Intensive Care Medicine

Intensive care medicine specialists provide comprehensive clinical management of critically ill patients experiencing severe medical, surgical, obstetric and paediatric illnesses.

Intensive care medicine gives me the privilege of caring for the sickest of patients. The high illness severity and all the challenges that this brings utilises the entire breadth and depth of my accumulated medical knowledge.

The specialty has an intense dedication to patient safety and quality that is unparalleled in medicine and allows me to pursue a combined clinical-academic career.

Dr Mahesh Ramanan
Intensive Care Medicine Specialist

Clinical Practice

Intensive care medicine specialists work predominately within the public health sector to provide care for patients with life-threatening single and multiple organ system failure, patients who are at risk of clinical deterioration as well as patients requiring resuscitation or management in an intensive care unit or high dependency unit. Intensive care medicine specialists are also involved in the transport and retrieval of critically ill patients, and are experts in end-of-life care, the diagnosis of brain death and care and support of the organ donor.

Intensive Care Medicine – Information

Number of specialists - QLD (2021)

Number of new fellows - QLD

Number of specialists - AUS (2021)

Number of new fellows - AUS

Average weekly hours
QLD

Average Age
QLD

% Aged 60+
QLD

33% of 2022 workforce intend to retire by 2032

Proportion Female/Male - QLD

Male
Female

Location - QLD

Regional
Major cities

Public/Private QLD

Private
Public

Number of trainees - QLD

Number of new trainees - QLD

Number of trainees - AUS

Number of new trainees - AUS

Proportion Female/Male trainees - QLD

Female
Male

2023 QLD Training Program Selections (First Year)

Eligible Applications Received
Applicants Selected

The data on this page compares the number of applicants that were selected to commence their first year of training in Queensland in 2023 to the total number of eligible applications*

The data was sourced from the relevant medical specialist college, or from selection committees coordinated by a Queensland Health pathway/network, or an individual facility.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This data reflects a point in time figure for the selection of applicants commencing the first year of an accredited training program in the 2023 clinical year.

* eligible applications are determined by selection committees according to the eligibility criteria and required documentation prescribed by the relevant medical specialist college.

The data on this page compares the number of applicants that were selected to commence their first year of training in Queensland in 2023 to the total number of eligible applications.

See more.

Length of Training

6 years full-time

Method of Allocation

College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:

  • College
  • Queensland Health pathway/network (centrally coordinated)
  • Queensland Health facility (accredited for training)

Training and assessment summary

The Queensland Intensive Care Training Pathway oversees the recruitment, selection and allocation of intensive care medicine trainees to accredited adult and paediatric intensive care units across Queensland. Trainees are appointed to a pathway training hospital for 6 to 12 months.

Training program overview

Intensive care training incorporates both core training and transition training to achieve all required competencies and demonstrate all the values, attitudes and aptitudes required of a specialist in intensive care medicine. Trainees are required to complete a minimum of 6 months at PGY3 or above at a recognised rural training location. Upon completing all requirements of the training program, trainees may apply for admission to Fellowship of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (FCICM).

Eligibility

Applicants must hold general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, have successfully completed a 12 month internship, have completed 6 months of supervised experience in a CICM accredited intensive care unit within the last 3 years and provide 3 structured references.

Flexibility

Minimum 40% of full-time commitment. Maximum of 12 years to complete all phases of training.

Interrupted training

Allowed however must be prospectively approved and will be individually assessed.

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Regional Training Pathways