Anaesthesiology Training within Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is responsible for the training of 1,500 resident anaesthesiologists throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The training program is conducted over a minimum of five years and is taught within 174 training hospitals. The training program is primarily practically focused with a strong emphasis on the apprenticeship approach to mastery of applied knowledge, skill development, and enhancement of pertinent abilities. Important theoretical and fundamental knowledge is taught using a modular based framework covering the key aspects of anaesthesiology. Additional learning occurs during various voluntary residential courses and through a compulsory simulation course. The simulation course specifically focuses on the impact and importance of human factors in the anaesthetic environment, as well as mainstream trauma and high frequency or critical clinical scenarios. The training program includes two examinations; the first assessing candidate competency in the basic sciences of pharmacology and physiology and the second assessing candidate competency in more applied anaesthesiology. These examinations are supplemented by additional hospital based In-Training Assessments (ITAs), computerised web delivered Self Assessment Tests (SATs), and a Learning Portfolio. The overall aim of the program is to evolve an undifferentiated medical graduate into a competent independent anaesthesiologist.