed for suitability against the ATRP guidelines and marking criteria.

Applying

You must apply for RPL within 3 months of commencing your first rotation in your Advanced Training Program.

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

In the case where your PhD is in progress or incomplete, you can:

submit your PhD upon completion for RPL consideration, or
partially submit your PhD for RPL consideration if it meets one of the acceptable research project types, such as systematic review

Again, in this instance you need to apply within 3 months of commencing your rotation.

All RPL applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Exemption is granted only when the evidence presented fulfils the relevant ATRP requirements, separate to whether your research or coursework is relevant to your current specialty.

All supporting documentation relevant to your RPL application must be reviewed by project markers to allow project exemptions.

Requirements

Requirement

1 x Advanced Training Research Project to be completed in any year before the end of Advanced Training.

Deadline

Due 15 September.

It's recommended that you submit your research project by the annual submission date in your penultimate year to allow time for marking and/or resubmission if your project is initially marked as 'resubmit'.

Resources

Advanced Training Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Accepted project formats

Three research project types are accepted:

research in:
- human subjects, populations and communities and laboratory research
- epidemiology
- field research
- medical education
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, field research and medical education research.

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

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 similiarity 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 are 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. Note: you will incur a fee for any additional marking.

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

Case-based Discussion

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Overview

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

A CbD involves a comprehensive review of a 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 CbD 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 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

Step-by-step: Case-based Discussion

Arrange a CbD with your assessor.

Your assessor will choose an appropriate case or cases.

Confirm the chosen case or cases with your assessor.

Provide your assessor with a CbD rating form (PDF).

Discuss the case or cases with your assessor – allow for at least 30 minutes.
Note: Your assessor will be making notes and ratings on the CbD rating form during this discussion.

Your assessor provides you feedback following your CbD – allow for at least 10 minutes.

You and your assessor sign the CbD rating form.

Enter the data from your completed CbD form into the online CbD tool via your relevant training portal:
Advanced Training Portal | AFRM Portal | AFPHM Portal | AFOEM Portal

Submit a copy of your completed form to your assessor through the online CbD tool in your training portal.

Requirements

Requirement

2 x Case-based Discussions (CbD) to be completed every training year, 1 per 6-month period

Deadlines

Due 31 January in the following year.

In your final year, your CbDs are due by 15 October.

Submit your CbD rating form data via the Advanced Training Portal.

Resources

Case-based Discussion rating form (PDF)

Formal study

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Overview

Undertaking formal study ensures you have skills and knowledge in all areas considered relevant to sexual health medicine practice. Generally, trainees achieve this through the completion of relevant tertiary subjects as part of a Masters of Public Health for example.

If you have completed a Masters of Public Health prior to enrolling as an Advanced Trainee, you can have your study recognised through the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

See Course list for our recommended standalone courses that address some of the formal study requirements for sexual health medicine.

You’re encouraged to provide suggestions of relevant courses to the Chapter to consider for inclusion on the list.

Requirements

Requirement

Throughout your Advanced Training, you must complete formal study in these areas:

Fertility regulation
Epidemiology
HIV medicine
Laboratory methods

Deadline

Complete your formal study by the end of your Advanced Training.

Course list

These are approved courses that adhere to the Formal Study requirement. It's not an exhaustive list of courses and we encourage you to apply to the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine (TCSHM) for prospective approval of a course that's of relevance.

When applying for course approval, state the name, learning objectives and course outlines in a formal letter explaining why the TCSHM should consider your recommendation. The TCSHM will then determine if your recommendation meets the Sexual Health Medicine training requirements.

The TCSHM hold particular interest in distance and online subject recommendations as many trainees aren’t based in major capital cities and cannot access face-to-face courses.

