The Community Residency Program provides you with a well-supervised and supported General Practice placement at the same time as undertaking a hospital specialty. Generally, participants spend two to three days a week in an accredited General Practice and the remainder of their time in a hospital placement.

During your placement you will receive education and support from experienced clinical supervisors.  At the same time, you will have the opportunity to undertake a wide variety of responsibilities such as managing your own patients; ordering tests, prescribing, billing, developing clinical management plans and providing continuity of care across primary and secondary settings.

Why do a Community Residency?

Junior doctors who take advantage of our programs do so for a variety of reasons.  Some want to ‘test the waters’ of General Practice as a possible career option.  Some want to consolidate what is already a strong leaning towards specialising in General Practice.  Other participants have said that, although they don’t want to become GPs, they recognise the importance of a General Practice experience in enhancing their understanding of any specialist area they may pursue.

Community Residents and their training post supervisors can give you frank, ‘on the ground’ feedback about the benefits of doing a Community Residency.  Past participants in the program can also give you an idea of the type of work you will be doing and what you can expect in your placement.  You might like to have a look at, and a listen to, what some of them have say about their experiences in the Testimonials section on this site.

Who can apply?

Junior doctors employed by WA state government hospitals are eligible to apply for this Program.  The program has been set up primarily for junior doctors at PGY2 and above.

Information on eligibility requirements for Overseas Trained Doctors can be found in the FAQ section on this site.

How does it work?

When you undertake this program you will rotate out of your hospital into a General Practice training post for one or more hospital rotations. At the end of your Community Residency term you will simply rotate back to your hospital.

When you undertake a Community Residency you will remain employed by your tertiary hospital and continue to be paid by the hospital, accrue leave entitlements, etc. Your medical indemnity also continues to be met by your hospital.

The following hospital specialties are currently available as integrated placements with General Practice.

• Emergency
• Obstetrics
• Paediatrics
• Palliative Care
• Surgery
• Rural Generalist
• Dedicated Palliative Care rotations are also available

Placements can be undertaken in the following locations click here.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Community Residency Program for

• Junior Doctors
• Practices
• Hospitals
  

Testimonials

Comments from those who have been involved with the Community Residency Program.

• Testimonials from Supervisors
• Testimonials from Hospitals
• Testimonials from other organisations