Sexual Health Medicine

Sexual health medicine is the specialised area of medical practice concerned with healthy sexual relations, including freedom from sexually transmissible infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, coercion, and physical or psychological discomfort associated with sexuality. A Sexual Health Medicine physician works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to improve the sexual health outcomes of the individual and the community by identifying and minimising sexual health issues through education, behaviour change, advocacy, screening, clinical service provision, surveillance and research.

Minimum Time to Completion: 7 years from graduation

Details

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements

There are two pathways of entry into Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine:

RACP Basic Training

Trainees can apply for Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine after completing RACP Basic Training, including passing the Divisional Written and Clinical Examinations.
They must hold a current medical registration and have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position at a suitable training site.

Already a Fellow of another College

Trainees may apply to enter Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine after obtaining Fellowship of another College (e.g. Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners). They must have current medical registration and appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position at a suitable training site.

Most applicants will be eligible through Fellowship of one of the Colleges listed below. Fellows of other Colleges may also apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Australasian College of Dermatologists (FACD)
Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FAFPHM)
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM)
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS – urology)
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRANZCOG)
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP)
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA)
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP)
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Division of Rural Hospital Medicine (RNZCGP)

New and current trainees need to apply for Advanced Training each year.

Application Process

Applicants must hold a current medical registration and have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position at a suitable training site.

Program Structure

Trainees undergo 36 months of certified training time.

After 36 months of certified training time, you will have completed:

6 months (equivalent) of reproductive health training
6 months (equivalent) of HIV medicine training
9 months minimum of female sexual health training
9 months minimum of male sexual health training
6 months of elective training (optional)
1 x Advanced Training Research Project (trainees who commenced in 2017 onwards)
1 x Sexual Health Medicine Research Project (trainees who commenced before 2017)
1 x AChSHM Exit Assessment
1 x HIV medicine logbook
1 x Reproductive health logbook
1 x Logbook for any 6-month elective undertaken (recommended)
Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course (trainees who commenced 2023 onwards)
Formal study requirements:
- Fertility regulation
- Epidemiology
- HIV medicine
- Laboratory methods

Fees

Annual Fee:

AUD $3,911.00 (reduced fee of 50% for trainees in research)

Exam Fee:

Written examinations: AUD $2,153.00
Basic Training Clinical Examination: AUD $3,221.00
Faculty Clinical Examinations: AUD $3,221.00

Admission to Fellowship Fee:

AUD $1,456.00

Useful Resources / Courses / Conferences

Attendance at Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) events
Research relevant to sexual health medicine or related fields
PhD
Fellowship in sexual health medicine

Key Information

PGY Intake Year (earliest)

PGY5

Training Duration (minimum)

3 years FTE

General Progression

Note that this represents one of the quickest routes to specialty training, and may not reflect additional HMO or unaccredited years of training.

Year 1

Internship

Year 2

BPT1

Year 3

BPT2

Year 4

BPT3

Year 5

Commence Sexual Health Medicine Advanced Training

Part Time Option: Yes

Last Updated: December 4, 2024

The information found in this portal has been painstakingly collated by JMOs for JMOs, and is intended as a career progression guide for every aspiring JMO. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information presented on this website, but recent changes made by Specialist Medical Colleges may not be reflected in real time; please consult with the respective Specialist Medical College websites for the latest information. PMCV and JMO Victoria accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. Please feel free to contact our team with suggestions or comments via the feedback form.