Rural paediatrics training pathway - a new approach for WA

The WA Country Health Service Medical Education Unit in collaboration with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians are undertaking a project to develop a rurally-based pathway for Basic Paediatric Training. This is supported through the Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program.

What are our goals?

• To establish a defined, high quality and sustainable rural paediatric training pathway in Western Australia.
• To strengthen workforce sustainability and equitable access to specialist paediatric care across Western Australia
• To enable rural-invested trainees to train, live and build their careers within the rural communities to which they are connected.

What is involved in Basic Training?

Paediatric Basic Training is the first 3 years of vocational training for a junior doctor to become a paediatrician, with a common pathway for all subspecialities. It involves 24 months of Core training, including neonatal, emergency department, general paediatrics and medical subspecialities, plus 12 months of non-Core training. It is overseen by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and can be delivered across multiple paediatric training settings.

In Western Australia currently, all paediatric basic trainees are within the metropolitan system, excepting short rural secondments. We envisage providing broad-based paediatric training across several rural sites from Basic Paediatric Training Year 1 (Foundation Year), linked to existing training systems in tertiary settings.

What is being proposed?

• A three-year pathway to meet all Basic Training Core components, including rural immersion for 24 months, and dedicated access to Core metropolitan rotations
• Structured educational support for supervision and exam preparation
• A network model, to support trainees and supervisors to ensure an excellent training experience
• 3-4 primary rural training sites, with 1-2 trainees per year at each site
• Collaboration with tertiary sites regarding training selection and progress
• Ongoing support of strong paediatric training opportunities for Rural Generalist trainees

What time frames do you envisage?

We are working through accreditation and workforce requirements, with a goal of recruiting first-year Basic Trainees to start in 2028.

Where can I hear more?

We would love to hear from trainees and interested others who would like to talk further or contribute to development of the pathway. Please get in touch at ruralpaedspathway@health.wa.gov.au or join one of the WARP Network meetings to hear more.

WACHS Co-Directors of Clinical Training, Paediatrics: Kristen Lindsay & Melanie Thompson