Email your submission to SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Mandatory courses

Formal study area	Course/qualification
Fertility regulation Choose one of these courses	FPAA National Certificate in Sexual & Reproductive Health for Doctors – online course Aotearoa New Zealand trainees are permitted to complete the clinical component of the course at a Family Planning site in Aotearoa NZ. The attachment must consist of 20 hours of supervised clinical training and submission of a logbook.
Fertility regulation Choose one of these courses	RANZCOG Certificate of Women's Health
HIV medicine	ASHM HIV s100 Prescriber Course It's expected that you'll maintain accreditation and receive continual medical education for the prescribing of s100 drugs for the treatment of HIV.
Epidemiology Choose one of these courses	University of Sydney PUBH5010 Epidemiology Methods and Uses CEPI5100 Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology
	University of Melbourne Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health
	James Cook University TM5515 Epidemiology for Public Health
	University of Queensland PUBH7600 Introduction to Epidemiology
	University of New South Wales PHCM9794 Foundations of Epidemiology
	University of Auckland POPLHLTH 708 Epidemiology
	University of Otago, Wellington PUBH721 Advanced Epidemiology
Laboratory Methods	A Laboratory Methods Approval Form (DOC) must be signed by your supervisor as evidence of completion.

Recommended courses

Formal study area	Course/qualification
Biostatistics	University of Sydney PUBH5018 Introductory Biostatistics
	University of Melbourne POPH90013 Biostatistics POPH90118 Clinical Biostatistics
	James Cook University TM5516 Biostatistics for Public Health
	University of Auckland POPLHLTH 706 Statistics in Health Science
Sexual Health Counselling	University of Sydney SEXH5402 Counselling for Health Professionals SEXH5404 Variations in Sexual Function
Sexual Health Laboratory Methods	University of Melbourne POPH90068 Prevention and Control of STIs and HIV
Sexual Health Laboratory Methods	University of Sydney SEXH5206 Diagnostic Methods in Sexual Health
Sexual Assault	Monash University FOR5005 Adult sexual assault
	Education Centre Against Violence \| NSW Health 10724NAT Graduate Certificate in Medical & Forensic Management of Adult Sexual Assault (PDF)
	Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa (MEDSAC) MEDSAC Accreditation
	Yarrow Place: Rape and sexual assault service Short course in the provision of medical care and forensic services to adults who have been raped or sexually assaulted
Principles of Adult Education	University of Auckland Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Education Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education
	University of Melbourne The Melbourne Teaching Certificate
	Charles Darwin University TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Health Promotion Theory	University of Sydney SEXH5008 Sex and Society
	University of New South Wales PHCM9012 Health Promotion & Social Perspectives of Health
	University of Auckland POPLHLTH 733 Health Promotion Theory and Models POPLHLTH 734 Health Promotion strategies

Learning Needs Analysis

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Overview

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

The 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 ward/service consultant or supervisor are responsible for:

advising you of available learning opportunities and resources
ensuring you have set appropriate goals and identified achievable learning objectives
reviewing your completed LNA and providing you feedback

Step-by-step: Learning Need Analysis

You need to complete a specified number of LNAs each year, per rotation. Refer to the training program requirements for the required number.

Prepare for your LNA

To plan the learning objectives for each training period, discuss the learning opportunities and resources available with your ward/service consultant or supervisor.

Meet with your consultant/supervisor to discuss:
- career goals
- personal strengths and weaknesses
- strengths and constraints of the training site/rotation, including the expertise of the medical staff and the resources available
- requirements established in the curriculum, the Professional Practice Framework and Professional Standards (PDF)

Create your LNA: Part 1

Log into your online training portal and create a new LNA
Basic Training Portal^* | Advanced Training Portal | AFOEM Portal | AFRM Portal

You'll be prompted to enter:
- learning goals for the training period
- self-evaluation on current competency for the goals identified
- learning objectives from the curricula that map to your goals (optional)
- strategies and resources that will assist your learning
- contact details of additional supervisors (optional)

Submit Part 1 of your LNA

You and your consultant/supervisor can meet to review and improve your LNA

Begin implementing your LNA over your training period

Complete your LNA: Part 2

At the end of your training period, you'll complete a self-evaluation of your LNA.

Provide your input on:
- competency in the areas specified in the learning plan
- evidence of learning
- reflection on training period

Complete your LNA by submitting LNA Part 2

Your consultant/supervisor can access your completed LNA

^* New trainees who don't currently have access to the Basic Training Portal can complete a Learning Needs Analysis form (DOC). You don't need to submit this to your supervisor. When you have access to the portal, fill in your LNA online.

