Training

The Training Programme provides the opportunity and guidance for Registrars to develop the competencies required for public health physcians to undertake a broad variety of roles and challenges while practising public health medicine. These roles include the following:

Medical Officer of Health
Recognised as the traditional role, The Medical Officer of Health is required to work as part of a team alongside other public health professionals to protect and promote the health of that community.

Policy Advisors
Working on a variety of regulatory and health matters spanning both personal and population health, the role encompasses service development and planning of programmes.

Leadership and Management
Roles within the health sector that focus on population-based services and personal health treatment services.

Public Health Physicians
Operating as part of a multidisciplinary workforce which takes a Public Health approach and which exists to improve health. The workforce does this by advising communities on actions that can be taken to improve their health (based on appropriate research), protecting populations from environmental and biological hazards, and by assessing populations’ needs for health services.

Research and Teaching
These roles require a high level of epidemiology expertise.

Registration

The New Zealand Training Programme in Public Health Medicine requires Registrars to vocationally undertake appropriate training and pass prescribed assessments.

Full time training (with no exemption for past experience)

·       Basic Training                     16 months 

Requires completion of Masters in Public Health as prescribed by The College

·       Advanced Training               29 months

Undertaken vocationally at a variety of sites to achieve defined core skills and competencies.

Note:  Registrars are required to achieve the New Zealand Public Health Medicine Competencies by completion of training, with assessment undertaken throughout the Training Programme.

 

Standards

The overall standards of the Training Programme, and competencies that Registrars must achieve, are defined by the College. Throughout the period of training, the College monitors the quality of the Training Programme, and the achievements and standards of individual Registrars. The Training Programme itself is delivered by the New Zealand Population Health Charitable Trust, with funding from the Health Workforce New Zealand.

 

Acceptance to the Training Programme

Applicants must:-

·       Hold current general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand; have a current Annual Practising Certificate; have two years post graduation experience and hold New Zealand permanent residency.

·       Undertake Basic Training by completion of a Masters in Public Health to the standard required by the College, as well as participation in other training activities.

·       Undertake Advanced Training by employment at approved training sites for a minimum period, as well as participation in other relevant training activities outside the work site.

·       Achieve the New Zealand Public Health Medicine Competencies and successfully pass all assessments.

 

Completion

Having completed the Training Programme, successful candidates are eligible to apply for Fellowship from the College.  Application to the Medical Council of New Zealand for vocational registration in Public Health Medicine enables them to practice independently in this branch of medicine.

Opportunities for Public Health Physicians to make significant contributions to the health and well-being of our society are expected to increase. It is the aim of the Trust to ensure they are well prepared to take on these responsibilities.