Objectives
Running from 2024 through 2025 and supported through FATES funding (Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings), this project endeavours to:
- Identify accreditation pathways that support regional based pain medicine training.
- Consider for approval a preferred accreditation pathway to support rural training.
- Aim to visit and accredit several rural/regional based sites by the end of 2025.
Update
Following consultations in 2024 and informed by a review of Australian and international literature, several flexible options for flexible accreditation for pain medicine were developed by the faculty and approved for pilot in regional units.
The flexible options were designed to align with the current standards that the faculty applies to all FPM-accredited pain units, ensuring both metro and regional units equally provide a high-quality service and training environment.
Throughout 2025, rural and regional Australian pain units were invited to apply for accreditation to be part of this pilot as either a Level 1 or PDS unit.
The faculty is no longer taking applications as part of the 2025 pilot, however we encourage regional units to contact us if they have any questions about their unit or flexible options they may be considering in their setting.
The flexible options
Regional units part of the pilot had the option to apply for accreditation with a combination of one or more of the following options. The FPM Training Unit Accreditation Committee oversaw the accreditation process and determined the accreditation of units based on their published standards and procedures.
- Training locations and networks.
- Supervision arrangements (more applicable for units applying for PDS accreditation).
- Onsite and telehealth-provided multidisciplinary team members.
- Scope of pain medicine practice, enabling sites to adapt to the regional context.
More detail can be found below.
Collectively, a training network is linked to the outcomes of the specialist medical training program. Units applying as part of the pilot may comprise of:
- Individual hospital/health service (one site).
- Network of hospitals/health services (up to four sites).
Considering blended remote supervision or remote supervision models, which are more applicable to PDS accreditation. Examples may include but are not limited to:
- FPM Fellow onsite supplemented by senior medical staff or consultants of a related specialty, e.g. rehabilitation, anaesthetics per training network.
- FPM Fellow onsite supplemented by remote supervision.
- FPM Fellow supervision provided as part of the training network but not based locally. A placement supervisor provides day to day clinical supervision.
Supplementing the available onsite multidisciplinary team with telehealth options where required:
- Onsite.
- A blend of onsite and telehealth.
- Telehealth option.
Flexing training opportunities around trainees – resources (infrastructure, supervision and supporting health professionals) are identified and drawn in to facilitate a training experience tailored to the individual trainee. This may be time-limited to the specific trainee. Examples include:
- Exposure to all aspects of pain medicine at one site.
- Exposure to all aspects of pain medicine across a group of sites collectively.
- Optional rotations/placements in major tertiary teaching hospitals to tailor the training experience around trainee interests.
- Rotations/placements in major tertiary teaching hospitals as part of the regional unit’s training program to supplement exposure to areas of pain medicine not seen in the rural setting.
FAQs and related content
Frequently asked questions about involvement in the Flexible accreditation pathways pilot.
We've accredited more than 40 multidisciplinary pain management units (training units) in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore to provide approved pain medicine training.