In microbiology, you will work in the specialty discipline involving the various clinical, laboratory and public health aspects of infectious diseases.
As a microbiologist you oversee and run a laboratory which includes giving advice, reviewing, and releasing results. You also provide governance over scientists who generate results – provide advice on what tests to run. You play a role in pathology stewardship to ensure correct tests are ordered and results managed appropriately.
If you are dual trained in infectious diseases (or another specialty) your time will generally be split approx. 50/50 between clinical medicine and laboratory work.
The following skills and requirements are key to be a microbiologist:
You are restricted in terms of who your employer will be working in Western Australia. You will either be working for government health services or corporate pathology organisations.
After gaining general registration, to get onto the microbiology training pathway you need to complete a basic pathology sciences exam (or plan to complete it), apply for a microbiology position, and complete the training program over five years full-time.
You can be dual trained as an infectious diseases physician which involves completing basic physician training and then applying for the joint training program via Pathology and RACP. The program is five years of combined laboratory and physician training.
Approximately half of the microbiologists in WA are dual trained as microbiologists and infectious diseases physicians with the remaining half full-time microbiologists.
As a trainee it is important to not only focus on the academic aspects but also to be actively engaged in the operational practicalities of working in a laboratory. There is much to learn from the experienced scientists in the laboratory.
There are several exams you must complete - 9 in total as a dual trainee. Six exams if you only complete microbiology pathway (which is still more than other pathology disciplines). You must also complete a series of advance written projects.
There are approximately five positions annually in Western Australia for clinical microbiology registrars. This must cater for the dual trainees and pathology trainees.
Dual trainees are highly desirable for employment in private laboratories in Australia. There are many private and some public jobs available. Generally, most consultants work in either majority private or majority public (not both settings). If you only train as a microbiologist or an infectious diseases physician, there are less career options.
You are limited working as a clinical microbiologist in Western Australia to working for a laboratory in Perth, but if you are willing to relocate within Australia there are many opportunities.
