Later Career Program

Meeting bi-monthly, the working group focuses on how the College can best support those members in the later stage of their career.

The Later Career Program Working Group recently informed the program for the Later Career Workshop, held prior to the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2024. Attendees enjoyed presentations on 'Prolonging a career, not just in EM', 'Remaining clinical right to the end', 'The Psychology of Retirement', 'Approaching Retirement' and a panel discussion on 'Transitioning to, preparing for and living in retirement'.

The annual half-day Later Career Workshop on Sunday 23 November 2025 at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) prior to the ASM.
 
Explore various topics and themes in an interactive session where presenters will share their knowledge, insights, and experiences.  
 
Stay tuned for updates on speakers and topics.

The inaugural Later Career Workshop was held at the ASM in Canberra in November 2023.

The half-day workshop included a series of engaging shared experiences, whereby presenters shared their career transition knowledge, insights and experiences.  Guest speaker, Dr Annette Holian (FRACS), also gave a thought-provoking presentation on personal performance and working under pressure. 

Dr Anne-Maree Kelly considers seeking alternative roles to transition into, negotiating your transition to retirement and legislative considerations.

Dr John Vinen discusses the importance of planning your later career transition and particularly moving into medico-legal consulting. 

Dr Anil Nair focuses on his career transitions, especially diversity and cultural considerations and moving into leadership roles (CMO, DMS).

Dr Daniel Fatovich presents on developing a diverse skill set, transitioning into research, as well as rostering considerations.

Dr Annette Holian discusses leadership and leading when under pressure, including values-based leadership.

Associate Professor Geoffrey Hughes speaks about his personal journey to retirement from emergency medicine.

• Preparing Financially for Retirement – Later Career Webinar

Later Career articles of interest

The following resources have been peer-reviewed by the Later Career Program Working Group and are attached here for your information and reference.

• Aging and Cognitive Performance: Challenges and Implications for Physicians Practicing in the 21st Century (Theoretical Foundations 2010)
• Sustaining a long career in emergency medicine: Issues for emergency physicians of all ages (EMA 2019)
• The ageing doctor: positive transition to a portfolio career (MJA 2019)
• Later careers - regenerating the medical workforce (Royal College of Physicians UK 2018)
• Considerations for Emergency Physicians in Pre-Retirement Years (American College of Emergency Physicians 2021)
• Take it gradually when planning for retirement (American College of Emergency Physicians)
• What is successful retirement to me? (Converge International)
• Psychological Effects of the Transition to Retirement (Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy 2012)

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Stories

• Retirement: an "opportunity" (YourED, October 2024)

 

In the Media

• Retirement can induce 'relevance deprivation syndrome'. Here's how to enjoy retiring instead (ABC RN)

There may be various implications resulting from your decision to change your scope of practice. Please find some resources and suggestions for you to consider.

Medical registration

You may wish to adjust your registration to reflect your revised circumstances. This may be relevant if you decide to reduce your clinical load, move to a non-clinical role or a role outside emergency medicine. We suggest you contact your registering body directly to discuss your exact circumstances.

Please consult the following websites depending on your location:

Australia: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/registration.aspx
New Zealand: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/maintain-or-renew-registration/taking-a-break-orretiring-from-medical-practice/


ACEM fees and CPD concessions/exemptions

As your working arrangements change you may also be able to apply to change some aspects of your ACEM membership. There may be various considerations depending on your exact transition, and some suggestions are outlined below:

Changing your scope of practice

If you are reducing your clinical hours to less than 20 hours per week you may qualify for a membership fee concession. If you are working in non-clinical practice you may qualify for a CPD procedural skills exemption. (Please refer to ACEM’s CPD Exemption policy for more information).

To apply for a fee concession or skills exemption please refer to the exemptions webpage and complete the application form.

Retiring from emergency medicine

If you are retiring fully from emergency medicine you will need to advise ACEM, as indicated in the information covered in the Retiring from emergency medicine section of this webpage. Retired Fellows are exempt from membership fees and retain membership benefits.

The membership category of Retired Fellow is a sub-class of FACEM membership available to Fellows who have retired from practice, including related activities such as teaching and examining, as a specialist emergency physician, and is no longer acting as an expert witness in the field of emergency medicine, except in certain cases (Refer to Regulation A: Governance).

Retired Fellows maintain the rights and privileges associated with Fellowship, including FACEM postnominal, however are exempt from CPD requirements, annual subscription fees and other Fellowship renewal requirements.

To inform the College of your retirement, please complete the Declaration Form.

ACEM Retired Fellows automatically become part of the Retired Fellows Alumni.

ACEM acknowledges the significant contribution and depth of knowledge of later-career FACEMs and recognises the challenges they face transitioning into the later stages of their emergency medicine career.

The Later Career Program has been developed to support later-career members who are looking to change their scope of practice or prepare for retirement. The Later Career Program Working Group provides guidance on program initiatives and content, and other relevant College work.

The College also has a range of policies and guidelines developed in support of better work conditions for all members.

Quality Standards and Resource Toolkit

Guidelines on constructing and retaining a senior emergency medicine workforce (G23) (currently under review)

Statement on night shift rostering of emergency physicians (S456) (currently under review)