How to become a paediatrician in Australia

Do you enjoy connecting with children and teenagers? Are you considering a career in medicine? Then a career in paediatrics might be for you.

Like all medical specialties, becoming a paediatrician takes dedication and many years of training, but it’s a rewarding path. Being able to make a positive difference in a young person’s life sets them up for health and wellbeing in the future. 

What does a paediatrician do?

Paediatricians look after the development, health and diseases of children from the moment they’re born until they’re 18. They check on normal growth, age-appropriate development and the behavioural aspects of children’s health.

This could include anything from being in the labour ward to take care of the baby after a difficult birth, to analysing the test results of a teenager who has been referred to you by a General Practitioner (GP). On an average day, you might:

• Be in the emergency department, providing life support to an extremely sick child

• Assess newborns and manage the treatment of premature babies

• Work out which diagnostic tests to order

• Analyse a wide range of medical information to make diagnoses

• Prescribe and administer medication, and remedial and therapeutic treatment.

Central to all this will be supporting the families of those children. Your patients will often be too young to understand what is happening, and their distress may upset their parents. Your patience, empathy and confidence will be needed every day.

Paediatrician vs GP: What’s the difference?

The difference between a paediatrician and GP is the amount of training they have done. All paediatricians need to qualify as a GP before going on to focus on their speciality. 

GPs provide broad primary care to all age groups, and will refer the more complex, chronic or specialised conditions they see in infants and children to a paediatrician. 

For example, if you were worried that your child was slow to speak and interact with people, your first stop would be your GP, who would do some basic tests. If they can’t see an obvious cause, they will refer you to a paediatrician who specialises in development and behaviour.

What skills do you need to be a paediatrician?

To be able to provide comprehensive medical care to neonates (newborns up to 28 days old), infants and children, you need exceptional knowledge of a broad spectrum of common acute and chronic disorders, diseases, illnesses and associated health issues of a developmental and psychosocial nature.

Having communication skills that calm, engage and explain clearly what is happening for both patients and families are essential for paediatricians. This includes communicating with parents and carers who may have strong views about what’s best for their child. 

You’ll also need to work collaboratively with many different health professionals such as social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists and speech pathologists.

Adaptability is essential – every day, you’ll be caring for different age groups with different medical needs. 

How do you become a paediatrician?

You’ll need a medical degree to become a paediatrician, followed by years of training and practical experience.

UNSW Medicine & Health – one of Australia’s leading medical schools – provides the training and support systems to guide you through the first stages of becoming a paediatrician.

How long does it take to become a paediatrician? 

It takes at least 13 years to become a fully qualified paediatrician, but the exact amount of time will differ for everyone, including how quickly you are accepted into the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) to do your paediatric specialty. Only about half the applicants each year are accepted. 

Here’s how long each stage takes:

• Medical School: Four to six years (depending on whether it's an undergraduate or postgraduate degree). 

• Internship: One year to gain general registration as a doctor. 

• Basic training: Apply to the RACP to undertake Basic Training in paediatrics and child health, which typically takes three years to complete.

• Advanced training: Apply for Advanced Training in a paediatric discipline such as general paediatrics, paediatric cardiology, paediatric emergency medicine or paediatric rehabilitation medicine. You will train under supervision for an additional three years. Successful trainees will be admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

Planning for your paediatrician career

There are many sub-specialities in paediatrics, from paediatric cardiology to behavioural specialists. Paediatricians work in a range of settings. These include general hospitals, specialist children’s hospitals, community health centres, emergency departments, neonatal units, adolescent medicine services and private practices. 

Here are some of the different types of paediatric sub-specialities​: 

How much does a paediatrician get paid?

A paediatrician’s salary in Australia depends on many variables, including the stage of your career, whether you are in public or private practice, and which state you’re working in. Becoming an expert in a subspecialty will boost your salary.

In Australia, paediatricians earn between $200,000–$220,000 per year, on average (Seek, 2025). This figure can increase significantly with experience.

Can international students study paediatrics in Australia?

International students can study medicine in Australia. UNSW provides international students with support and guidance, including advice about visa requirements and registration pathways. Check in with our team early to ensure you have enough time to meet government requirements.

To apply to the RACP, you must have a current general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia or a medical registration with a general scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Should you become a paediatrician?

Paediatricians say there is no better feeling than seeing a patient you first saw as a very sick baby rushed into the emergency, now running around as a healthy toddler. Knowing how much of a difference you have made to the whole family is very rewarding – it’s a field where you support the parents as much as the child.

Being a paediatrician will also test your abilities to be non-judgmental, a good listener, pay attention to detail (children aren’t great at explaining their symptoms), and be very patient and empathic with the child’s family. 

You must also be prepared to keep studying long after you’ve qualified. Learning and research will be a constant, as will the challenges of working with a very broad range of other medical professionals.

How UNSW will prepare you for your future in paediatrics

UNSW Medicine & Health is not only one of Australia’s leading medical faculties, but one of the top 50 in the world. 

Our strong industry links give you the opportunity to learn at Australia’s best hospitals and private practices. You’ll gain valuable exposure to one of the world’s best healthcare systems and work and study as part of interdisciplinary teams on hospital wards. 

The Paediatrics & Child Health arm of our School of Clinical Medicine is one of the highest performing disciplines within that school, as reflected by its research grant income, the success of their postgraduate students and their impact on child health. 

The discipline has strong partnerships with many health districts, such as Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, South Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Murrumbidgee and Albury Wodonga Local Health Districts, and also works in close partnership with Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. 

Begin your path to paediatrics

If becoming a paediatrician is on your vision board, start strong with a medical degree from a global top 20 university. UNSW’s Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine is a sought-after double degree that will launch you into the medical field, setting you up for lifelong success.