Australian clinical practice is governed by a distinct set of published guidelines that define how clinical decisions are made across the country. Many of these protocols differ from what an international medical graduate learned during training, and each is defined by a specific Australian guideline.
For an IMG preparing for the AMC MCQ, knowing where these protocols live is as important as knowing what they say. Australian clinical guidelines are scattered across dozens of organisations, government bodies, and specialist colleges. There is no single index. Candidates regularly spend weeks locating resources that a locally trained graduate encountered during medical school.
This list brings together some of the most high-yield Australian clinical guidelines for AMC MCQ preparation, organised by clinical area and current as of May 2026.
Therapeutic Guidelines (TG)
TG is a widely used clinical decision-making reference in Australian healthcare. For an IMG unfamiliar with Australian protocols, TG is the most efficient way to understand how clinical decisions are made.
Cardiovascular
The National Heart Foundation of Australia (NHF) publishes the major standalone cardiovascular guidelines for Australian practice, several in collaboration with the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). These include the NHF/CSANZ Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection, and Management of Heart Failure in Australia, the Australian Comprehensive Clinical Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Acute Coronary Syndromes, and the Australian Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation. The NHF also publishes the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in Adults, and jointly with the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA), the Australian Guideline for Assessing and Managing Cardiovascular Disease Risk.
Respiratory
Two standalone resources dominate Australian respiratory practice beyond TG. The COPD-X Plan, published by Lung Foundation Australia and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, is the primary Australian COPD management guideline and one of the most frequently consulted respiratory resources in Australian clinical practice. The Australian Asthma Handbook, published by the National Asthma Council Australia, covers asthma diagnosis, management, and action planning across all age groups.
Emergency and Resuscitation
The Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) publishes the resuscitation guidelines used across Australian hospitals. Guideline 4 (Airway) and the adult advanced life support protocols are the most widely used. The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Eye Emergency Manual is the go-to resource for ophthalmic emergencies.
Haematology and Transfusion
The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ) publishes the VTE diagnosis and management guidelines that govern anticoagulation decisions in Australian clinical practice. The National Blood Authority publishes Patient Blood Management Guidelines across six modules covering critical bleeding, perioperative management, and transfusion thresholds.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) publishes College Statements and clinical guidelines across obstetric and gynaecological practice. The NACCHO/RACGP National Guide to Preventive Healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, particularly Chapter 5 on pregnancy care, provides specific guidance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Psychiatry
A note for candidates researching Australian psychiatry guidelines: the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has formally retired its Clinical Practice Guidelines. These CPGs, which covered schizophrenia, mood disorders, eating disorders, deliberate self-harm, and anxiety disorders, exceeded the five-year lifespan recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and have been removed from the RANZCP website. They remain available as journal publications for reference, but they are no longer maintained as current guidelines. The RANZCP has transitioned to a Best Practice Resources framework.
TG Psychotropic provides updated clinical guidance across the major psychiatric presentations, including mood disorders, psychosis, and substance use.
Paediatrics
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Clinical Practice Guidelines are the most accessible free paediatric clinical reference in Australia, covering common presentations including the febrile child, bronchiolitis, croup, gastroenteritis, seizure management, and neonatal jaundice. The National Immunisation Program Schedule and the Australian Immunisation Handbook provide the definitive Australian reference for vaccination practice, including catch-up schedules, contraindications, and special population considerations.
Preventive Health and Cancer Screening
The RACGP Guidelines for Preventive Activities in General Practice (the Red Book) is the standard reference for screening intervals, risk assessment, and preventive care across the Australian population. The NACCHO/RACGP National Guide to Preventive Healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People is its companion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Australia's national cancer screening programs, administered by the Australian Government, include the National Cervical Screening Program, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, and BreastScreen Australia. Cancer Australia publishes Optimal Care Pathways and clinical practice guidelines for cancer management, while the Cancer Council publishes evidence-based clinical guidelines through its Clinical Guidelines Network.
Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology
The ANZMUSC/ARA Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis and the ACSQHC Clinical Care Standards for low back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, and hip fracture are key standalone resources.
Neurology and Gastroenterology
The Stroke Foundation Living Guidelines govern acute stroke and TIA management in Australian practice. In gastroenterology, the ACSQHC Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard is an important companion resource alongside TG Gastrointestinal.
Infectious Disease and Sexual Health
The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) publishes decision-making toolkits for hepatitis B and hepatitis C management, and HIV PEP and PrEP guidelines.
Pharmacology and Prescribing
The Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) is one of the two main prescribing resources in Australian clinical practice alongside TG. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) governs authority prescriptions, restricted benefits, and streamlined authority pathways. Australian Prescriber is a free, independent, peer-reviewed journal providing clinical drug reviews and therapeutics commentary.
Population Health, Ethics, and Law
Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive is the nationally agreed medical standard for driver licensing and covers cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, vision, diabetes, and substance use conditions. The AIFS Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect resource sheet provides the definitive state-by-state summary of reporting obligations, reporter categories, and thresholds. The RACGP White Book (Abuse and Violence: Working with Our Patients in General Practice, 5th edition) covers identification, safety planning, and trauma-informed care for patients experiencing domestic and family violence. The CARPA Standard Treatment Manual (8th edition) is the primary clinical reference for remote and Aboriginal primary health care, covering conditions and management protocols specific to remote Australian practice.
Using this list
No candidate should attempt to read every guideline from cover to cover. The efficient approach is to study clinical content through a guideline-anchored question bank, encounter the guideline in context, and then consult the source document when a specific protocol requires deeper understanding. The question teaches the principle. The guideline confirms it.
IMG II AMC was built on this approach. Every question in the bank is authored from current Australian clinical guidelines, and every explanation cites the specific source that governs the correct answer.