Sexual Health Medicine

The curriculum for Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine has been redesigned. From 2026, first year trainees will be enrolled in the new curriculum.

Advanced training curriculum renewal 5 stage process implement stage highlighted

The Sexual Health Medicine curriculum was redesigned through a 5-stage process. The new curriculum has been widely consulted on and approved by the College Education Committee.

We're now working to carefully plan curriculum implementation from 2026. We'll let supervisors and trainees know by mid-2025 if there are any changes to the rollout timeline.

The new curricula are competency-based programs and include new learning goals, assessment tools, criteria for progression throughout the phases of training, and will be supported by a new technology platform, the Training Management Platform (TMP).

You can find the new curriculum support information and training resources at RACP Online Learning

The new curriculum

Curriculum standards (PDF) – outlines what trainees need to learn.
Learning, teaching and assessment programs (PDF) – how trainees are going to demonstrate their learning.

Subject matter experts

Specialist contractor

A specialist contractor developed an initial draft specialty curriculum in line with College-approved educational models and templates, quality standards, and project deadlines.

Associate Professor Carole Khaw, MBBS, DFSRH (UK), FRACGP, PG Cert Pub Hth (Sex Hth), FAChSHM, AFANZAHPE | Specialist contractor
Associate Professor Carole Khaw is a senior consultant sexual health physician and Co-Head of Unit at the Adelaide Sexual Health Centre, Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital. She's also a clinical associate professor at the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide. She's the past chair of the Advanced Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a past member of the Australasian Chapter Committee in Sexual Health Medicine. She holds an Associate Fellowship with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Health Professional Education and has been an examiner for the Australian Medical Council as well as for the Exit Assessment in Sexual Health Medicine. She's a current member of the International AIDS Society and the Australasian Society of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine.

Associate Professor Khaw has research interests in sexual health, HIV prevention, epidemiology, and medical education, and has published in several scientific journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine. Her more recent publications involve research into Chemsex, HIV and syphilis coinfection, as well as the treatment of rectal chlamydia. She has presented at national and international conferences and is deeply passionate about medical education and the promotion of sexual health and HIV medicine. She is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including curriculum development in sexual health. Associate Professor Khaw remains a strong advocate for vulnerable and high-risk populations and continues to work towards ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV.

Curriculum Review Group

The Curriculum Review Group reviewed and refined the draft curriculum in preparation for broad consultation.

See the Curriculum Review Group for Sexual Health Medicine Terms of Reference (PDF) for more information.

Members

Dr Rose Forster, FAChSHM | Chair

Rose Forster is a sexual health physician at the Auckland Sexual Health Service.

Associate Professor Siobhan Bourke, FAChSHM
Associate Professor Siobhan Bourke is a sexual health physician with over 20 years of clinical experience and a long history of involvement in sexual health education for health professionals, pre-registration students, and the community. Her qualifications include a Masters in Public Health and a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Education. Currently, Siobhan works clinically at a community health centre in Melbourne’s West and is the Director of the Sensitive Physical Examination Program at the University of Melbourne. She also leads the Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, where she designs and delivers Sexual Health Discovery subjects in the MD program.

Dr Timothy Alan Bromley, FAChSHM
After working as a rural GP for ten years, Timothy has spent the last four years retraining in sexual health medicine, including spending the last 16 months working in Brighton, UK. He has a particular interest in the ethics and public health aspects of sexual health medicine as well as clinical work in HIV and STIs.

Dr Natalie Edmiston, FAChSHM
Natalie is a doctor and an academic based at the University Centre for Rural Health in Lismore, Northern NSW, Australia. She is a Fellow of the Australian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine with extensive experience as a clinician researcher in Sexual Health.

As a Senior Lecturer in Rural Research at Western Sydney University, Natalie is involved in research education and health education research while maintaining a focus on clinical research, particularly in areas related to sexual assault. Additionally, she works for NSW Health at the Education Centre Against Violence, contributing to postgraduate education for both doctors and nurses. Natalie's research areas include HIV and sexual health medicine, medical education, and workforce research.

Dr Miranda Howlett
Miranda Howlett is a sexual health trainee in Western Australia. Miranda currently works at the South Terrace Clinic at Fremantle Hospital in a senior role. She also works at the Sexual Assault Resource Centre managing the medical and forensic needs of people who have recently experienced a sexual assault.

Dr Jane Shapiro, FAChSHM
Jane is a staff specialist in Lismore, NSW. After completing her advanced training in 2021, she felt the curriculum needed an update. Now, as part of the chapter training committee, she strives to provide a high-quality, responsive training program that helps advanced trainees become well-qualified, professional staff specialists.

Dr Lisa Ling-Chi Wang, FAChSHM
Lisa is a Sexual Health Physician with a special interest in teaching and being involved in the trainee's education space. She's excited to be part of the Curriculum Review Group to assist in the renewal of the current curriculum that will enhance the training experience for future trainees.

For more information on the current curriculum, see the Sexual Health Medicine Curriculum (PDF) and PREP Sexual Health Medicine Program handbook.

Register for Basic Training

PREP

New Curriculum

Trainees

Sexual Health Medicine

The curriculum for Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine has been redesigned. From 2026, first year trainees will be enrolled in the new curriculum.

The new curriculum