Specialty overview

Medical administrators undertake a diverse leadership role, utilising medical and clinical knowledge, skills and judgement to manage hospitals or health services, clinical workforces and capital investments as well as to oversee policy development, budgets and clinical support services. Medical administrators are often also required to manage medico legal and performance issues relating to clinical services and medical staff.

Clinical practice

Medical administrators work across a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, in both the public and private sector. Medical administrators may be employed by public or private health services, government departments, education institutions as well as pharmaceutical and technological companies.

Key statistics

2026 QLD Training program selections(first year)

12
eligible

12
selected

This doughnut chart shows the proportion of applications recieved vs applicants selected. Eligible applications received is 12, Applicants selected is 12.

Number of Queensland and Australian specialists

100

Number of QLD specialists

384

Number of Australian specialists

Number of Queensland and Australian new fellows

3

Number of QLD new fellows

16

Number of Australian new fellows

Number of Queensland trainees and average work hours

80

Number of QLD trainees

36.9

Average weekly hours

Information on specialists

  • 100

    Number of QLD specialists

  • 3

    Number of QLD new fellows

  • 36.9 hours

    Average weekly hours QLD

  • 54 years

    Average age QLD

  • Specialists over 60

    This donut chart shows that 36% of specialists are aged over 60 years.

  • Specialist intending to retire by 2034

    This donut chart shows that 57% of 2024 workforce intend to retire by 2034.

  • Location in QLD

    This donut chart shows the percentage of specialists by their location: 19.7% are located in regional QLD, 83% are in major cities, and 0% are in remote areas. The chart highlights that a vast majority of specialists are based in major cities.

  • Proportion Female/Male - QLD

    63.9%
    male

    36.1%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 63.9%, Females are 36.1%.

  • Public vs Private

    12.6%
    private

    87.4%
    public

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of public and private specialists. Private is 12.6%, Public is 87.4%.

Information on trainees

  • 80

    Number of QLD trainees

  • 12

    Number of new QLD trainees

  • 261

    Number of Australian trainees

  • 43

    Number of new Australian trainees

  • Proportion female/male trainees in QLD

    51%
    male

    49%
    female

    This doughnut chart shows the proportion of males and females. Males are 49%, Females are 51%.

  • 2026 QLD Training program selections (first year)

    12
    eligible

    12
    selected

    This doughnut chart shows the number of 2026 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year). 12 Eligible applications were received, 12 of those were selected.

Number of QLD trainees 2016-2026

This line chart shows the trend of the number of QLD trainees from 2016 to 2026. The data points are: 2016 - 33 trainees, 2017 - 28 trainees, 2018 - 39 trainees, 2019 - 32 trainees, 2020 - 54 trainees, 2021 - 45 trainees, 2022 - 42 trainees, 2023 - 49 trainees, 2024 - 52 trainees, 2025 - 70 trainees, 2026 - 80 trainees.

What our staff have to say

Testimonial icon

Dr Alisha Thomson

Medical Administration Registrar
Townsville University Hospital

I stumbled across medical administration through my advocacy for improved working conditions for myself and my colleagues. A role model suggested that I should seek to be part of the solution. Medical administration offers opportunities to be involved in medical leadership in various areas and across multiple settings.

Testimonial icon

Dr John Hodge

Director of Medical Services, Medical Workforce
Townsville University Hospital

Medical administration is a fascinating specialty and not often thought of by new graduates. It gives you a great set of skills which can be applied across a wide range of settings. For me, this included as a medical officer in the military (both in Australia and overseas), as a medical admin registrar in a major metropolitan hospital, as a country hospital medical superintendent, as a disaster team leader at the Sydney Olympics, as a clinical evaluator with the Therapeutic Drugs Administration, as a private hospital Director of Medical Services and finally as the Director of Medical Services Workforce in a regional university teaching hospital.

Training information

College

Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)

Length of training

3 years full-time

Method of allocation

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

  • College

Training and assessment summary

For detailed information in relation to training and assessment requirements, please contact RACMA.

Training program overview

Medical administration training consists of advanced training only and is governed by the Medical Leadership and Management Curriculum developed by the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA). The curriculum aims to produce medical practitioners who use both their clinical training and experience and their specialist medical management expertise to lead and influence health service delivery. Upon completing all requirements of the training program, trainees may apply for election to Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA)

Eligibility

Applicants must hold general registration (unconditional) with the Medical Board of Australia, demonstrate a minimum of 3 years full time clinical experience involving direct patient care and be in a RACMA accredited training post or a post that is likely to qualify as a training post.

Flexibility

Minimum 50% of full-time commitment. Training must be completed within 10 years.

Interrupted training

Allowed up to a maximum of 2 years, however only 12 months of leave can be approved at a time.

Training locations

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Last updated: February 2026

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