Resources

Video tutorial

Requirements

Requirement

2 x Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) to be completed each training year (1 per 6-month period), early in the rotation

Deadlines

Due 31 January in the following year

In your final year, your LNAs are due by 15 October.

Submit your LNA via the Advanced Training Portal.

Logbook

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Overview

Keeping a logbook encourages you to document and reflect on your learning in the areas of HIV medicine and reproductive health, and to provide evidence for completion of the time-based training requirements.

Your logbooks aren’t intended as a record of cases seen during your training program but to assist you to reflect on the learning that you’ve undertaken and keep detailed records of your learning experience.

Logbooks are to act as a source of discussion between you and your supervisor.

Your logbook should demonstrate adequate exposure to a wide variety of clinical cases and experiences, as exampled in the Sexual Health Medicine Curriculum for HIV (Domain 2, Theme 2.6) and Reproductive Health (Domain 3, Theme 3.3). These cases should demonstrate exposure to a range of issues, diagnoses, symptoms, and clinical settings. As well, cases recorded should demonstrate recognition of when it is appropriate to refer cases to other disciplines for other forms of treatment.

Resources

Sexual Health Medicine Logbook template (DOC)
Example | HIV Case Records Logbook (PDF)
Example | Reproductive Health Case Records Logbook example (PDF)

Requirements

Requirement

1 x HIV medicine logbook over the course of training

1 x Reproductive health logbook over the course of training

1 x Logbook for any 6-month elective undertaken (recommended)

Deadline

Due 15 October in your final year of Advanced Training.

Submit all logbooks to the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine for certification via SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Resources

Sexual Health Medicine Logbook template (DOC)
Example | HIV Case Records Logbook (PDF)
Example | Reproductive Health Case Records Logbook example (PDF)

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

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Overview

The Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) is a formative assessment for trainees to receive timely, structured feedback on their performance in real clinical situations.

A Mini-CEX aims to:

evaluate your clinical performance in a real-life setting
guide your learning and improve clinical performance through structured feedback from an assessor
identify ways for you to improve your practice in areas such as communication, history taking, physical examination and professional practice

Areas of assessment

You must complete encounters on a range of cases, each focusing on specific parts of the clinical encounter:

History taking
Medical interviewing skills
Physical examination skills
Professional qualities
Counselling skills
Clinical judgement
Organisation and efficiency

Step-by-step: Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

You need to complete a specified number of Mini-CEXs each year to meet the program requirements. Refer to the Mini-CEX requirements for the specified number per training year.

Arrange a Mini-CEX with your assessor – discuss and agree on curriculum areas that require focus and your assessor will then choose an appropriate consultation.

Provide your assessor a Mini-CEX rating form:
Basic Training (PDF) | Advanced Training (PDF) | AFOEM (PDF)

Undertake a patient consultation while being observed by your assessor – allow for 15 to 20 minutes.

Your assessor will complete the Mini-CEX rating form and provide you with feedback – allow for 10 to 15 minutes.

Once you have received feedback, both you and your assessor sign the rating form.

Enter data from your completed Mini-CEX rating form into the online Mini-CEX tool in your training portal.
Basic Training Portal
Advanced Training Portal
AFOEM Portal
AFPHM Portal
AFRM Portal

Submit a copy of your completed form to your assessor using the online Mini-CEX tool.

Requirements

Requirement

2 x Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises (Mini-CEX) to be completed each training year, 1 per 6-month period

Deadlines

Due 31 January in the following year.

In your final year, your Mini-CEXs are due by 15 October.

Submit your Mini-CEX via the Advanced Training Portal.

