Advanced and extended skills training in the Murrumbidgee

The Murrumbidgee is a large, diverse region with unique health workforce needs. From larger regional centres to smaller rural towns, our communities rely on doctors with broad general practice skills as well as advanced and extended capabilities to meet local demand.

Advanced Skills Training (AST) and Extended Skills Training pathways support doctors to build these capabilities while training and working locally. These pathways are critical to strengthening the medical workforce across the Murrumbidgee and improving access to care close to home.

What is Advanced Skills Training (AST)?

Advanced Skills Training is a structured training pathway, usually undertaken over 12 months full time or longer in some disciplines. It allows doctors, particularly those on rural generalist pathways, to develop deeper expertise in a specific clinical area alongside their general practice skills.

AST is most commonly completed through hospital-based or community-based accredited training posts and is aligned with rural and regional workforce priorities.

Murrumbidgee AST priorities include:

  • Anaesthesia

  • Child Health / Paediatrics

  • Emergency Medicine

  • Mental Health

  • Obstetrics/ Obstetrics & Gynaecology

  • Palliative Care

AST is often undertaken through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) or supported through state and national rural generalist programs.

Learn more - Australian government website
Learn more – ACCRM website

What are Additional Rural Skills?

Extended Skills Training is a six-month full-time equivalent training term that forms part of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) training pathway. It is designed to broaden a registrar’s experience in areas that complement general practice, rather than creating a deep subspecialty focus.

Extended skills terms may be completed in hospital, general practice, community health or Aboriginal health settings and must be approved by the relevant training provider.

Extended skills areas available in the Murrumbidgee include:

  • Anaesthesia

  • Child Health / Paediatrics

  • Emergency Medicine

  • Mental Health

  • Obstetrics/ Obstetrics & Gynaecology

  • Palliative Care

More information on extended skills training is available at:
https://www.racgp.org.au/education/registrars/fellowship-pathways/education-and-training/extended-skills-training

Training opportunities in the Murrumbidgee

The Murrumbidgee offers a range of opportunities for both Advanced Skills Training and Extended Skills Training through partnerships between hospitals, general practices, training providers and community services.

Training posts may be available through:

Availability of specific training posts can vary from year to year depending on workforce needs, accreditation status and funding.

How MPHN supports training and workforce development

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) works closely with training organisations, Local Health Districts and education providers to support medical training pathways that respond to local community needs.

Our role includes:

  • Supporting workforce planning and development across the Murrumbidgee

  • Connecting practices, hospitals and training providers

  • Promoting opportunities that strengthen access to primary care in rural and regional communities

If you are considering Advanced Skills Training or Extended Skills Training in the Murrumbidgee, MPHN can help connect you with the right information and local contacts.

Find out more

To explore training pathways and current opportunities: