AIDA Internship Guide

AIDA Internship

Guide

Contents

Introduction 3

Peak Bodies for Medical Graduates 4

Information for States and Territories 5

New South Wales 6

South Australia 7

Tasmania 8

Queensland 9

Australian Capital Territory 11

Victoria 12

Western Australia 13

Northern Territory 14

Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letters 15

Useful Links 16

Acronyms 17

Contact

P: 02 6273 5013 Freecall: 1800 190 498

E: [email protected]g.au

www.aida.org.au

/Indigenousdoctors

@AIDAAustralia

January 2021

Cover: Dr Jasmin Hammond

The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Ltd

receives funding from the Australian Government

Department of Health

AIDA acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners of

the lands across Australia on which our members live and work,

and to their Elders and ancestors, past, present and emerging.

AIDA Internship Guide 3

Introduction

The AIDA Internship Guide was updated from the successful 2013 Student

Representative Committee (SRC) project. AIDA would like to acknowledge the

work and contribution by the 2013 SRC.

An internship is a compulsory one-year term that medical

graduates must complete once they have successfully

gained their medical qualification. It is also known as a

Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1). During this year, medical

graduates receive provisional registration with the

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

and upon successful completion of the 12-month term

interns are then eligible for general registration.

An internship is comprised of 12 months of clinical

training in a registered hospital that provides an intern

training position. During that time, interns are required to

complete three compulsory rotations which are:

» medicine

–

ten weeks

» surgery

–

ten weeks

» emergency medicine - eight weeks

The remaining time can be spent in other disciplines

of medicine depending on the services provided at the

hospital where the internship is based.

In most jurisdictions, interns are expected to work

a standard week of 38 hours, plus overtime. AIDA

recommends that Indigenous intern members

investigate the jurisdictional and hospital regulations

regarding overtime.

It is important to note that each jurisdiction has different

processes with regards to internship application. Some

jurisdictions have alternative pathways for Indigenous

medical graduates. It is recommended that students

understand the priority list for each jurisdiction with

regards to allocating intern positions.

Most jurisdictions make offers based on categories.

These categories are organised dependent on where

you graduated, lived, completed high school and so

on. Some jurisdictions offer preference to Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander candidates within their

category. So if you are an interstate applicant,

perhaps a Category B, then you could be allocated

preference in that category.

Most jurisdictions offer two-year contracts so that junior

doctors can undertake their PGY1 and PGY2 years in the

same training facility. Junior doctors can then plan their

learning and placements over two years to maximize

their training experience. Junior doctors with two-year

contracts can still choose to move to another jurisdiction

after their internship if positions are available.

AIDA Internship Guide 3

Dr Racquel Ball

AIDA Internship Guide 4

AHPRA and the Medical Board of Australia

One of the peak bodies is the Australian Health

Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Medical

Board of Australia is one of a number of boards that

operate under AHPRA. The boards govern the rules and

regulations associated with being a student or registered

practitioner in Australia. AHPRA and the Medical Board

have several functions including:

» registration of medical practitioners and medical

students

» development of standards, codes, and guidelines for the

medical profession

» investigate notifications and complaints, where

necessary

» conduct panel hearings and refer serious matters to

Tribunal hearings

» assess International Medical Graduates who wish to

practise in Australia

» approve accreditation standards and accredited

courses of study

As previously mentioned, AHPRA gives provisional

registration for interns for PGY1 and upon completion of

the 12-month internship, provided the requirements of

internship are met, they will grant general registration.

CPMEC

Another peak body we recommend you understand is

the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education

Councils (CPMEC). Each jurisdiction has a Postgraduate

Medical Council (PMC) and as a collective they

form CPMEC. PMCs are responsible for developing,

supporting, and monitoring the education and training

of junior doctors to allow them to meet the requirements

of the Medical Board of Australia’s general registration

category. This role includes the establishment and

maintenance of accreditation standards, and the building

of supervisory capacity to support the prevocational

medical workforce.

Other functions include general support of junior doctors

and International Medical Graduates, and responsibility

of allocation of medical graduates to accredited intern

positions.