Resources

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise rating form (PDF)

Sexual Health Medicine Research Project

Requirement for trainees who commenced before 2017

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Overview

The Sexual Health Medicine Research Project is designed to help you:

formulate clear research questions and hypotheses
perform a critical, systematic literature search
develop appropriate methodology, including ethical considerations and sample size calculations
develop an understanding of simple statistics
present results in a clear and succinct manner

You should also be able to discuss the findings with respect to the existing literature in terms of:

how they compare and contrast with and add to the current understanding
deficiencies of the methodologies used, how they may confound the findings and how they might be overcome
whether the aims and objectives of the study were met
what new specific research questions have arisen as a result of the project’s findings

If you fail to submit the project, the certification of training decision will be deferred, pending satisfactory completion of the project. Failure to submit the project may also result in the deferral of your approval decision for the following year of training.

Part-time trainees need to discuss the deadline for their project with the RACP Education Officer at SHMedTraining@racp.edu.au

Trainees can apply for a project extension by lodging an Application for Special Consideration (DOC) to the Training Committee.

Ethical considerations

Bearing in mind the time required to obtain ethical approval, it's strongly recommended that you start planning your project early in your training.

All research must adhere to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

It's anticipated that the majority of projects will be required to undergo ethical approval. Experience of the ethics submission process is regarded as an important part of the project.

A copy of an approval letter from the ethics committee must be included in your final submission.

Resources

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Research Project Checklist and Planner (XLS)
Special Consideration for Assessment Application Form and Guide (DOC)
Sexual Health Medicine Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Requirements

Requirement

1 x Sexual Health Medicine Research Project, marked satisfactory

Deadline

Due 15 September in your second year of Advanced Training.

Resources

Research Project Checklist and Planner (XLS)
Sexual Health Medicine Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Accepted project formats

Your Sexual Health Medicine Research Project can be in one of these formats.

Original project

Your original project should address a specific question in sexual health or HIV medicine.

Your project structure should clearly reflect the following:

Background — why this research is important
Research question — what the research seeks to answer
Methods — how you attempted to answer the research question, including a sample size calculation
Results — data to be presented in a clear and easily understood style
Conclusions — how does the data adds to the current body of literature in the subject area including possible future research questions
References — patient information sheets, data collection sheets and consent forms should be included together with any correspondence with ethics committees

Original articles published within 3 years in peer-reviewed journals are acceptable.

You must demonstrate that you’ve made a substantial contribution to the paper and ideally are the first author.

Audit

An audit should examine an area of current clinical practice.

Depending on local circumstances, audit projects often require a simplified ethics clearance. Before embarking on an audit, you must clarify such ethics requirements. In your submission, provide a statement detailing the situation.

Your project should demonstrate a clear understanding of the audit cycle, with evidence of how the work will lead to an improvement in clinical practice.

Your audit should also include a critical literature review of the relevant areas.

Systematic or literature review

Your systematic or literature review submission should adhere to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Continuing Professional Development module

A Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module for sexual health medicine practitioners and/or other relevant health professionals can be submitted, clearly identifying the module’s target audience.

You’ll be required to devise and submit all content for the CPD module. For example, you might supply a script for a media component but you’re not expected to produce the finished product.

Examples of appropriate CPD modules:

Active Learning Modules | ThinkGP
Wray L, Law C, Barrie SC. A general practitioner STD training program: meeting education and service provision needs. Int J STD AIDS. 1998;9:731–735. | An original published article that could be used as a project

Resources

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
RACP Online Learning Resources: Research Project
Research Project Checklist and Planner (XLS)
Sexual Health Medicine Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Submission guidelines

It is expected that you’ll spend 100 to 120 hours working on your Research Project.

As a general guide, your project should be of a standard appropriate for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Projects are usually expected to follow the general academic journal structure: introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusion.

If the work is part of a collaborative effort, the exact input you and other contributors have made should be clearly stated in the acknowledgements section.

Submissions should be accompanied by a statement of authenticity, indicating that the work is substantially that of the authors.

Word limit: 5000 words maximum, unless otherwise stated.

The word count should not include any patient information sheets, consent forms, data collection sheets, correspondence with ethics committees, references or any other supporting documents.

References: Vancouver format.

See the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors recommendations (‘Uniform Requirements’). You’re encouraged to use referencing software, such as Endnote. In line with university practice, plagiarism-detection software can be used.

Research Projects that don’t follow these guidelines will be returned to the trainee for correction before they are sent for marking.

