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Purpose and Mission
An Occupational Health Specialist – also known as an Occupational Physician or as a specialist in occupational medicine – is an expert in the relationship between work and health. He/she deals with both aspects of this relationship – the impact of health on work and the impact of work on health. Not only physical issues, but also chemical, biological and psycho-social ones, form the occupational physician’s knowledge base.
For Occupational Health Specialists who choose to work in clinics or hospitals dealing with individual patients, the job involves assessing, diagnosing and managing individuals who are suffering conditions that affect their ability to work. These conditions range from temporary injuries to permanent disabilities.
For specialists who take on advisory positions, the role involves assessing workplaces and making suggestions for risk minimisation. This job means considering the perspectives of all parties – from employees to employers. It is also possible to work in research, investigating the experiences and needs of contemporary workplaces and workers.
Educational Requirements
Becoming an Occupational Health Specialist begins with medical training. This can be achieved through taking a double degree over 5 or 6 years, known as a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Alternatively, individuals with an undergraduate degree (in any field) can opt to take a general medical degree over 4 years. On completion of study, graduates must then train in a hospital for a minimum of twelve months.
The final step in becoming an Occupational Physician involves training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). This course, completed in the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM), takes three-and-a-half years, and is undertaken in a variety of community settings.
Steps for becoming an Occupational Physician in Australia
Refer to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) for more information.
Registration
Each and every doctor practicing in Australia, whether trained in Australia or overseas, must register with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Key Skills
An Occupational Physician must understand health and medicine from a variety of perspectives. He/she must be able to synthesise an extensive knowledge of traditional medicine with other factors, such as those influencing the emotions and the environment. Furthermore, the occupational health field is constantly evolving – workplaces, technology and medicine are advancing with increasing rapidity. So a specialist in occupational medicine must be willing and able to keep up with developments, through study and training whenever necessary.
Whether a specialist decides to work with patients directly, in clinics and hospitals, or in an advisory context, dealing with workplaces and other organisations, he/she must have excellent listening, speaking and analytical skills. The relationship between good health, workplaces, employees and employers can be incredibly complex. An occupational physician must be able to consider each situation on an individual basis, taking into account a range of needs and circumstances.
