Having birthing services in the bush is essential to the third of Australians’ who live in the country.

Working along with midwives, rural doctors may elect to undertake further training in obstetrics to manage either low risk deliveries (normal vaginal delivery, instrumental delivery) or perform complicated obstetrics (Caesarean section, operative gynaecological procedures).

Training is through the Diploma of Royal Austraian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, with either DRANZCOG (Basic) or DRANZCOG (Advanced).

This involves 6 or 12 months training (for basic and advanced diplomas respectively) in an accredited training hospital, plus successful completion of a case-based competency logbook, then passes in both written examination and OSCE examinations.