Melbourne.—The practice of paediatrics in Australia has developed on the British model, with the training of paediatricians in major teaching hospitals to carry out a consultant practice. Fifty years ago, paediatrics was practised by general practitioners who had a major interest in children's illnesses. Later, physicians in adult medicine developed the field of paediatrics. Subsequently, a qualifying diploma was required in adult internal medicine, and physicians were obliged to arrange their own largely unsupervised training in disease of childhood. Over the past ten years, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, in consultation with the Australian Paediatric Association, has conducted diploma examinations in paediatrics, and these have become the necessary specialist qualification. The final and rational development in training of paediatricians has only come to fruition in the last year; candidates are now required, in addition, to complete a satisfactory training programme in an accredited hospital.
Development of training programmes