Specialty overview
Paediatricians provide high quality specialist services and comprehensive medical care to neonates, infants and children. Paediatricians provide care across a broad spectrum of common acute and chronic disorders, diseases, illness and associated health issues of a developmental and psychosocial nature.
Clinical practice
Paediatricians work within both public and private health care settings, as well as within primary care and community health sectors, to provide comprehensive care for their patients. Paediatricians are required to work collaboratively with a broad range of health professionals, including social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
Training and career options
Basic training
To become a paediatrician in Australia, you are required to undertake a minimum six-year training program.
The training program, delivered by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), will see you complete your first three years of Basic Training in Paediatrics and Child Health.
Basic Training focusses on developing core skills and knowledge, introducing each of the disciplines and provides a foundation for consolidation and further study with Advanced Training.
Advanced training
Upon completion of your Basic Training, you can select from a variety of Advanced Training programs that will allow you to specialise in a specific specialty area of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Your Advanced Training program will take approximately three years to complete.
Where could a career in Paediatrics and Child Health take you?
Some of the areas which you can specialise in Paediatrics and Child Health include:
- Clinical Genetics
- Community and Child Health
- General Paediatrics
- Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Paediatric Cardiology
- Paediatric Clinical Haematology
- Paediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy
- Paediatric Endocrinology
- Paediatric Gastroenterology
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases
- Paediatric Medical Oncology
- Paediatric Nephrology
- Paediatric Neurology
- Paediatric Emergency Medicine
- Paediatric Palliative Medicine
- Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
- Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
- Paediatric Rheumatology
You may decide that you want to specialise in more than one specialty area, and so you can choose to undertake multiple Advanced Training programs depending on your areas of interest. It’s not uncommon for paediatricians to be dual trained in General Paediatrics and Paediatric Endocrinology, for example, so you have the ability to expand your learning and create different career paths based on your interests and experience.
Key statistics
2023 QLD Training program selections(first year)
115
eligible
54
selected
Number of Queensland and Australian specialists
Number of Queensland and Australian new fellows
Number of Queensland trainees and average work hours
Information on specialists
-
Specialists over 60
This donut chart shows that 14% of specialists are aged over 60 years. -
Specialist intending to retire by 2032
This donut chart shows that 29% of 2022 workforce intend to retire by 2032. -
Location in Queensland
This donut chart shows the percentage of specialists by their location: 17.2% are located in regional Queensland, 81.8% are in major cities, and 1% are in remote regions. The chart highlights that a vast majority of specialists are based in major cities. -
Proportion Female/Male - QLD
43.1%
male56.9%
femaleThis doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 43.1%, Females are 56.9%. -
Public vs Private
28%
private72%
publicThis doughnut chart shows the proportion of public and private specialists. Private is 28%, Public is 72%.
Information on trainees
-
Proportion female/male trainees in Queensland
24.6%
male75.4%
femaleThis doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 24.6%, Females are 75.4%. -
2023 QLD Training program selections (first year)
115
eligible54
selectedThis doughnut chart shows the number of 2023 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year). 115 Eligible applications were received, 54 of those were selected.