Network

The RPA BPT Network comprises six hospitals which provide trainees with a diverse clinical exposure within clinical medicine. Basic Physician Trainees in the RPA Network rotate through a number of these clinical settings and enjoy a wide variety of training opportunities.
Our network operates on the two models shown below. Trainees in their first year are offered 6 months to secondment at Network sites (2 x 3-month terms) then 6 months at RPA (2 x 3-month terms), or vice versa; during this time trainees benefit from our virtual professional development and teaching program. From the second year onward, trainees are seconded to our network sites outside of RPA for the first 6 months (2 x 3-month terms). They then return to RPA for the next 12 months (4 x 3-month terms) to take advantage of the structured training program for the RACP Written and Clinical Examinations. They will then complete their training with 6 months (2 x 3-month terms) on secondment once again.

Our hospitals include:

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
RPAH is a large, tertiary referral hospital in the inner west of Sydney. It remains one of the nation's most respected hospitals with a distinguished history of pioneering healthcare advances in Australia and serving the health needs of local, state, national and international communities. It is a major teaching hospital of the University of Sydney and offers a comprehensive range of clinical subspecialty exposure.

RPAH offers rotations to Basic Physician Trainees in a broad range of clinical specialties including:

Cardiology
Respiratory
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Nephrology
Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Geriatrics
Drug Health/Clinical Pharmacology
Intensive Care Medicine
Rheumatology
Endocrinology
Palliative Care
Medical Oncology (Lifehouse)
Haematology

In addition, we are privileged to offer a relatively unique exposure to a number of sub-specialised areas including:

Liver Transplantation
Cystic Fibrosis
Renal Transplantation
Bone Marrow Transplantation

Trainees also have the opportunity to complete a medical oncology rotation at the affiliated Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, a world-class, comprehensive cancer centre.

Bankstown Hospital
Bankstown -Lidcombe Hospital is an acute, metropolitan general hospital with a large catchment area of southwestern Sydney, home to a diverse and multicultural population. It is a teaching hospital of the University of NSW and offers trainees a metropolitan, yet vastly different and valuable clinical experience outside of RPAH. A dedicated, site-specific training program, catering to the stage-specific needs of trainees is provided which is an important addition to the training program at RPAH.
It offers an excellent range of specialty terms including:

Cardiology
Respiratory
Gastroenterology
Haematology
Rheumatology
Neurology
Geriatrics
Infectious Diseases
Medical Oncology

Balmain Hospital
Situated 10 minutes from RPAH, Balmain Hospital is a community-based healthcare facility dedicated to aged care, rehabilitation and general medicine. A unique General Practice Casualty operates from the site and is coordinated in conjunction with local doctors and the Division of General Practice. It receives the majority of its inpatients from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and maintains close historical and clinical links. Basic Physician Trainees on secondment can gain exposure to geriatric and rehabilitation medicine and the hospital remains a pivotal part of the training program

Dubbo Base Hospital
Located 5 hours west of Sydney, Dubbo Base Hospital is a major regional teaching hospital of the University of Sydney, providing an outstanding exposure to general medicine and specialist care in a rural context. Basic Physician Trainees rotate through formal general medicine, cardiology and nephrology rotations, but also have access to specialist clinicians and ambulatory medicine in the fields of gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, oncology and neurology.

Bathurst Base Hospital
Located 3 hours west of Sydney, Bathurst Base Hospital is a major regional teaching hospital of Western Sydney University. It is a shared secondment site with the Nepean BPT Network and trainees from both networks are provided a rich exposure to general medicine in both inpatient and outpatient settings. With general physicians who are trained in cardiology, nephrology and gastroenterology sub-specialties, trainees have a wide variety of learning opportunities in both general and subspecialty medicine in a rural setting.

Alice Springs Hospital
The RPA Network is privileged to have a 'remote' rural attachment at Alice Springs Hospital. Whilst a major regional hospital, it provides access to a unique caseload and patient population and thus provides opportunities for learning that few Basic Physician Training programs can provide. In addition, Alice Springs Hospital offers a distinctive cultural experience to complement an excellent clinical training and exposure.