Working as a Pain Medicine specialist can be a very rewarding experience. As a trainee, you will have the opportunity to work with patients who are suffering from pain and help them find relief.

You will learn how to treat acute pain, such as post operative, post-trauma and acute episodes of pain in medical condition as well as pain associated with cancer:  tumour invasion or compression, pain related to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, or pain associated in the general treatment of cancer. You will learn about the latest treatment options and technologies that can help improve your patients' quality of life.

Pain medicine is a rapidly growing field, and there are many opportunities for career advancement.

Prior clinical experience but not prior learning may be credited towards the requirements in the practice development stage. Up to six months prior experience may be approved for experience gained in a faculty accredited unit or a multidisciplinary unit with regular workplace-based progressive feedback equivalent to that in the FPM training program.  

There are countless reasons why North Queensland is one of the best places on the planet to work, live, and study. No matter what stage or age you are in, Northern Queensland offers a great balance between work and leisure. 

Visitors and residents find the North Queensland lifestyle relaxed and laid-back. The people are friendly and welcoming. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, and hiking, and when the sun goes down, there are also many bars, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy. 

North Queensland has the convenience of cities close by, all of which have reasonable housing costs and expansive landscapes to explore nearby. The region combines quality education and the chance to pursue a relaxed or adventurous lifestyle, depending on your preference. The area has a warm climate all year round, beautiful beaches and rainforests, and is home to a diverse range of cultures and lifestyles, making Northern Queensland hard to beat. 

Each regional centre in North Queensland is small enough to escape the crowded nature of big city living, but they still have enough going on for you to socialise and entertain yourself. And with short commute times putting more hours back into your workday, you’ll have plenty of time to explore when offered the chance. 

Networking and industry social opportunities frequently happen due to the tight-knit and collaborative nature of the health and hospital communities here. The vision to improve the health of the communities throughout the region, unites the students, interns, junior doctors, and specialists training and working here. Together we hope to address the shortage of doctors in North Queensland. 

Our training region ensures trainees have access to a wide range of hospital and health settings of varying sizes and capabilities offering a diverse case load and case mix. These training areas include the following health service areas: Cairns, Central West, Mackay, North West, Torres and Cape, and Townsville.

References:

• https://medinav.health.qld.gov.au/careers/anaesthetics/pain-medicine
• https://www.anzca.edu.au/patient-information/pain-medicine-information-for-patients-and-carer
• https://www.nqrth.edu.au/pain-medicine/
• https://www.anzca.edu.au/education-training/pain-medicine-training-progra