The Australian Government facilitates the growth and development of General Practitioners (GPs) to become Specialist GPs. This program consists of three to four years of full-time vocational training in either or both rural and urban areas.

ACRRM's Independent Pathway Program [M1] leads to Vocational Registration as a Specialist in General Practice and is offered directly through the college.

Once you successfully complete the assessment and training requirements of the program, you will be awarded Fellowship as a Specialist GP. Let’s read on to find out more about ACCRM’s Independent Pathway program which is your path to becoming a Specialist General Practitioner.

What Is ACRRM Independent Pathway Program?

The ACRRM Independent Pathway is a flexible program that consists of a well-structured and comprehensive curriculum to help you on your path to becoming a Specialist GP. It allows you to manage your training experience and placement. Read on to get to know what you can expect from the ACRRM Independent Pathway program.

This Program consists of the following trainings and assessments.

Training

ACRRM Independent Pathway training consists of a four-year program. It includes Core Generalist Training (CGT) and Advanced Specialist Training (AST). The training should be followed at any one of the health facilities accredited by ACRRM. These include regional, remote and rural general practices, rural hospitals and Aboriginal Medical Services.

Education

The ACRRM Independent Pathway program has a well-structured education program that is very comprehensive. The program combines theoretical knowledge with additional webinars and online courses. These are developed by qualified and experienced FACRRMs who are well-versed on these subject areas. This also requires completing emergency medicine programs and several other courses that have been recommended by FACRRM.

Assessment

This includes completed assessment through training-based activities. It provides an environment to assess real-world scenarios through a comprehensive training program.

Training Post

Training includes undertaking placements at any of the locations that are accredited by ACRRM. These locations are defined by Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2-7. These training post helps obtain clinical experience and take responsibility.

What Does the ACRRM Independent Pathway Program Provide?

The ACRRM Independent Pathway program is flexible and allows you to work directly with experienced medical educators including ACRRM staff. It provides great benefits for you as you take this rewarding path towards becoming a Specialist GP.

Here is what you get with the ACRRM Independent Pathway program.

·        Personal training by medical educators to guide you in your path to becoming a Specialist General Practitioner.

·        Flexible learning through online education.

·        Individual attention by the ACRRM educators.

·        A well-structured and comprehensive course curriculum that involved training and assessment.

·        Recognition for any previous learning experience.

·        Rural medicine expands all aspects of the ACRRM curriculum which consists of rural from beginning to end.

These reasons are enough to make you take this leap in your career. Let’s find out the types of funding mechanisms available in ACRRM Independent Pathway program and the fees structure of the program.

ACRM Independent Pathway Program Funding Mechanisms

The ACRRM Independent Pathway program has the following funding mechanisms.

·        Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) – This is a program that is fully funded by the Australian Government.

·        Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program (NVR FSP) – This program is partly funded by the Australian Government.

·        Self-funded program.

You need to meet the required eligibility criteria in order to be considered for each of the funding options. Visit the ACRRM website for more information.

Are You Eligible to Follow ACRRM Independent Pathway Program?

Prior to stepping into this path, you should ensure that you can actually go along further in your career as a Specialist GP in Australia. This will help you move along smoothly in your career, especially if you are an immigrant.

You should have the following eligibility criteria in order to follow the ACRRM Independent Pathway program. Eligibility is divided into two categories: citizenship criteria and medical registration criteria. You should fulfil both of these in order to continue on this career path.

Citizenship Criteria

·        Hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship

Or

·        Hold permanent residency status

Or

·        Have temporary residency status in Australia (Only applicable for business visas or skilled migration and not for student visas)

Medical Registration Criteria

You should hold current registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) in any one of the following:

·        General registration

·        Specialist registration

·        Provisional registration

·        Area-limited registration

ACRRM Independent Pathway Program Fees Structure

You should have adequate knowledge on the payment structure of the ACRRM Independent Pathway program to decide if you can take up to it. There are three types of fees for the ACRRM Independent Pathway program. They are;

·        Advanced fees – This includes the fees for the application ($700), enrolment ($495) and course program ($24,950).

·        Ongoing fees – This includes the fees for membership ($430) and training support ($1,995).

·        Additional fees – This includes the fees for assessment, transfer amount ($2,194.50) and recognition of prior learning ($745).

Visit the ACRRM website for more information on the fee structure and terms and conditions.

Steps to Prepare ACRRM Independent Pathway Application

Once you have decided to follow the ACRRM Independent Pathway program, here’s are the steps you can take next to prepare your application.

·        Proof of at least a year of experience working in a hospital – To do this you can obtain a letter from the hospital you worked in previously.

·        Details of two non-related referees – You application should be supported by two non-related referees, and you should include their contact details in your application.

·        Text submission in writing – You should write the answers for five questions that are aligned to the given selection criteria. Writing should preferably be in the style of an essay. Your submission will be assessed by more than one assessor. Therefore, make sure you submit a good piece of writing to make your application a success.

·        Presenting personal attributes – Simply fulfilling the eligibility criteria for the ACRRM Independent Pathway program is not enough on your path to becoming a Specialist GP. You need to possess the characteristics that makes a good doctor, especially as a rural generalist. Your ability to showcase these characteristics will also be directly assessed as an entry to the ACRRM Independent Pathway program.

Ensure you have everything stated above ready at hand in order to get along with a smooth application process for the ACRRM Independent Pathway program.

Conclusion

In summary, becoming a Specialist General Practitioner is by no means easy. You need the knowledge, skills, and attributes along with experience in order to be successful in this field. The ACRRM Independent Pathway program provides a great opportunity for education and training in specialising as a GP. This is especially true in the case of rural medicine and rural generalists.

ACRRM equips you with a wide set of talents and skills to help you tackle any medical situation in a responsible manner. It hones the skillset you already have, making your path to becoming a Specialist GP much easier.

 At Medfuture we can guide you on your path to becoming a Specialist GP by connecting with well-reputed healthcare facilities. We help connect skilled and experienced GP candidates with suitable positions from world-class healthcare providers. Visit our website to get in touch with us today.