In 2009, there were 965 trainees completing training through the rural pathway. New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory had the largest number (265), followed by Victoria with 253 trainees (Table 4.13).
Table 4.13: General practice rural pathway trainees by state/territory, 2009.
![]() | NSW/ACT | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | Aust |
Number | 265 | 253 | 204 | 84 | 80 | 38 | 46 | 965 |
Proportion (%) | 27.5 | 26.2 | 21.1 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 100.0 |
Source: GPET
Subspecialty Training
Pathology Subspecialties
In 2009, there were 361 advanced trainees undertaking training with the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA) (Table 4.14). Almost half of these (49.0% or 177) were within the subspecialty of anatomical pathology.Table 4.14: Advanced pathology training positions by subspecialty, 2009
Subspecialty | Positions | Proportion (%) |
Anatomical pathology | 177 | 49.0 |
Chemical pathology | 15 | 4.2 |
Forensic pathology | 5 | 1.4 |
General pathology | 3 | 0.8 |
Genetics | 3 | 0.8 |
Haematology | 94 | 26.0 |
Immunology | 23 | 6.4 |
Microbiology | 39 | 10.8 |
Oral pathology | 2 | 0.6 |
Total | 361 | 100.0 |
Source: RCPA
Physician Subspecialties
In 2009, there were 1,824 advanced physician trainees undertaking training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) (Table 4.15). Of these, 873 or 47.9% were female. Amongst the subspecialties, paediatrics had the largest number of advanced trainees (571), followed by cardiology (160).Table 4.15: Advanced physician trainees: Total and females by subspecialty, 2009(a)(b)
Subspecialty | Trainees | Proportion (%) | Females |
Cardiology | 160 | 8.8 | 36 |
Clinical genetics | 3 | 0.2 | 2 |
Clinical pharmacology | 11 | 0.6 | 3 |
Endocrinology | 92 | 5.0 | 56 |
Gastroenterology | 104 | 5.7 | 28 |
General medicine | 138 | 7.6 | 50 |
Geriatric medicine | 115 | 6.3 | 65 |
Haematology | 94 | 5.2 | 42 |
Immunology and allergy | 27 | 1.5 | 16 |
Infectious diseases | 91 | 5.0 | 45 |
Intensive care | 15 | 0.8 | 4 |
Medical oncology | 101 | 5.5 | 53 |
Nephrology | 62 | 3.4 | 28 |
Neurology | 61 | 3.3 | 20 |
Nuclear medicine | 20 | 1.1 | 7 |
Paediatrics(c) | 571 | 31.3 | 352 |
Palliative medicine | 35 | 1.9 | 25 |
Respiratory and sleep medicine | 92 | 5.0 | 24 |
Rheumatology | 32 | 1.8 | 17 |
Total | 1,824 | 100.0 | 873 |
(a) Data includes trainees within the joint RACP and RCPA program.
(b) Includes trainees undertaking advanced training in more than one subspecialty, therefore the total number is greater than the figure previously provided.
(c) Paediatric medicine includes general paediatrics and the paediartic component of other subspecialty.
Source: RACP
Paediatric Subspecialties
In 2009, there were 571 advanced paediatric and child health trainees with the RACP's Paediatric and Child Health Division (Table 4.16). Of these, 352 or 61.6% were female. Amongst the subspecialties, half (293 or 51.3%) were training in general paediatrics.Table 4.16: Advanced paediatric and child health trainees: Total and females by subspecialty, 2009(a)(b)
Subspecialty | Trainees | Proportion(%) | Females |
Cardiology | 16 | 2.8 | 5 |
Clinical genetics | 17 | 3.0 | 14 |
Clinical pharmacology | 2 | 0.4 | 1 |
Community child health | 35 | 6.1 | 33 |
Emergency medicine | 32 | 5.6 | 19 |
Endocrinology | 23 | 4.0 | 15 |
Gastroenterology | 13 | 2.3 | 3 |
General paediatrics | 293 | 51.3 | 190 |
Haematology | 9 | 1.6 | 4 |
Immunology and allergy | 12 | 2.1 | 6 |
Infectious diseases | 13 | 2.3 | 8 |
Intensive care | 4 | 0.7 | 2 |
Medical oncology | 11 | 1.9 | 5 |
Neonatal/perinatal medicine | 53 | 9.3 | 29 |
Nephrology | 2 | 0.4 | 8 |
Neurology | 16 | 2.8 | 0 |
Nuclear medicine | 2 | 0.4 | 19 |
Palliative medicine | 1 | 0.2 | 1 |
Respiratory and sleep medicine | 14 | 2.5 | 7 |
Rheumatology | 3 | 0.5 | 0 |
Total | 571 | 100.0 | 352 |
(a) Data includes trainees within the joint RACP and RCPA program.
(b) Includes trainees undertaking advanced training in more than one subspecialty, therefore the total number is greater than the total number of trainees.
Source: RACP