Specialty overview

Intensive care medicine specialists provide comprehensive clinical management of critically ill patients experiencing severe medical, surgical, obstetric and paediatric illnesses.

Clinical practice

Intensive care medicine specialists work predominately within the public health sector to provide care for patients with life-threatening single and multiple organ system failure, patients who are at risk of clinical deterioration as well as patients requiring resuscitation or management in an intensive care unit or high dependency unit. Intensive care medicine specialists are also involved in the transport and retrieval of critically ill patients, and are experts in end-of-life care, the diagnosis of brain death and care and support of the organ donor.

Key statistics

2023 QLD Training program selections(first year)

26
eligible

26
selected

This doughnut chart shows the proportion of applications recieved vs applicants selected. Eligible applications received is 26, Applicants selected is 26.

Number of Queensland and Australian specialists

214

Number of QLD specialists

889

Number of Australian specialists

Number of Queensland and Australian new fellows

4

Number of QLD new fellows

30

Number of Australian new fellows

Number of Queensland trainees and average work hours

142

Number of QLD trainees

46.6

Average weekly hours

Information on specialists

  • 214

    Number of QLD specialists

  • 4

    Number of QLD new fellows

  • 46.6 hours

    Average weekly hours QLD

  • 49 years

    Average age QLD

  • Specialists over 60

    This donut chart shows that 13% of specialists are aged over 60 years.

  • Specialist intending to retire by 2032

    This donut chart shows that 33% of 2022 workforce intend to retire by 2032.

  • Location in Queensland

    This donut chart shows the percentage of specialists by their location: 23.9% are located in regional Queensland, 76.1% are in major cities, and 0% are in remote regions. The chart highlights that a vast majority of specialists are based in major cities.

  • Proportion Female/Male - QLD

    77.2%
    male

    22.8%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 77.2%, Females are 22.8%.

  • Public vs Private

    15%
    private

    85%
    public

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of public and private specialists. Private is 15%, Public is 85%.

Information on trainees

  • 142

    Number of Queensland trainees

  • 32

    Number of new Queensland trainees

  • 689

    Number of Australian trainees

  • 202

    Number of new Australian trainees

  • Proportion female/male trainees in Queensland

    63.4%
    male

    36.6%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 63.4%, Females are 36.6%.

  • 2023 QLD Training program selections (first year)

    26
    eligible

    26
    selected

    This doughnut chart shows the number of 2023 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year). 26 Eligible applications were received, 26 of those were selected.

Number of Queensland trainees 2015-2022

This line chart shows the trend of the number of Queensland trainees from 2015 to 2022. The data points are: 2015 - 71 trainees, 2016 - 104 trainees, 2017 - 85 trainees, 2018 - 76 trainees, 2019 - 75 trainees, 2020 - 157 trainees, 2021 - 158 trainees, 2022 - 142 trainees.

Hear about our training

Watch
4:02
Intensive Care Medicine Training in Northern Queensland
View transcript

What our staff have to say

Testimonial icon

Dr Mahesh Ramanan

Intensive Care Medicine Specialist
Caboolture Hospital

Intensive care medicine gives me the privilege of caring for the sickest of patients. The high illness severity and all the challenges that this brings utilises the entire breadth and depth of my accumulated medical knowledge. The specialty has an intense dedication to patient safety and quality that is unparalleled in medicine and allows me to pursue a combined clinical-academic career.

Training information

College

College of Intensive Care Medicine(CICM)

Length of training

6 years full-time

Method of allocation

College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:

  • Queensland Health pathway/network (centrally coordinated)
  • Queensland Health facility (accredited for training)

Program overview

Intensive care training incorporates both core training and transition training to achieve all required competencies and demonstrate all the values, attitudes and aptitudes required of a specialist in intensive care medicine. Trainees are required to complete a minimum of 6 months at PGY3 or above at a recognised rural training location. Upon completing all requirements of the training program, trainees may apply for admission to Fellowship of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (FCICM).

Training and assessment summary

The Queensland Intensive Care Training Pathway oversees the recruitment, selection and allocation of intensive care medicine trainees to accredited adult and paediatric intensive care units across Queensland. Trainees are appointed to a pathway training hospital for 6 to 12 months.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, have successfully completed a 12 month internship, have completed 6 months of supervised experience in a CICM accredited intensive care unit within the last 3 years and provide 3 structured references.

Flexibility

Minimum 40% of full-time commitment. Maximum of 12 years to complete all phases of training.

Interrupted training

Allowed however must be prospectively approved and will be individually assessed.

Training locations

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Last updated: September 2024