Education

Prevocational doctors program (PGY1)

We provide ‘postgraduate year 1’ (PGY1) doctors with well-structured and highly supportive teaching, training, and clinical experiences.

About our program

In 2026, Austin Health will have 65 PGY1 (internship) positions available, including one position dedicated to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidate.

At Austin Health, our PGY1 program is developed to provide you with well-structured and highly supportive teaching, training and clinical experiences that will enable you to consolidate and develop both your clinical knowledge and technical skills.  

Key to the continued success of our program is the support and care we provide to our PGY1s throughout the year and in the early but vital introduction period to working in the public health and hospital system.

Austin Health provides a comprehensive 5-day orientation and ongoing education program for all our PGY1s, and have well supported peer and mentor programs in place to support the transition from medical student to PGY1.

We also have in place a unique role for our PGY1s; the PGY1 support officer. This well thought of position provides "real-time" support to our PGY1s in their first week of after-hours and weekend work from a colleague who has just completed their PGY1 year, and so understands all the jobs that an PGY1 needs to do as well as the likely questions and anxieties a new intern may have.

Information session

Watch the recording of the information session held on 15 April 2025

How to apply

Check your eligibility

Before you apply for a PGY1 prevocational internship at Austin Health, please make sure you meet the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) eligibility criteria. You can check your eligibility on the PMCV website:

Application guide

Links and downloads

Important dates

Application stage Date
Applications open 6 May 2025
Applications close 5 June 2025
PMCV Video Interview - VRPA and VIA Group 4 candidates only 6 to 8 June 2025
PMCV first offer period commences 16 July 2025
PMCV second offer period commences 14 August 2025 
PMCV third (final) offer period commences 18 September 2025

Learning opportunities

Under the new National Framework for Prevocational Doctors, your internship must include experiences in:

  • undifferentiated patients (e.g emergency department)
  • chronic or complex care (e.g. general medicine, aged care)
  • acute or critical medicine (many speciality areas)
  • procedural or perioperative care (e.g. surgical, perioperative medicine)

PGY1 Prevocational Intern Rotations

Rotations 

At Austin Health we offer rotations in:

  • General medicine
  • General surgery
  • Emergency medicine

Speciality rotations

Speciality rotations offered include:

  • Aged care
  • Endocrinolgy/Rheumatology
  • Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Unit
  • Neurology/Stroke
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiology
  • Spinal medicine
  • Cardiothoracic
  • ENT
  • Orthopaedics
  • Vascular
  • Urology

Affiliated hospitals

  • Echuca Regional Health - General Medicine and Emergency Medicine
  • Mildura Base Public Hospital – General medicine and Emergency Medicine