Australian Defence Force (ADF) Policy 2015
NOTE:
This policy commences on 1 January 2015 and will apply to ALL ADF registrars pursuing
fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). ADF
Registrars may also apply for fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote
Medicine (ACRRM).
ADF Registrars can elect general pathway or rural pathway.
The Training for Registrars who are Full Time Members of the Australian Defence Force
Policy 2008 will cease to apply after 31 December 2014.
Scope of this policy
This policy applies to Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) registrars who are members of
the Australian Defence Force (ADF) pursuing the vocational training pathway of the Royal
Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
This policy should be read in conjunction with the RACGP Vocational Training and Fellowship
requirements.
Members of the ADF can apply to pursue their vocational training through the Australian College of
Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) if that is their preference. It should be noted, however, that
ACRRM registrar placements are managed locally by the relevant Regional Training Provider
(RTP). This policy does not apply to ADF registrars pursuing vocational training through ACRRM.
Definitions and notes
In this policy:
ADF means Australian Defence Force.
ADF registrar means a member of the ADF who is a registrar in the AGPT program.
ADF Joint Health Command or JHC provides health care and support to the Australian Defence
Force. It develops strategic policy; provides strategic level health advice; and exercises technical
and financial control of ADF health units.
The College means the RACGP.
RACGP approved military medicine means military medicine training activities that are endorsed
by the RACGP to meet its vocational training requirements.
Deployment means the relocation of forces to desired areas of operations. In the case of ADF
registrars this means they may be relocated to locations within Australia or overseas to
provide health support for ADF operations to meet ADF health operational requirements.
Military medicine is a medical speciality that considers the risks and health needs (both
preventive and interventional) of soldiers, sailors and airmen/airwomen. Historically military
medicine has been involved in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease. However, in the
21st century this has expanded to include the health aspects of operating military specific machines
(submarines, tanks, helicopters and airplanes), communication systems and weapon systems
whilst undertaking sustained arduous activity within physically harsh and challenging
environments.
Rationale
1. Members of the ADF who are enrolled as registrars in the AGPT program and pursuing the
vocational training program of the RACGP are required (as far as is practical), to meet the
same broad education and training requirements for vocational training in general practice as
civilian registrars.
2. It is acknowledged that there is a need for specific arrangements and/or training concessions
which may be necessary to enable an ADF registrar to continue vocational training as well as
meeting their ADF service requirements.
3. There are three (3) people/organisations involved in the delivery of ADF registrar training
namely:
a) The ADF Joint Health Command Officer for General Practice
b) The RACGP
c) The ADF registrar’s regional training provider (RTP)
4. The purpose of this policy is to assist the organisations named above to coordinate ADF
registrar training, by:
a) Outlining the training arrangements and requirements that have been approved by the
RACGP as specified by the RACGP Vocational Training and Fellowship requirements.
b) Meeting the requirements of ADF Joint Health Command from time to time.
c) Enabling RTPs to manage the education and training of ADF registrars.
5. It is the responsibility of the organisations named above to liaise and coordinate registrar
training in accordance with the RACGP’s Vocational Training Standards.
Policy statement
6. ADF registrar training is managed by the RTP in consultation with the organisations named
above (clauses 3a and 3b).
7. An ADF registrar’s current posting orders determines the RTP they train with.
8. The AGPT Transfer Policy 2015 manages ADF registrar movements between RTPs.
9. ADF registrars are exempt from the AGPT Training Location Obligations Policy 2015, Leave
from Program Policy 2015 and Extension of Training Time Policy 2015.
10. RTPs must ensure ADF registrars have opportunities to pursue civilian practice as required by
the RACGP.
Training posts supporting ADF registrars
11. ADF registrars can undertake their required vocational training in the following facilities:
a) A civilian-based general practice with the required level of practice accreditation; or
b) An ADF medical facility or base with the required level of practice accreditation; or
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c) Through a combination of the above as a composite training arrangement.
ADF registrar training as approved by the RACGP
12. The RACGP has approved the training arrangements and requirements as described in this
policy.
Hospital training
13. An ADF registrar must comply with the College training requirements in relation to hospital
training time.
14. During an ADF registrar’s hospital training, access to the following arrangements should be
facilitated by the ADF registrar’s RTP, where possible:
a) Twelve (12) months of post-intern hospital training in accredited hospital posts with
preferred rotations in paediatric and geriatric disciplines.
b) Of the 12 months post-intern hospital training, up to three (3) months experience in civilianbased general practice training as described in clause 15b below.
Civilian-based general practice
15. In order to manage the configuration of training units for ADF registrars and to ensure they
acquire the necessary experience required for competent practice during and after their military
career, RTPs are required to have procedures in place to ensure that:
a) ADF registrars experience general practice (as defined by the RACGP) equivalent to that of
non-ADF registrars in line with RACGP Vocational Training Standards, recognising that an
ADF registrar’s general practice experience may include military medicine (garrison or
other) settings as well as civilian settings.
b) If required, RTPs can facilitate a release from hospital training for the ADF registrar to
undertake a minimum of three (3) months (FTE) general practice training in an civilianbased general practice with the required level of practice accreditation (at the level of a
GPT1) during the ADF registrar’s hospital training year.
Extended skills training
16. ADF registrars may undertake extended skills training, as follows:
a) In a civilian-based general practice (which holds the required level of practice accreditation
for skills training) in accordance with their RTP’s requirements; or
b) In an RACGP-approved military medicine program.
Training whilst on deployment
17. Experience, training, and education during deployment may be considered for credit as training
time for extended skills or general practice terms in the following circumstances:
a) Deployments or exercises within Australia that meet RACGP requirements for accreditation
as a training post
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b) Overseas deployments that meet RACGP requirements for overseas training and have
been approved by the RACGP Censor.
Leave
18. The AGPT Leave from Program Policy 2015 does not apply where an ADF registrar is required
to take leave from the program to meet ADF service requirements.
19. Where an ADF registrar is required to take leave from the program to meet ADF service
requirements then the provider must record the leave in the registrar’s training records as ‘ADF
service leave’.
Related documents
 AGPT Publications – AGPT Handbook, AGPT Applicant Guide and Guide for GP Registrars
 About the 2015 AGPT Program Policies
 Leave from Program Policy 2015
 Transfer Policy 2015
 RTP local implementation guidelines and procedures
 RACGP Registrar Handbook
 RACGP Vocational Training Standards
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