Resources

Research Project Checklist and Planner (XLS)
Sexual Health Medicine Research Project cover sheet (DOC)

Supervisor's Report

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Overview

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.

Online Supervisor’s Report pilot

We have been looking at ways to improve reporting by offering online Advanced Training Supervisor’s Reports. We are extending our pilot, which commenced last year, through into 2021.

We ask that trainees and supervisors give the online report a go, save time by completing it online and share your feedback with us.

Learn more about the online Supervisor's Report pilot.

Note: Paper reports will continue to be available during the pilot.

Step-by-step: Online Supervisor’s Report

Your nominated supervisor(s) are listed in your online Supervisor’s Report and must complete their section of the report.

Open the report for your current training period.

Complete the active fields in each report tab. Some fields are for supervisors only and will appear inactive to trainees.

You and your supervisor(s) can work on your report simultaneously.

After your supervisor(s) have completed their assessment, you should meet with them to discuss their assessment of your performance.

Following your discussion, your supervisor submits the report.

You and your supervisor(s) can add comments and complete declarations in the ‘Submit report’ tab.

Your report is complete only after you and your supervisor(s) have completed the declarations.

Late submission

The Training Committee may not certify training if your Supervisor’s Report is submitted after the specified deadline.

Late reports will not be accepted unless you’ve been granted an extension through an Application for Special Consideration^* (DOC).

Special Consideration must be applied for prior to the Supervisor’s Report deadline. You can also submit a letter of explanation to support your application.

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

^* As outlined in the Progression Through Training Policy (PDF), section 7.8.1:
‘Training will not be certified where the trainee has not satisfactorily completed all training requirements for the prospectively approved training period by the relevant deadline(s), or during an extension period if granted by the committee.’

Resources

Education policies
Multi-factor authentication
Online Supervisor's Report

Requirements

Requirement

12-month position

1 x Supervisor’s Report for the first 6 months of the training year due by 15 July
1 x Supervisor’s Report for the last 6 months of the training year due by 31 January in the following year

6-month position or less (separate supervisors or separate sites)

1 x Supervisor’s Report completed for each rotation:
- Due 15 July for rotations in the first half of the year
- Due 31 January in the following year for rotations in the second half of the year

In your final clinical training year, we recommend submitting your last Supervisor's Report before the 31 January deadline to avoid delaying certification of the training period.

If your supervisor hasn’t directly supervised you throughout the whole rotation, your supervisor should obtain individual reports from those who have and submit a composite report.

You're to ensure all supervisors receive a copy of the Supervisor’s Report. Previous copies of Supervisor’s Reports must be provided to your next supervisor.

Resources

Sexual Health Medicine online Supervisor's Report (RACP login required)
Online Supervisor's Report FAQs
Supervisor Details Amendment Form (DOC)
Supplementary Supervisor Comments Report (DOC)

Examination

AChSHM Exit Assessment

The Exit Assessment will evaluate your overall knowledge on the practice of sexual health medicine.

Common issues covered in the assessment may include:

mixed infections, atypical presentations, late sequelae of infection (including persisting problems)
rationale underlying common management protocols
management dilemmas imposed by social or logistical factors interpretation of pathology specimens
problems arising out of concurrent pregnancy, immune compromise, sexual assault or psychosexual problems
health service delivery issues
public health issues, including health promotion and surveillance
legal and ethical dilemmas

You are to complete the assessment in your third year of Advanced Training. The Exit Assessment is offered only once a year.

Eligibility

To be eligible to sit the assessment, you must have:

completed 24 months FTE certified training
completed a satisfactory research project
current general AMC/MCNZ medical registration
approved registration for the current training period
comply with requirements in Progression Through Training Policy

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

Exam attempt limit

You cannot continue Advanced Training if you exceed the examination attempt limit, which is based on when you commenced training.

Commenced training	Before 2019	From 2019 onwards
Attempt limits	5	3

See Progression Through Training Policy for more information about examination attempts.

More information

Education policies
RACP Online Learning Resources
Trainee support

Forms and resources

Curricula

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

Advanced 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.

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.