Training Opportunities

General Pathway Opportunities - For General Pathway Registrars, Canberra, the Wollongong Region and the regional centre of Wagga Wagga provide attractive locations for training minus the congestion and pollution of Sydney.

• Wollongong has the advantage of proximity (1 hour) to Sydney and Beaches!
• Canberra is a thriving cosmopolitan capital city,
• and Wagga Wagga, is a regional centre of 57,000 people situated on the Murrumbidgee River, only 4.5 hours from Sydney and Melbourne via the Hume Highway.

All three centres have universities, cultural attractions and excellent infrastructure.

General Pathway Registrars should note that if you are joining the training program in 2004 you will be asked to do your rural term in Bega (for SENSW/ACT Local Training Group Registrars) or Griffith (for Riverina/Murrumbidgee Local Training Group members).

Rural Pathway Opportunities - For Rural Pathway Registrars the opportunities are immense and varied. Find yourself a detailed map of Southern NSW and take a look! Beaches stretching from Gerringong to Eden, the stately Southern Highlands of NSW, and Country Towns in the Food Bowl of Australia – the Riverina and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area - that welcome you to their communities with open arms.

Academic Opportunities - Partners in the delivery of medical education in the CoastCityCountry region include the University Of NSW School Of Rural Health (Head Campus in Wagga Wagga) and the Australian National University (Academic Unit of General practice) in Canberra. These partnerships provide unparalleled opportunities for Registrars, ranging from participating in academic programs to undertaking accredited GP Registrar Academic Posts.

Hospital Terms - Hospital terms can be undertaken at Wollongong Hospital, Canberra Hospital and Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

Procedural GP Posts - CoastCityCountry is participating in the NSW Health GP Procedural Training Program. We are working hard to create Registrar training posts and Advanced Rural Skills posts in hospitals in our region.

Special Skills – Special Skills posts will be organised on an individual basis. In 2004 unique opportunities exist in Wagga Wagga for General Pathway Registrars’ interested in Sports Medicine and Aboriginal Health

Training Locations

This Consortium encompasses the areas of the five Divisions of General Practice – Illawarra, Shoalhaven, ACT, Riverina and Murrumbidgee, and includes landscapes as diverse as the coast and its beaches, the Australian alps, the National Capital Canberra, the Outback stretching to Hay and Hillston and the major regional centres of Wagga Wagga and Griffith.

How Will Training Be Provided?

The Consortium’s policy is that your education will take place in our GP Training area. Hospital terms can be undertaken at

• Wollongong Hospital

• Canberra Hospital

• Wagga Wagga Base Hospital

Accredited practices exist across the entire region:

• Capital City: Canberra

• Larger Regional Centres: Wollongong, Wagga Wagga

• Larger Regional Towns: Griffith, Nowra, Goulburn

• Medium Rural Towns

• Small Rural Towns

Educational Release Activities will be planned and delivered by the three Local Training Groups. In 2003 the Local Training Groups have chosen to hold common three and four day releases in locations across the region.

Partners in the delivery of medical education in this Consortium include the University of Wollongong and the University of NSW (in both Wollongong and Wagga Wagga) and In Canberra the University of Sydney Clinical School/Australian National University.

These partnerships ensure access to the highest possible standard of medical education available as well as access to a broader range of educational resources.

Supporting Our Registrars

Regular teleconferences will be organised by Local Training Groups and these can be accessed from home, practices or you can attend the LTG locations.

The Internet will play an important part in the support of Registrars. As of 31 March 2003 all forms will be accessible via the Consortium’s web page and by simply filling all forms in on line they will be directed to the applicable LTG medical educators and the CEO. Registrars will require access to computing facilities and personal Internet literacy. The Consortium will assist by partially subsidising internet subscriptions.

Rural Registrars will be provided with access to RRMEO (Remote Rural Medical Education On-Line)