Addiction Medicine

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Addiction Medicine

Your Pathway into Addiction Medicine training in North Queensland

Entry Requirements

There are two pathways of entry in Advanced Training in Addiction Medicine

One:

General Medical Registration
Completed the RACP Basic Training (including written and clinical exams)
Have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Addiction Medicine Training Position
Refer to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for further information in relation to selection into the training program

Two:

After obtaining fellowship of another College, Faculty or another Chapter. Refer to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for further information on eligible fellowships
General Medical Registration
Have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training Position

Total Training Time

Total: 3 years (full-time)

Advanced Training in Addiction Medicine requires three years of full-time equivalent (FTE) training.

Core Training

A minimum of 18 months FTE must be spent in accredited addiction medicine training positions under the supervision of a Fellow of the Chapter.

Non-Core Training

A maximum of 18 months of non-core training in prospectively approved research in relation to Addiction Medicine or clinical training in approved medical, psychiatric or public health positions. Accredited research directed towards an MD or PhD, or completion of a Master’s program, may be counted towards the training program. This training must also be prospectively approved.

How To Apply

Applicants need to apply directly with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians with the appropriate application forms found here.

Applicants are required to secure an approved, accredited training position and must prospectively apply for approval.

Accredited Queensland settings are:

Metro North Brisbane Health Service
Metro South Brisbane Health Service
Toowoomba Hospital Alcohol and Other Drugs Service
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay Hospitals)
Ipswich Hospital

Application Deadline

As a trainee in Addiction Medicine, you’re responsible for organising all necessary documentation for submission by the deadline. We recommend that you keep a copy of your application for future reference.

See program key dates for trainees and supervisors. The application deadlines are 15 February for the first half or whole of the current year, and 31 August for the second half of the current year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect as an Addiction medicine trainee?

In Advanced Training in Addiction Medicine, students will explore specialty training in the comprehensive care of people with a wide range of addiction disorders in depth. This includes pharmaceutical dependency and drug and alcohol addiction. You’ll train under supervision and prepare for your eventual independent practice as a consultant.

The purpose of advanced training is for trainees to develop their existing practical and cognitive skills. Upon completion of the Advanced Addiction Medicine Training Program, trainees will be competent enough to provide unsupervised medical care in addiction medicine at a consultant level. Upon completion of the overall training program, a new Fellow will be able to provide public health advice, provide advice to other medical practitioners and manage complex patient problems.

This program builds your skills through work-based learning and assessment tools. When you study addiction medicine, all associated teaching, learning, and assessments are undertaken within the context of the specialist’s everyday clinical practice, accommodating discipline-specific contexts and practices.

What is an Addiction Medicine Specialist?

Addiction Medicine specialists deliver comprehensive care to patients who suffer from a range of addiction disorders. This includes patients who suffer from pharmaceutical dependency or drug and alcohol addiction.

Addiction medicine includes primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of harm related to non-medical use of drugs, rehabilitation of people dependent on drugs and management of acute drug-related problems. Rehabilitation from drug-related problems implies a level of social reintegration, as well as optimisation of psychological and physical functioning.

Addiction medicine specialists can work within public and private facilities, improving the health outcomes of their patients. Addiction medicine specialists play an important role in developing and shaping public policy across the areas of prevention, health promotion and health protection in order to improve public health outcomes on a larger scale.

Addiction medicine specialists find witnessing people getting back on track and seeing change happen very rewarding. The practice of Addiction Medicine is holistic and involves dealing with the individual circumstances of people’s lives. The treatment of individuals and families who are affected by drugs and the deliverance of informed, supportive advice is a crucial part of the role and important for community response to drug issues.

What abilities are important in this speciality?

The ability to remain focused in difficult, emotionally challenging situations
Compassion and empathy
Great communication skills

How many applicants get selected per year?

The number of applicants selected for the advanced training per year varies. In 2020 in QLD, there were 21 specialists with 2 new trainee admitted to the advanced training program. There are 116 active specialists in Australia as of 2020, with 7 new fellows admitted. Find out more information on the Addiction Medicine workforce on the Medi-Nav website.

References:

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website aims to assist medical students and doctors in training with medical career planning. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is current and accurate, all details should be verified through the relevant Specialist College.

NQRTH is an initiative of the Australian Government's Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) and is facilitated by James Cook University in partnership with public and private hospitals, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and GP clinics.

Cairns region
(07) 4226 8187

Central West region
(07) 4764 1547

Mackay region
(07) 4885 7122

North West region
(07) 4764 1547

Torres and Cape region
(07) 4095 6103

Townsville region
(07) 4781 3424