COVID-related absences in 2023

With COVID-19 mandatory isolation rules relaxed across Australia and fewer interns requiring access to COVID-19 flexibility, the Board has reduced its previous COVID-19 flexibility for 2023 interns, while acknowledging that interns may need to take leave for COVID-19 related illness or to isolate.

The Board expects that interns will complete the core terms and 47 weeks full-time equivalent (FTE) accredited supervised practice, unless they had to take genuine COVID-19 related leave (for COVID-19 illness or to isolate).

The 2023 changes apply to interns who started their internship from 1 November 2022. Interns:

• who had to take COVID-19 related leave (for COVID-19 illness or to isolate) are required to complete at least 45 weeks FTE supervised clinical experience (up to two weeks less than the standard 47 weeks required), and
• must complete the accredited core terms.

The intern will need to provide details of when the leave was taken and the reason for the leave.

For the purpose of granting general registration at the end of the intern year, the Board will accept a report from the Director of Medical Services, Director of Training or another person authorised to sign off intern reports which confirms that each intern has performed satisfactorily during the intern year.

The Medical Board of Australia has changed requirements for 2023 interns who had to take genuine COVID-19 related leave (for COVID-19 illness or to isolate) .

Interns who have taken additional leave that was not directly related to COVID-19 must meet the requirements in the registration standard Granting general registration as a medical practitioner to Australian and New Zealand medical graduates on completion of intern training. Interns must complete:

1. at least 47 weeks full-time equivalent service
2. all accredited core terms with a minimum of:
   1. ten weeks in surgery
   2. ten weeks in medicine
   3. eight weeks in emergency medical care, and
   4. a range of other approved terms to make up a minimum of 47 weeks full-time equivalent service.

The Medical Board of Australia (the Board) has not reduced the length of the intern year. It has reduced the minimum supervised clinical experience required of interns who have taken leave for genuine COVID-related absences to at least 45 weeks, from the standard 47 weeks, to allow for sick leave and isolation.

Interns are still required to complete the core rotations.

When the period of supervised practice has been less than 47 weeks, but at least 45, the intern will need to explain the reasons for the shortfall. Having to take sick leave or to isolate as a result of COVID-19 are acceptable reasons for reducing the period of supervised practice.

The Board will not approve applications for general registration earlier than the usual intern completion date. The Board expects interns to continue their internship for 12 months before they can apply for general registration.

No. For medical interns who started their internship before 31 October 2022, the 2022 COVID-19 changes will continue to apply. The 2022 changes are:

1. For interns who have been directly affected by COVID-19 (had to take COVID-related leave for illness or to isolate):
• must complete at least 40 weeks FTE supervised service (up to seven weeks less than the standard 47 weeks required)
• can gain their clinical experience in accredited and non-accredited positions
• do not have to meet the requirement for the usual rotations of medicine, surgery and emergency medical care. The Board will accept clinical experience in any supervised rotations.



The intern will need to provide details of when the leave was taken and the reason for the leave.

2. For interns who have been redeployed as a direct result of COVID-19:
• must complete at least 47 weeks FTE service
• can gain their clinical experience in accredited and non-accredited positions
• do not have to meet the requirement for the usual rotations of medicine, surgery and emergency medical care. The Board will accept clinical experience in any supervised rotations.



The Board may request confirmation from the employing health service that the redeployment was the result of COVID-19.

The Board expects interns will complete the core terms and 47 weeks accredited FTE supervised practice unless they were directly affected by COVID-19.

For the purpose of granting general registration at the end of the intern year, the Board will continue to accept a report from the Director of Medical Services, Director of Training or another person authorised to sign off intern reports which confirms that each intern has performed satisfactorily during the intern year.