Future regional, rural or remote training requirement for FACEM trainees commencing from 2027 

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) is committed to enhancing emergency care across all regions of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. In alignment with this commitment, ACEM is currently trialling a number of initiatives that will inform the introduction of a minimum six-month full-time equivalent (FTE) term in a regional, rural or remote (RRR) emergency department as part of the requirements for the FACEM Training Program.  

A RRR training placement aims to provide trainees with comprehensive clinical exposure by offering a broad spectrum of cases prevalent in RRR emergency departments, supporting the development of well-rounded emergency physicians, grounded in the generalist emergency care foundations of the profession. By training in RRR settings, trainees will contribute to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring that high-quality emergency care is accessible to all populations, regardless of location.  

It is envisaged that this RRR training requirement will be introduced for new trainees enrolling the FACEM Training Program from the commencement of the 2027 training year. Individuals enrolling in the FACEM Training Program will be required to formally acknowledge this training requirement as a condition of their acceptance of a place on the training program.  

This page will be regularly updated to keep you informed of the progress on the regional, rural and remote training requirement. 

Frequently asked questions 

  • Who has to do the requirement?
  • Where can I do the placement?
  • How long is the placement?
  • I'm planning on applying for selection in the second round of 2025, will this impact me?
  • Are there any grounds for an exemption to the requirement?
  • What if I can’t get a placement when I need one?
  • Why is this being introduced?
  • What about my entitlements in my current job? If I leave, I’ll lose them.
  • What if I’m accepted into training to start in 2026 but defer?
  • What about specialist international medical graduates?
  • Does it replace the non-MR requirement?
  • Does a non-ED placement count?
  • When can I do the placement?
  • If I have completed extensive RRR time prior to commencing FACEM training, can RPL be considered?
  • Could it be possible to complete this requirement at less than 0.5 FTE, allowing some potential for a FIFO arrangement?
  • Who is on the working group?
  • Will Associateship trainees be affected?

If you have any further questions about the introduction of a regional, rural and remote requirement to the FACEM Training Program, please contact [email protected].

 

TOPICS