Australian Medical Council

Another organisation relevant to medical professionals

is the Australian Medical Council (AMC). The AMC is

an independent national standards body for medical

education and training that, in consultation with the

Medical Board of Australia and PMCs, developed a

National Internship Framework that was implemented

in 2014. The Framework is important for interns, as

it provides minimum requirements that all medical

graduates must meet to gain general registration and

become accredited by the Medical Board of Australia.

The Framework is currently under review.

For further information on these medical organisations

please see the links to each of their respective websites

in the Useful Links chapter. AIDA recommends senior

medical students become familiar with the roles each of

these entities plays in the medical profession, particularly

for accreditation and registration standards for interns.

Peak Bodies for Medical Graduates

Prior to commencing the PGY1 application process, it is important medical

students understand who the peak bodies are for medical professionals and their

functions.

Information for States

and Territories

AIDA Internship Guide 5

Dr Alicia Veasey, former AIDA Director,

graduating from the University of Queensland

AIDA Internship Guide 6

Indigenous Pathway

HETI has an initiative titled, the NSW Aboriginal

Medical Workforce Pathway which is a separate

application process for all Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander applicants. In 2021 there were

39places offered. The purpose of this initiative is to

promote the capacity and success of Aboriginal and/

or Torres Strait Islander medical graduates.

This is achieved by recruiting Indigenous medical

graduates to their first choice of prevocational

training network and applicants are allocated

preferences before other categories.

Eligible candidates for this application process

must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

medical graduate from any state or territory.

Applicants must provide a biography including family

history and any planned career progression.

Applicants must also outline specific reasons for the

rural site for training network:

» has family in the geographic area

» has a relationship with the community in the

geographic area

» has connection to Country in the geographic area

» has a current relationship with:

- a mentor in the geographic area

- the health facility and/or training network

Applicants are required to outline how they will

assist the service to improve the health outcomes

of Aboriginal people and their relationship to

organisations such as AIDA and other community

groups.

Further information

Health Education and Training

www.heti.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/

courses-and-programs/medical-graduate-

recruitment/aboriginal-medical-workforce

New South Wales

Application Process

Positions are allocated through the New South Wales

(NSW) Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).

HETI is responsible for the support and training of

interns once they are allocated to training positions.

Applicants are required to register on the Prevocational

Training Application Program (PTAP) to be considered for

an internship in NSW.

Documentation required for applications include the

following and must be certified by a Justice of the

Peace(JP):

» A certified copy of a medical degree or a letter

from the graduating university that confirms the

medical school campus where the degree was

undertaken, Medical Internship Placement Number,

commencement date and expected date of completion

» A certified copy of one of the following: a current

Australian passport; Australian Citizenship certificate;

Australian full birth certificate (if born on or before 19

August 1986); or an Australian full birth certificate with

proof that at least one parent was either an Australian

citizen or Australian permanent resident (if born after

19 August 1986)

Applicants are required to rank their hospital network

preferences from one to fifteen.

Applications for intern places with HETI close from the

beginning to mid- June in the final year of your medical

degree, with first round offers commencing from mid to

late July.

AIDA Internship Guide 7

Further information

South Australian Medical Education and Training

https://www.samet.org.au/internship/

South Australia

In South Australia (SA), internships are allocated and

coordinated by South Australian Medical Education and

Training (SA MET). The positions are in hospitals across

five networks in SA:

» Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN)

» Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network

(FUNLHN)

» Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN)

» Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)

» Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN)

Application Process

Applications for internships open in early May for

SA. Candidates will need to submit the following

documentation:

» A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

» Referees

» Immunisation status

» A copy of your passport or citizenship certificate, or

Australian full birth certificate (if born on or before 19

August 1986), or an Australian full birth certificate with

proof that at least one parent was either an Australian

citizen or Australian permanent resident (if born after

19 August 1986)

» University transcripts

» Confirmation of Aboriginality to be considered for

priority appointment

Applicants will also need to preference their hospital

networks from one through to five. After uploading

the above documents, submit your hospital network

preferences, and complete all sections of the online

application. The closing date for applications is during

early June and first round offers are made towards the

end of July.

