Teaching on the Run | Community Placements | New Zealand Exchange Program
New Zealand Exchange Program
The Postgraduate Medical Council supports an exchange program for RMOs in Western Australia to rural hospitals in New Zealand – Gisborne, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Whangarei.
| IMPORTANT – Please read below |
PMCWA understands that the NZ Exchange Program is valuable and beneficial for both sides however for the year 2008, the Program is unable to be centrally organised. However individually organised exchanges can still occur and these will need to be arranged directly between the relevant hospitals through their Medical Education Officers. PMCWA will aim to reintroduce centrally coordinated exchanges for 2009 subject to demand and will ensure that the administrative process that is in place will be able to address issues that have been found to be important such as the applicant’s eligibility for registration and adequate resourcing. |
Why an exchange program?
The Medical Training Review Panel recommends that all postgraduate medical training include at least one rural term in either a hospital or community setting. In Western Australia, this goal poses some problems due to the concentration of population in the Perth metropolitan area and the relatively small number of rural positions available for pre-vocational doctors.
Who is eligible to apply for an exchange?
The NZ Exchange Program is available to pre-vocational junior doctors with unconditional (general) registration in their PGY2 year.
When do exchanges occur?
Exchange dates will be arranged to fit in with the NZ terms (March - May, June - August and September - November). Exchanges will only be arranged if New Zealand doctors of equivalent level are interested in coming to Perth.
What accommodation is available?
Accommodation is available at reasonable rental rates. Some exchangees elect to find accommodation off campus.
What are the financial implications?
The Postgraduate Medical Council covers the cost of medical registration in New Zealand. All other costs are to be met by the exchangee.
How do I apply for an exchange?
The program is co-ordinated by the Postgraduate Medical Council. If you are interested in experiencing health care delivery in rural New Zealand, you should write to the Coordinator, Postgraduate Medical Council. While your expression of interest should be forwarded at the same time as you are applying for your second year position (August), later applications can often be considered due to circumstances changing for individual applicants.
Your letter should be brief but include your reasons for seeking an exchange position.
For more information
Further details about the NZ Exchange Program can be obtained from the Postgraduate Medical Council.
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