Rheumatology: Registrar Interview Questions Australia

The rheumatology questions that sit on top of the specialty training core: clinical scenarios, the system and governance questions specific to the specialty, and presentation titles.

Updated 7 November 2026

The structures these questions are marked on

  • CAMP Clinical experience, Academic work including audit, research and teaching, Management and leadership roles, Personal: who you are as a colleague and what you will find hard. For the CV walkthrough. Full guide →
  • SAFER See the patient, Assess systematically with ABCDE, Fix what you can and decide, Escalate with a clear request in SBAR or ISBAR, Review: the patient told, the handover, the documentation and what you would do if the first plan failed. Full guide →
  • The What it is in a sentence, Why it matters with a fact, What it means for this organisation and specialty, What I would do at my level and how I would measure it. Full guide →

Motivation

Evidence of commitment over enthusiasm: rotations, courses, audits, exams sat. Know the programme's stages, exams and rural requirements. Say what you would bring to a rural site, not just that you are willing to go.

  1. Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the head of departmentCAMP

    Why rheumatology, and why this unit?

    Evidence: the terms, the cases, the research, the audit. Then this unit: its subspecialty strengths, its research and its catchment, in terms that show homework.

  2. Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the staff specialist colleagueCAMP

    What do you know about advanced training in rheumatology, its requirements and the research project?

    The length, the core and elective years, the procedural or clinic requirements, the research project and the assessments. Two accurate sentences, then what will be hardest.

Clinical scenario

Systematic assessment, treat what you can, escalate early and clearly even when the consultant is distant, use retrieval and telehealth where they apply, and say what you would do afterwards. A safe answer that asks for help beats a clever one that does not.

  1. Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the head of departmentSAFER

    A patient has a hot, swollen knee and a temperature. What do you do?

    Septic arthritis until proven otherwise: aspiration before antibiotics, the fluid sent, antibiotics, and orthopaedics involved for washout.

  2. Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the staff specialist colleagueSAFER

    An older patient has new headache, jaw claudication and a raised CRP. What do you do?

    Giant cell arteritis: high dose steroids now before the biopsy or ultrasound, the eyes checked, and the diagnosis confirmed.

  3. Often askedUsually asked by the head of departmentSAFER

    A patient on a biologic develops a cough and night sweats. What do you do?

    Infection including tuberculosis: the biologic held, the investigations, and infectious diseases involved.

  4. Often askedUsually asked by the staff specialist colleagueSAFER

    A patient with lupus has new swelling and protein in the urine. What do you do?

    Lupus nephritis: the investigations, the renal biopsy with nephrology, and induction therapy.

System knowledge

Know the programme's requirements in detail. Name three current pressures and link each to your specialty. Be able to explain clinical governance and the standards most relevant to your work in a sentence each.

  1. Often askedUsually asked by the head of departmentSYSTEM

    How would you shorten the wait for new rheumatology patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis?

    Triage, early arthritis clinics, nurse specialists, and advice to primary care.

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