Indigenous Pathway

There is no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

specific application process. Applications by

Indigenous candidates will be considered as part

of the general process and given preference in

each category.

AIDA Internship Guide 8

Further information

Department of Health and Human Services

https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/career/home/medical/

junior_docs/current_campaign/howtoapply_intern

Tasmania

Internship allocation in Tasmania is coordinated by the

Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS).

Application Process

Applicants are required to apply on the Tasmanian DHHS

website and must submit only one application. In 2020

applications opened in early May and closed in mid-

June.

Candidates are required to submit a current CV; referees

are not required in the online application. Candidates must

also submit their preference of hospital network from:

» North West Regional Hospital

» Launceston General Hospital

» Royal Hobart Hospital

Offers are made in late July.

Indigenous Pathway

There is no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

specific application process.

AIDA Internship Guide 9

Further information

Queensland Health

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/employment/

work-for-us/clinical/medical/recruitment/intern/

aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-intern-

allocation-initiative

Queensland

Application Process

Internship allocation in this state is coordinated by

Queensland (QLD) Health. There are twenty employing

hospitals.

To apply for an intern position with QLD Health,

applicants need to access the intern campaign website

and review the processes and guidelines for applying

through the website. There are also several high-quality

resources such as the QLD Health application guide,

which provides in depth information about all facets of

the internship application process.

Documentation you may be required to upload prior to

submitting your application includes:

» A current CV and two referees

» Criminal history consent form

» Vaccine preventable diseases certification

» Mandatory vaccinations status

» Passport/birth certificate and two extra forms of proof

of identity

» A copy of your medical degree and transcripts

» Statutory Declaration and Confirmation of Aboriginality

document for the Indigenous pathway

Applications for internship places open at the start of May

and close in early June.

Indigenous Pathway

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Intern

Allocation Initiative is for Category A applicants

who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait

Islander. The aim is to promote the success of

Indigenous interns in the Queensland Health

system by allocating applicants their first

preference. Interstate Aboriginal doctors are not

eligible but are processed as Category B.

AIDA Internship Guide 10

Queensland

Dr Hannah Tilling

Dr Hannah Tilling is a proud Mununjali woman. She

graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from the University

of Queensland in 2019 and will have completed her

internship at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Brisbane

by 2020.

“Internship has been a big learning curve, not just from a

medical perspective but I’ve learnt about the importance

of maintaining an awareness of stress, anxiety levels,

criticisms, and how this can affect mindset and

wellbeing. I have really learned the importance of self-

care, balance and drawing on the supports I have from

both my mother and sister and community.”

Hannah graduated in 2015 with her Bachelor of

Occupational Therapy with Honours and won the Deans

academic commendation award. She is currently

enrolled in her Master of Public Health at the University

of Queensland and will complete this in the next year.

Hannah is always learning and growing, “I am driven

to change medicine in some way eventually so that

hopefully, Indigenous health can be viewed from a

strengths-based perspective.”

Hannah has attended AIDA conferences in Perth, Cairns,

and Darwin, and is continually inspired at AIDA events

through connection with others.

Hannah hopes to become a dermatologist and help

her own people as well as other minority groups.

“Throughout internship, at times I’ve felt powerless

and vulnerable, and it is common to feel that way

when you’re the most junior on the team, however I’ve

tried to shift this into a positive mindset that I am still

helping patients, even in a small way”. She is currently

participating in a dermatology research project at the

Princess Alexandra Hospital.

It is her passion to stay active and connected within the

community. Her goal is to become a dermatologist whilst

also staying connected to the community and help those

in need. She would love to be able to one day conduct

medical outreach programs throughout Australia.

“I am driven to change medicine in some way

eventually so that hopefully, Indigenous health can

be viewed from a strengths‑basedperspective.”

Dr Hannah Tilling

AIDA Internship Guide 11

Further information

ACT Government Health

https://www.health.act.gov.au/careers/medical-

officers

Australian

Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) internship applications

should be submitted to, and will be allocated by, ACT

Health.

