Doctors face two-year internships after graduating

Did you know that medical internships for graduates are changing in 2024? The biggest change is a move away from a single intern year (PGY1) and towards a new two-year capability and performance framework. That means one additional year of training during the internship.

For Australian medical graduates, it means that more time will be spent as an intern, delaying your admission into a training program and specialisation.

However, with the new changes comes a greater opportunity for training. It's part of the reason why theAustralian Medical Council is making this move. So, why is the change taking place? How will this affect your training? And what are the wider implications for junior doctor's careers? Let's find out.

Why It's Changing

Under the previous system, introduced in 2014, the framework only governed the first year of internships (PGY1). Because of clear signs that "prevocational training" should be prioritised alongside a greater understanding of current medical needs (including those of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities), the new framework will cover two years of training.

Phase 1 will begin in 2024. Phase 2 (PGY2) will involve a phased approach, either in 2024 or 2025.

What's Changing?

This new system will change the requirements for PGY1 junior doctors. At present, doctors are required to complete 10-week accredited terms in general medicine and general surgery and an 8-week accredited term in emergency medical care. This is no longer the case.

Internees will be expected to complete a minimum of four terms (of at least 10 weeks each term) in different specialities. During the 47 weeks of the PGY1 year, doctors can practice one subspeciality for a maximum of 25% of the time and one speciality for a maximum of 50% of the time.

For example, you could not work more than 50% in paediatrics, nor could you do 25% in each of neurosurgery, general surgery, and paediatric surgery.

Implications for Australian Medical Graduates and Junior Doctors

The most obvious implication is the increased length of time spent under an internship. While a year might not sound like a lot – especially after several years in medical school – the additional time does delay your progression onto a training program for specialisation.

For those who are sure of their career path, it's a frustrating change. But for many, it's an opportunity to consider your speciality more thoroughly. That's helped by the emphasis on diversity in training. No longer are you restricted to general surgery, general medicine, and emergency medicine. You can now select the specialities you find the most interesting. Just be careful to get enough experience in the main fields.

Finally, you can expect a greater emphasis on prevocational training. This equips junior doctors with the basic skills and knowledge they can expect in day-to-day practice, whether that be in a metropolitan hospital, regional centre, or rural community. It's also about the people, too – ensuring you've got a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Learn more about the changes in this Australian Medical Council FAQ.