In relation to psychiatry the course is a type of clinical apprenticeship. Students will be expected to attend all functions of the unit to which they are attached, including participating in ward rounds, clinical clerking of patients, and other unit activities. There will be regular discussion of issues pertaining to diagnosis and treatment of patients with registrars and consultant psychiatrists. Students will learn how to identify, assess and manage common psychiatric disorders and psychosocial problems.

In relation to the primary health care selective, students will work primarily in rural and urban centres with community health staff and general practitioners focusing on the management of chronic illness and disability in the community. This course is offered in both Semester IX and Semester X, on a rotating basis. Full-time students who enrol in Psychiatry/Primary Health Care Selective must enrol concurrently in Medicine. In exceptional circumstances, such as when a student fails one of the concurrent courses, enrolments outside of these concurrent arrangements may be approved by the Head of School.