Extended Skills - arranging placements - FAQs

• Most GP Registrars who choose to undertake Extended Skills will do this is in a regular hospital job, in an approved discipline and in an accredited hospital.
• GP Registrars arrange their own hospital jobs by liaising with Queensland Health or in some cases, by negotiating directly with the hospitals.
• To find out more about arranging a hospital placement please visit the CSQTC web page on arranging hospital jobs.
• GP Registrars who want a hospital placement to count towards their training as Extended Skills, should complete the 'Application for Approval of an Extended Skills Placement' - available on the Forms and Documents page.

• CSQTC works in conjunction with the Royal Children's Hospital to encourage GP Registrars in applying for 6 month Paediatric positions at the RCH.  RCH is responsible for the recruitment of doctors to these positions, but CSQTC is able to forward GP Registrar applications on their behalf.
• CSQTC also advertises Palliative Care positions at the Mt Olivet Hospital . These positions are considered to be in a hospital setting.  Mt Olivet is responsible for the recruitment of doctors to these positions.
• Please visit our Extended Skills opportunities page for further information.

• Each Extended Skills placement application for posts in community settings is approved individually, on a case-by-case basis, when the GP Registrar applies to CSQTC.
• CSQTC does not maintain a list of 'accredited' community Extended Skills posts as such, but does have information on placements that GP Registrars have previously undertaken and which may be suitable for future consideration.
• Some disciplines in which community posts have been previously approved include:
  
  • Chronic Disease Management
  • Family Planning
  • Immigrant and Refugee Health
  • Mental Health
  • Palliative care
  • Sexual Health
  • Skin/Dermatology
• Other disciplines may be approved on application. GP Registrars should discuss their interest in Extended Skills in a community setting with a Training Adviser.
• GP Registrars should apply to have their Extended Skills training approved via the 'Application for Approval of an Extended Skills Placement' - available on the Forms and Documents page.
• GP Registrars must have completed 6 months GP terms before an Extended Skills placement in a community post/special interest environment will be approved.
• From time to time, CSQTC will provide information on available community-based positions which may be suitable for Extended Skills posts - please visit our Extended Skills opportunities page for further information.

• GP Registrars can apply to undertake training for a period of 6 months in an Academic term as a Extended Skills post.
• Alternatively, GP Registrars can apply to undertake up to twelve months in an Academic General Practice Post, and this would be classified as "Z" units, not Extended Skills.
• The purpose of the academic post is to enable GP Registrars to develop skills in research, teaching, project work and critical evaluation of research relevant to the discipline of general practice that will be of use throughout their careers and that will contribute to knowledge exchange and development.
• GP Registrars must have completed their fist 6 months GP Terms to be eligible to apply for an Academic post.

• General Practice Education & Training (GPET) calls for applications twice a year for posts to commence in January or July. Applications are called for in February each year with a closing date of mid-March. A second round is called in August with a closing date of mid-September. All dates for opening and closing rounds can be found in the GPET calendar on the AGPT website.
• Prior to submitting a formal application, GP Registrars who are interested in an Academic post can:
  • Investigate possible options with their RTP and a university department of general practice, rural health or a rural clinical school (RTPs and universities will sometimes advertise Academic posts as they come up).
  • Contact Gaye Doolan at GPET who may also be able to assist GP Registrars in finding or choosing a university department of supervisor.
• For more comprehensive information on how to arrange an Academic posts please refer to the Checklist in the Academic Posts - Information Guide on the Academic Registrars page on the AGPT website.  Contact details for Gaye Doolan can also be found here.

• Rural Pathway GP Registrars are generally only eligible to undertake Extended Skills placements in a non-RA 2-5 area when it is for a placement in a hospital setting.
• CSQTC would not normally support a Rural Pathway GP Registrar completing Extended Skills in community-based metropolitan posts where there are equivalent posts or experiences available in rural areas.

• GP Registrars who complete their Extended Skills in a general practice will arrange their placements just as they have done for their GP terms in months 13-18 of general practice (or Subsequent GP Terms).
• Please refer to the web page Arranging GP placements - Months 13-18 in General Practice for more information.

• All training placements must be prospectively approved.
• For placements in a hospital setting which is accredited by the RACGP or PMC, all that is needed is for a Registrar to complete and submit the Extended Skills learning plan which is the last page of the Extended Skills application form.
• For placements in a general practice setting, Extended Skills must be in a CSQTC accredited training practice. Placements are arranged as they would be for GPT 3 placements. In order to have this placement approved as Extended Skills, all that is needed is for a Registrar to complete and submit the Extended Skills learning plan which is the last page of the Extended Skills application form.
• For placements in a hospital or community setting which is not accredited by the RACGP or PMC, and for placements in an Academic Post, the full Extended Skills application form must be completed.
• For more information about Extended Skills Posts, including the Application form, please see our web page GP Registrars in Extended Skills.
• If you need to organise an Extended Skills placement, it may be time for you to consider having a Training Adviser meeting with a CSQTC Medical Educator – please contact our Registrar and Practice Services Administrative Assistant to organise one.

• Please refer to the FAQ page which gives a general overview on Extended Skills Training.
• CSQTC's policy on Extended Skills Training on our Training Policies page. 
• The section on our website for GP Registrars in Extended Skills.
• The Forms and Documents page for the Application Form.