Careers

How to train as a Palliative Medicine Specialist

There are positions for three trainees on the Auckland Region Palliative Medicine Advanced Training Rotation. Each of the three regional DHBs is the primary host for one trainee. Rotation between DHBs enables trainees to fulfil the training requirements specified by the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) in the Advanced Training Program Handbook.

There is provision for trainees to rotate between hospital and hospice in-patient and community settings to enable completion of:

• 3 mandatory six month training terms (Terms 1-3) in a designated Palliative Medicine training post (within specialist palliative care units),
• Six month mandatory Oncology training term (Term 4) in the Regional Cancer and Blood Service based at Auckland City Hospital
• 2 Six month elective periods (Term 5 and 6).

Support is also given to assist trainees fulfil other aspects of the prescribed training program, such as supervision of case report, project and four mandatory educational modules currently being developed by the Chapter

Several registrar posts are also available in the region for doctors wishing to gain 6 or 12 months experience in Palliative Medicine in a hospital or hospice setting prior to making a formal commitment to a training programme or for an elective period as part of other specialty training. Posts are available within the following services:

• Auckland City Hospital Palliative Care Service
• North Shore Hospital Palliative Care Service
• North Shore Hospice

For specifics of training requirements, visit the Royal Australasian College of Physicians website.