Physicians
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians is a diverse and energetic organisation responsible for training, educating and representing over 330,000 medical specialists and trainee specialists from 33 different specialties across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The RACP is responsible for the training and assessment of doctors who have completed their medical degree and an internship at a hospital and wish to practice as physicians or paediatricians by undergoing further training through the RACP in order to specialise in a certain area of medicine. The RACP oversees their training, including positions in hospitals, and written and clinical examinations as well as providing a program of continuing professional development for Fellows of the RACP. Refer to ‘Training Pathways' and Continuing Professional Development for more information.
The RACP is responsible for training those who wish to become physicians or paediatricians. It is also responsible for providing a program of continuing professional development for Fellows of the College. Refer to Continuing Professional Development.
The RACP represents physicians and paediatricians by advocating on their behalf of physicians to governments, health organisations, medical colleges, consumer groups and to the general public.
The RACP believes it has a duty to better the health of all Australians and Aotearoa New Zealanders through development of health and social policy and advocating for its implementation. Refer to Policy and Advocacy for more information.
Common Questions about Physicians:
Q: How do physicians differ from specialists?
A: Physicians are often referred to as specialists, specialist physicians or consultant physicians and all these terms mean the same thing. All physicians may be referred to as specialists but not all specialists are physicians (for example, a surgeon is a specialist who has been trained in surgery and has been awarded Fellowship of the College of Surgeons).
Q: How do physicians differ from general practitioners (GP’s)?
A: In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, a physician is a specialist in internal medicine who diagnoses and manages complex medical problems. Physicians complete at least six additional years of training after their basic medical degree and internship to specialise in a particular area of medicine. Physicians manage the medical problems of adults while paediatricians focus on children and adolescents. A general practitioner may also complete additional training but that will be undertaken through the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners.
Some other countries, such as the United States, refer to all medical practitioners as physicians. In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand only specialists are referred to as physicians.
Q: Where do physicians work from?
A: Physicians work from many different types of workplaces including hospitals, private practice, from home offices, visiting workplaces, community medical centres, in research and in medical administration.
Q: How can a patient be managed by a physician?
A: Normally a patient’s GP will decide if they need to see a physician and will provide a letter of referral to the appropriate specialist for the condition. If a patient is admitted to hospital they may be managed by a physician from that hospital.