General Paediatrics
A redesigned curriculum for Advanced Training in General Paediatrics is currently being finalised.
The General Paediatrics curriculum is being redesigned through a 5-stage process. Following a period of broad consultation, the curriculum is currently being finalised.
Update on the redesigned curriculum
During the curriculum development process, the General Paediatrics Curriculum Review Group proposed changes to the time-based professional experience requirements, including the 6-month rural training requirement.
Feedback on the draft curriculum highlighted concerns about how these proposed changes might affect workforce and healthcare delivery, particularly in rural settings and across Aotearoa New Zealand. In response to these concerns, the College Education Committee (CEC) approved the new curriculum, excluding the revised professional experience requirements.
The intentions and educational principles behind the proposed changes to professional experience were supported by the CEC, but it was acknowledged that a detailed impact analysis and implementation plan, focused on minimising workforce impacts, would be needed prior to confirming the curriculum’s professional experience requirements and the timeline for rolling these out. Special attention will need to be given to supporting rural health services and the specific needs of settings across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The next steps to finalise the curriculum and plan for implementation will be mapped out in the coming months, in close collaboration with all stakeholders.
The earliest the new curriculum will be implemented is 2026, with new trainees enrolling into the program.
Current PREP curriculum and program requirements, including the required 6-month rural training requirement, remain in effect. Trainees should continue to plan to complete these requirements over the course of their Advanced Training.
We'll provide further updates as we work towards finalising the curriculum and ensure formal notice and more information is shared well in advance of any changes taking effect.
Specialist contractor
The specialist contractor developed an initial draft specialty curriculum in line with College-approved educational models and templates, quality standards, and project deadlines, etc.
Dr Kristen Lindsay FRACP | Specialist contractor
Dr Kristen Lindsay is a Consultant Paediatrician working for the WA Country Health Service in the Kimberley. She is also a mother of two young children and enjoys the balance of complex clinical medicine and great lifestyle, living in Broome. She works across a broad scope of clinical practice from acute paediatrics and neonates (including retrievals) to general paediatric and developmental outpatient clinics including travel to Remote Aboriginal Communities. She is the current Co-Deputy Chair of the General Paediatrics Advanced Training Committee and a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Western Australia Medical School. She is currently completing a Master of Health Professions Education and has a strong background in Medical Education, including previous membership on the College Trainees Committee. Kristen is passionate about improving child health, especially for vulnerable patients, and improving training and medical culture in general.
Curriculum Review Group
The Curriculum Review Group reviewed and refined the draft curriculum in preparation for broad consultation and finalised the draft for endorsement and approval.
Read the General Paediatrics Curriculum Review Group Terms of Reference (PDF).
Members
Associate Professor Daryl Cheng FRACP | Chair
Associate Professor Daryl Cheng is a consultant paediatrician and clinical informatician at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (RCH) and Head of Paediatrics, Cabrini Health – with additional clinical research and educational posts at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and Honorary Principal Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne. A/Prof Cheng holds various committee and council roles at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) including membership of the College Education Committee (CEC) and chair of the Advanced Training Committee (ATC) for General Paediatrics (Australia). He is also a non-executive board director of Adventist Healthcare Limited (AHCL) and Tweddle Child and Family Health Service.
Dr Jane Standish FRACP | Deputy Chair
Jane is a General Paediatrician from Victoria who divides her time between Melbourne and Geelong and enjoys a broad spectrum of work from large paediatric referral centre, to mixed regional hospital, to community health settings. Jane is involved in clinical education, supervision and recruitment at all levels of training.
Associate Professor Raymond Chin FRACP
Associate Professor Raymond Chin is the Director of Paediatrics Campbelltown Hospital Sydney. He is an Associate Professor in Paediatric Western Sydney University Medical School and the Area Director of Paediatric and Neonatology SWSLHD. He has been a Regional Examiner in the Paediatric Clinical Examination since 2015. Raymond has a special interest in paediatric critical care, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome follow up and transitional care, as well as in the development of adult services. He has served 9 years on General Paediatric Advanced Training Committee.
Dr Gavin Cleland FRACP
Gavin is a paediatrician with experience in remote paediatrics and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health and development. Having previously worked as a high school teacher in country NSW, Gavin studied medicine at the University of NSW and went on train in general paediatrics. After completing his training in Broome, he worked in the Kimberley for eight years before moving to the Sunshine Coast where he lives with his young family. Gavin works for Torres and Cape Paediatrics and is a Medical Director for the Queensland Paediatric Training Networks.