Application Process

The application process consists of a cover letter

and current CV, a written response to the selection

criteria and two referee reports. The response to the

selection criteria and the two referee reports must be

completed using the templates provided by ACT Health.

These can be found on the ACT Health website along

with application packages. Candidates with strong

applications will then be invited to an interview.

Applications for internship positions open mid-May and

close in June.

Indigenous Pathway

There is no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

specific application process and applications by

Indigenous candidates will be considered as a

part of the general process.

Interstate applicants may be given preference

within their category informally.

AIDA Internship Guide 12

Further information

Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria

https://allocations.pmcv.com.au/

Victoria

Medical internship places in Victoria are allocated through

the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV).

Application Process

The allocation is made centrally, with the final decision

being made by the hospital application process such

as the submission of a CV and cover letter, but may also

require written referee reports, online questionnaires, and

references to verify the content of the applicants CV.

The PMCV application requires the submission of two

professional (clinical) referee reports.

Around the month of May each year, each Victorian

medical student is given an internal ranking by their

medical school called the intern Z-Score. The Z-Score

is used by the hospitals in combination with additional

supporting documents (as required).

Selection of a candidate by a hospital is based on the

quality of the CV and supporting documentation, hospital

questionnaires and the student’s university marks. This is

provided by the Victorian universities; interstate applicants

need to provide an academic transcript to individual

hospitals.

The intern match submission period opens early May

each year and closes in early June. Round one offers are

then made towards the end of July.

Indigenous Pathway

There is no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

specific application process and applications by

Indigenous candidates will be considered as a

part of the general process. However, there are

two hospital networks that offer Aboriginal and/

or Torres Strait Islander places. These are Royal

Melbourne Hospital and South West Healthcare.

AIDA Internship Guide 13

Further information

Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia

https://www.pmcwa.org.au/recruitment/internship/

Western

Australia

Western Australia (WA) is across five hospital training

networks. Internship allocation is coordinated by the

Postgraduate Medical Council of WA (PMCWA).

Application Process

Candidates are required to apply to the Postgraduate

Medical Council of WA (PMCWA). The PMCWA will act

as a central database for internship applications, from

which they will be sent the candidates preference of

Primary Employing Health Services (PEHS): Fiona

Stanley Fremantle Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, Sir

Charles Gairdner Hospital, St John of God Midland

Public Hospital, and WA Country Health Service.

Candidates will be required to submit preferences from

one to five for their training location.

The online application facility which candidates are

required to access can be found on the WA Government job

board.

Internship applications in WA open early May and close

early June. First round offers are made in mid-July.

Indigenous Pathway

PMCWA will facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander doctors who graduate from Western

Australian universities being offered employment

at their first preference site in WA.

Interstate applicants may be given preference

within their category informally.

AIDA Internship Guide 14

Northern

Territory

Application Process

The Norther Territory (NT) Department of Health is

responsible for the allocation and coordination of intern

positions in the Northern Territory through the NT

Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS).

Applications will need to include an up to date CV and

must also have three specialist referees. NT Health opens

the applications for internships in May and they close in

June.

Indigenous Pathway

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

applicants are given preference after NT bonded

places are allocated.

Further information

Department of Health

https://health.nt.gov.au/careers/medical-officers/

medical-officers-recruitment/interns

Northern Territory Prevocational Medical

Assurance Services

https://www.ntmetc.com/nt-internship

Dr Mangatjay McGregor is a Yolngu man from

Milingimbi in North East Arnhem Land. He finished

a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine

degree at Flinders University Adelaide in 2018. He is

currently a resident medical officer (PGY2) working at

Alice Springs Hospital on Arrernte country.

Mangatjay’s first experience with AIDA was attending

and presenting research at the AIDA conference in

2017, and since then he has been an active member.

Mangatjay has a strong focus on education and has

lectured at Flinders University on Aboriginal health

and the importance of effectively communicating with

Aboriginal patients.

His internship was undertaken at Royal Darwin

hospital on Larrakia country. This consisted of 5

terms; 3 core terms of ED, general

surgery, and general medicine,

and 2 elective terms which were

paediatrics and a remote hospital

term in Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land.

