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

This doughnut chart shows the proportion of applications recieved vs applicants selected. Eligible applications received is 115, Applicants selected is 54.

Number of Queensland and Australian specialists

542

Number of QLD specialists

2,904

Number of Australian specialists

Number of Queensland and Australian new fellows

37

Number of QLD new fellows

241

Number of Australian new fellows

Number of Queensland trainees and average work hours

398

Number of QLD trainees

39.7

Average weekly hours

Information on specialists

  • 542

    Number of QLD specialists

  • 37

    Number of QLD new fellows

  • 39.7 hours

    Average weekly hours QLD

  • 49 years

    Average age QLD

  • 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%
    male

    56.9%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 43.1%, Females are 56.9%.

  • Public vs Private

    28%
    private

    72%
    public

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of public and private specialists. Private is 28%, Public is 72%.

Information on trainees

  • 398

    Number of Queensland trainees

  • 64

    Number of new Queensland trainees

  • 2,017

    Number of Australian trainees

  • 326

    Number of new Australian trainees

  • Proportion female/male trainees in Queensland

    24.6%
    male

    75.4%
    female

    This 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
    eligible

    54
    selected

    This doughnut chart shows the number of 2023 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year). 115 Eligible applications were received, 54 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 - 287 trainees, 2016 - 301 trainees, 2017 - 314 trainees, 2018 - 326 trainees, 2019 - 357 trainees, 2020 - 354 trainees, 2021 - 420 trainees, 2022 - 398 trainees.

Hear about our training

Paediatrics Training in Northern Queensland
Duration: 04:05

Transcript for Paediatrics Training in Northern Queensland

[Peaceful music plays in the background]

[Text on screen] Specialty Training in Northern Queensland, Paediatrics

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

[Text on screen] Dr Guan Koh, Clinical Director of Neonatology.

I grew up in a town called Kuching the capital of Sarawak. Initially I wanted to be an ophthalmologist actually, but I got attracted to Paediatrics, so I trained as a paediatrician and then sub specialized in neonatal paediatrics, which is what I am now. It's a great privilege to be working with babies who have got the maximum potential in terms of contribution to life. I've looked after over 25,000 babies.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

[Text on screen] Dr Kirsty Devine, Consultant Neonatologist.

We look after an extremely large area of very rural and very remote communities. You can go to any hospital anywhere, in any developed country, and you can look after children with bronchiolitis, or kids with asthma, or children with diabetes. But you come up here, and suddenly you've got a whole different group of children that you're looking after with conditions that you have only read about in books before.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

[Text on screen] Dr Natalee Williamson, General Paediatrics, Advanced Trainee.

The lifestyle of paediatrics is attractive, the kids, the fun; you can't come to work grumpy because you'll have a really bad day because all the kids will be grumpy.

So the Basic Paediatric Training Network; there's three hubs in Queensland and Townsville is one of them, so that's the network I've gone through. But we actually now have a North Queensland Advanced Training Network for General Paediatrics as well. So you can actually now complete your Advanced Training in centres in North Queensland and not need to relocate.

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

We have about 850 babies coming through the uni. Trainees get a lot of hands-on experience and they end up doing a lot more practical procedures here than in the big centres.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

Every kid whose sick who walks in ED comes under our general paediatrics team so you see everything. But I think if you're in the city, a lot of the fascinating kids with pathologies that are a bit more rare, a bit more unique, get siphoned straight under the sub specialty teams. The other thing I get more here than I've got in other sites is you work with the same bosses all the time, you get to know them a lot better. Even as a junior register you have a lot of consultant contact.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

Townville Hospital runs a neonatal retrieval service. You get to take your intensive care services to an incredibly remote area where you're on your own, you have a consultant available by phone, and you really do get to put your training to the test.

>>> Dr Jason Yates:

[Text on screen] Dr Jason Yates, Paediatric Endocrinologist.

Your ability to do things without being handheld essentially, I think, is one of the big differences. When you work in a regional centre you have to make decisions, and you have to own them and you actually you become a lot closer to the families and the patients, and you're much more likely to have that continuity. You'll see a family for the first time you put a plan in place, and then you'll actually see them again and see you know have I actually made the right call. You get lots of positive stories that come out of that.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

You admit the child yourself, you review the child, you meet the family, you get to know them well, and you can call the boss from home, but you're essentially managing the kids. I think it's just really nice when they start getting better, and you realize you've actually made an impact, and you'll see them again in clinic in 6 weeks.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

I love mountain bike riding and I try after work a couple of times a week to get out on the trails just at the back of the hospital here. Reinforcing just how unique this place is. North Queensland is a tropical paradise.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

If you're wanting good core basic training so you can manage and recognize sick kids, I think North Queensland is a good option.

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

Enthusiasm, innovation, family-cantered, respectful, happy, and proud.

[Text on screen] Explore specialty training opportunities in northern Queensland. nqrth.edu.au

The Paediatric training network enables registrars to complete the majority of training in norther Queensland at Cairns, Mackay, Mount Isa and Townsville.

Paediatric advanced training can also be completed in northern Queensland.

This video was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Regional Training Hubs initiative. Produced in partnership with northern Queensland health care providers and James Cook University.

[James Cook University crest appears on screen] Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs. A network of medical training opportunities. nqrth.edu.au

End of transcript

What our staff have to say

Testimonial icon

Dr Andrew White

Director of Paediatrics
Townsville University Hospital

I trained in Adelaide and accidentally started working in paediatrics but found that I loved working with children and families and coordinating care for children with complicated medical problems. I was rotated North during training and developed a passion for work in regional Australia and in caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Since then, I have worked in the Northern Territory and North Queensland. Work in the North is much more exciting, rewarding, and with great, committed teams. I have been blessed to see and help many doctors grow and develop while training in paediatrics in North Queensland.

Training information

College

Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

Length of training

6 years full-time (3 years basic training, 3 years advanced training)

Method of allocation

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

  • Queensland Health pathway/network (centrally coordinated) (for optional 2 year program)
  • Queensland Health facility (accredited for training)

Program overview

The Queensland Basic Paediatric Training Network oversees the recruitment, selection and allocation for doctors intending to commence their first or second year of basic paediatric training in Queensland.

Training and assessment summary

General paediatrics advanced training may be undertaken following completion of requirements for basic training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). The general paediatrics training program incorporates work-based learning and assessment with successful trainees attaining the qualification of FRACP with accreditation to practise as a General Paediatrician in Australia or New Zealand.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold current medical registration, have completed RACP Basic Training (including Written and Clinical Examinations), and been appointed to an appropriate Advanced Training position.

Flexibility

Minimum 0.2 full-time equivalent commitment. Training program must be completed within 8 years.

Interrupted training

Allowed. Interruptions of more than 12 continuous months may require the development of a Return to Training Plan in collaboration with a supervisor and approval from the relevant training committee.

Training locations

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Last updated: May 2025

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