Associate Professor Simon Denny FRACP
Associate Professor Simon Denny is an Adolescent and Young Adult Physician who is the Director of the Mater Young Adult Health Centre. He trained as a Paediatrician in New Zealand and has worked for over 18 years with adolescents and young adults at the Centre for Youth Health in South Auckland. He was the Principal Investigator of Youth’07 which was New Zealand’s second National Youth Health and Wellbeing survey. He has published extensively on youth health issues in New Zealand and was past chairs of the Adolescent Health Research Group and Society of Youth Health Professionals Aotearoa New Zealand. He is the current chair of the RACP Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Committee. He brings a clinical and epidemiological focus on youth health issues, especially around risk taking behaviours, wellbeing and youth appropriate health services.
Dr Alyce Horstman
Dr Alyce Horstman is an Advanced Trainee in General Paediatrics and Community Child Health nearing the completion of her training. Alyce has an interest in forensic paediatrics and currently works as a Fellow with the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service. Alyce is a PhD candidate at Monash University exploring the roles of paediatricians testifying in court in cases of child maltreatment and the impacts this experience has. She has a Master of Public Health and is currently working toward a Master of Forensic Medicine. Alyce’s long-term goal is to continue working in the field of forensic and community paediatrics and to help shape policies and practices that promote the health and well-being of children.
Dr Wendy Hunter FRACP
Dr Wendy Hunter is a General Paediatrician from the regional centre of Nelson, New Zealand. She has been a fellow for nearly 20 years and on the Aotearoa/NZ Advanced Training committee for 3 years.
Dr Kristen Lindsay FRACP
Dr Kristen Lindsay is a Consultant Paediatrician working for the WA Country Health Service in the Kimberley. She works across a broad scope of clinical practice from acute paediatrics and neonates (including retrievals) to general paediatric and developmental outpatient clinics including travel to Remote Aboriginal Communities. She is the current Co-Deputy Chair of the General Paediatrics Advanced Training Committee and a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Western Australia Medical School. She is currently completing a Master of Health Professions Education and has a strong background in Medical Education, including previous membership on the College Trainees Committee. Kristen is passionate about improving child health, especially for vulnerable patients, and improving training and medical culture in general. Kristen is a mother of two young children and enjoys the balance of complex clinical medicine and a great lifestyle, living in Broome.
Associate Professor Sunday Pam FRACP
Associate Professor Sunday Pam MMEd (Dundee), FRACP is a Staff Paediatrician at Rockhampton Hospital. He served in RACP QLD State committee from December 2014-June 2020 and as member of RACP Policy and Advocacy Committee from January 2019-June 2020. He is a serving SPDP facilitator. A/Prof Pam is currently Director of Clinical Training at Central Queensland Hospital Health Service supporting the development of interns and junior doctors. As head of the Rockhampton Regional Clinical Unit of The University of Queensland, he oversees the UQ MD programme at Rockhampton.
Dr Amy Raos
Dr Amy Raos is an advanced trainee in General Paediatrics and Neonatology, and has navigated the training scheme while balancing life with young children. She is an advocate for flexible training in order to achieve gender equity in medicine.
Dr Pallavi Thite
Dr Pallavi Thite is a third year general paediatric advanced trainee who has trained in Queensland and the Northern Territory. She's passionate about ensuring our curriculum is relevant and targeted to the changing patients and pathology we are encountering in our general paediatric services. Pallavi is also keen to ensure new trainees are adequately prepared to treat all of their patients including different approaches that may be necessary for NESB and Indigenous families.
Dr Gemma Wilkinson
Gemma is an Advanced Trainee in paediatrics. Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, she graduated from Leeds Medical School in 2009. In her final year of medical school, she was privileged enough to spend 3 months at The National Referral Hospital in Honiara, working alongside the paediatric orthopaedic team. Following graduation, she rotated through paediatrics where, unbeknown to her at the time, she would meet her mentor and the person who would inspire her to pursue a career in paediatrics. She commenced her paediatric training in the UK, prior to moving to Newcastle, NSW in 2015, where she met her partner, and with whom she now has 2 young children.