A perspective on developing emergency medicine as a specialty

Aims A rapidly increasing number of countries are developing their capacities to respond to acute illness and injury and organizing emergency medicine training programs. This article offers some insight into the way emergency medicine has undergone development in the Australasian region.Methods The perspective is built from experience in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.Conclusion The challenges are many, but with persistence can be surmounted. Lessons derived from these diverse environments are presented.