Professional Development & Career Planning

We have a holistic approach to training, because physician training is not just about exams. As a network, we pride ourselves on having excellent and supportive physicians across the three sites.  We offer excellent professional mentoring, exam preparation and support for those unforeseen life events. We also support trainees who decide to interrupt their training to have children.

Prior to staring your training at the South West Network, all trainees will have access to a BPT transition program that is run by the current trainees at St Vincent’s. This program runs through the basics of “how to be a medical registrar”. It also gives the future trainees opportunities to ask questions about night shifts, stroke calls and “what to do if/when…”.


All trainees will be paired up with a mentor for support and advice. Every year, we run a career information night where we invite guest speakers to talk about their career path and experiences in medicine. We cover topics ranging from salary, “how do I survive on a PhD salary” to career “blunders” and babies! We offer excellent professional mentoring, exam preparation and support for those unforeseen life events.

Prior to staring your training at the South West Network, all trainees will have access to a BPT transition program that is run by the current trainees at St Vincent’s. This program runs through the basics of “how to be a medical registrar”. It also gives the future trainees opportunities to ask questions about night shifts, stroke calls and “what to do if/when…”.

It also gives you an opportunity to ask current or previous trainees specific questions about the training, work, exams or where one can get the best cup of coffee. This session is held with a stroke-management session run by Dr Martin Jude from Wagga Wagga base hospital. Here you will also meet the DPE and NDPE and enjoy some lunch and meet other trainees who are about to start their BPT journey.

We ensure that our basic physician trainees all progress into their preferred advanced training pathways. This is achieved by providing individualized, active career planning. Rather than an exclusive focus on exam preparation, we support the development of a balanced excellence in teaching, leadership and research.

Finally, we have an excellent record of ensuring that our advanced trainees develop the necessary skills and experiences to enter their fellowship programs anywhere in the world. Our network of mentors open opportunities for advanced trainees to develop research interests at the Victor Chang and Kinghorn Institutes, or travel to internationally recognised centres.