“Internship is a steep learning

curve and at times you will feel

out of your depth. However, it is

also a time of great learning and is

enjoyable. And remember, there is always

somebody you can ask for help!”

Mangatjay plans to dual train in paediatrics and child

psychiatry. He would like to bring his knowledge and

skills back home to North East Arnhem Land and

hopes to inspire other First Nations people to pursue

a career in health.

Dr Mangatjay McGregor

AIDA Internship Guide 15

Curriculum Vitae

and Cover Letters

Like all job applications, candidates should be aware of

how to compose an effective cover letter and CV. Please

see the link below to a CV guideline and the Deakin

University sample cover letter page:

How To Write a Good Medical CV

https://advancemed.com.au/blog/how-to-write-a-

medical-cv-how-to-write-a-medical-resume/

Sample internship cover letter template

https://unihub.deakin.edu.au/Uploads/

EmailAttachments/Wbt1qD63gYQxMuUU5Qf9ow2/

Medical-Internship-Cover-Letter-Template.pdf

Other states and organisations that provide resources

that can assist with the composition of CVs and cover

letters can be found below:

South Australian Medical Education & Training

https://www.samet.org.au/resources-useful-links/

doctors-in-training-resources/

Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia

https://www.pmcwa.org.au/wp-content/

uploads/2019/05/2020-WA-Intern-Application-

Guide_Final.pdf

AHPRA guide to formatting a CV

https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-

Process/Standard-Format-for-Curriculum-Vitae.

aspx

AIDA Internship Guide 15

Dr Russell Thompson,

former AIDA Student Director

AIDA Internship Guide 16

Useful Links

National

Medical Board of Australia

https://www.medicalboard.gov.au

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

https://www.ahpra.gov.au

Australian Medical Council

https://www.amc.org.au

Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education

Councils

http://www.cpmec.org.au

Australian Medical Students’ Association

https://www.amsa.org.au

New South Wales

Health Education and Training Institute

https://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/education-and-

training/courses-and-programs/medical-graduate-

recruitment

Queensland

Queensland Health

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/employment/work-

for-us/clinical/medical/recruitment/intern

Queensland Health - Prevocational Medical

Accreditation Queensland

https://pmaq.health.qld.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Department of Health

https://www.health.act.gov.au/careers/medical-

officers

Canberra Region Medical Education Council

http://crmec.health.act.gov.au

Victoria

Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria

https://allocations.pmcv.com.au

South Australia

South Australian Medical Education & Training

https://www.samet.org.au/internship

Tasmania

Department of Health and Human Services

https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/career/home/medical/

junior_docs/current_campaign/howtoapply_intern

Postgraduate Medical Council of Tasmania

https://www.pmct.org.au

Western Australia

Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia

https://www.pmcwa.org.au/recruitment/internship

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Government Department of

Health

https://health.nt.gov.au/careers/medical-officers/

medical-officers-recruitment/interns

Northern Territory Prevocational Medical

Assurance Services

https://www.ntmetc.com

AIDA Internship Guide 17

ACT Australian Capital Territory

AHPRA Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

AIDA Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association

AMC Australian Medical Council

CPMEC Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils

CV Curriculum Vitae

DHHS Department of Health and Human Services

ED Emergency Department

HETI Health Education and Training Institute

JP Justice of the Peace

NSW New South Wales

NT Northern Territory

PGY1 Postgraduate Year 1

PGY2 Postgraduate Year 2

PMAS Prevocational Medical Assurance Services

PMC Postgraduate Medical Council

PMCV Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria

PMCWA

Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia

PTAP Prevocational Training Application Program

QLD Queensland

SA South Australia

SA MET South Australian Medical Education and Training

SRC Student Representative Committee

WA Western Australia

Z-score a standardised score

Acronyms

Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Ltd

ABN 84 131 668 936

Old Parliament House

18 King George Terrace

Parkes ACT 2600

PO Box 3497

Manuka ACT 2603

P: 02 6273 5013 Freecall: 1800 190 498

E: [email protected]g.au