Trainee Support

There are options available to accommodate changes in your personal circumstances and provide support for your training progression and wellbeing:

Leave During Training
You can take leave while working in accredited training placements - up to five weeks, in every 13-week In-Training Assessment period or, up to 10 weeks in a 12-month training year. It includes annual, personal, compassionate, parental, study, examination, conference and carer’s leave.

Part-Time Training
You may choose to reduce your training hours to part-time (pro-rata) - at a minimum of 0.5 FTE – have a discussion with your DEMT about this and keep in mind placement duration requirements and accreditation site limits.

Interruption to Training
You can take an ‘interruption to training’ for up to 156 weeks (three years) in the course of your FACEM training - up to 52 weeks’ of ‘interruption to training’ are approved at one time.

You remain a FACEM trainee and can:

• continue working in an accredited training placement, at < 0.5FTE – this placement is not counted towards your training requirements; or
• work in an unaccredited placement, as a locum; or
• work in a placement that is going towards ‘surplus training’; or
• be spending time doing something else, such as research or other education, taking parental leave; or
• take extra leave because of an illness or injury.

The College has an Interruption to Training Policy, which offers an avenue outside of the special consideration process to support the wellbeing of trainees.

Parental Leave

Trainees planning to take parental leave should refer to the new changes to the Parental Leave Policy effective from January 1, 2025. For more information, please click here.

Trainee Support will be able to assist you with this process.

Please refer to the revised Parental Leave Policy to understand the benefits of this recent update.

Supporting Information:

• The Parental leave policy
• FACEM Training Program Handbook
• Regulation B – FACEM Training Program

Adjustments to training regulations or assessments are sometimes needed should you experience unexpected circumstances that may adversely affect your ability to achieve all training requirements.

Exceptional circumstances
If you are concerned that your training has, or will be, affected by certain personal circumstances, the Special consideration and Exceptional circumstances policy provides you with the opportunity to apply for a variation to your training requirements, or an alternative assessment arrangement.

Before applying, it is essential that you review the policy and get in touch with Trainee Support for a confidential discussion, if needed.

Supporting information:

• Special consideration and Exceptional circumstances policy
• Special consideration and Exceptional circumstances policy: examinations
• Special consideration application form

The Reconsideration, Review and Appeals policy provides you with an opportunity to apply for reconsideration of the decision/s made by ACEM entities, such as the Trainee Progression Review Panel and the Specialist and Training Assessment Committee. 

Trainee Support is available to assist you with the reconsideration policy and the application process.

Supporting information:

• Reconsideration, Review and Appeals policy
• Reconsideration application form

For various reasons, you may not be able to continue with FACEM training.

Consideration for Removal from the FACEM Training Program
If you meet any of the grounds that result in consideration for removal from the training program process (as per Regulation B2.7.1.1), please get in touch with Trainee Support for information and support with this process.

Supporting information:

• Regulation A - Governance
• Regulation B – FACEM Training Program

Transition into Emergency Medicine Certificate or Diploma
If you need to withdraw, or are removed, from the FACEM Training Program, but are interested in continuing a career involving Emergency Medicine with a formal qualification, you can apply to transition into either the Emergency Medicine Certificate (EMC) or Emergency Medicine Diploma (EMD) Programs. 

Trainee Support will provide you with further information about your level of recognition of prior learning for the various components of EMC or EMD - depending on the training requirements and assessments that you completed as a FACEM Trainee – and the application process.

Supporting information:

• Transition from FACEM Training
• Policy for the transition from the FACEM Training Program to Non-Specialist training programs

Applying for Selection into FACEM Training as a Former Trainee
As a former FACEM trainee, if you are interested in re-engaging in FACEM training, you may be eligible to apply to Selection into FACEM Training to re-enrol in the FACEM Training Program.

Selection into FACEM Training is a standards-based selection process and for more information on this, and your eligibility, is available on the ACEM website.

Supporting information:

• Selection into FACEM Training website
• Policy on Former trainees applying for Selection into the FACEM Training Program

All complaints will be treated sensitively, and you will not be disadvantaged during your training by raising a concern. Contact Trainee Support for a confidential discussion and further information.

Supporting Information:

• Complaints Policy
• Procedures for submission and resolution of complaints
• Independent External Reviewer
• Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Policy

• Find services, resources and initiatives at My Wellbeing.
• Access ACEM Assist, an external service providing a hub of resources and confidential coaching and counselling to support your professional, educational or personal wellbeing.
• Join the Workforce Wellbeing Network community of practice.
• Supporting Trainees in Difficulty Policy.
• Guidelines for involving a support person in a feedback meeting.
• Mentor Connect program

Trainee Support can be contacted by email: [email protected] or phone: +61 3 9320 0428 / +61 3 8679 8874

ACEM has a Membership and Culture unit, based in Melbourne, who can connect you with external resources, initiatives and advocates in your region. The staff can also provide you with advice on how ACEM can support you directly, based on your individual circumstances. For example, we can find you a mentor during your training. Please apply here.

You can contact the ACEM Membership and Culture Unit via [email protected]. Visit the Wellbeing website for more information.