Expressions of interest: seeking Indigenous members for Australian Medical Council accreditation and assessment committees

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1 Expressions of interest: seeking Indigenous members for Australian Medical Council accreditation and assessment committees The Australian Medical Council is an independent national standards body for medical education. Its purpose is to ensure that standards of education, training and assessment of the medical profession promote and protect the health of the Australian community. It is Australia s designated accreditation authority for the medical profession and works with the Medical Council of New Zealand on the accreditation of programs in New Zealand. The AMC is seeking expressions of interest in membership of the committees that oversee the AMC s processes for accreditation of medical programs and assessment of international medical graduates. These positions are new positions, established to enhance the contribution of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander people and Māori to the AMC s core areas of work. The AMC welcomes expressions of interest from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander people and Māori with a range of backgrounds and experience. Background In 2014, the AMC committed to develop a visible strategy for engagement with Indigenous health organisations, students and medical practitioners in meeting its purpose in accreditation of medical programs, setting medical education standards, and assessment of international medical graduates. It established an Indigenous Planning Advisory Group, co-chaired by Associate Professor Noel Hayman, Director of the Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, and Associate Professor Gregory Philips, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and CEO of ABSTARR Consulting to assist the AMC s reflection, review and planning for change. The AMC has committed to developments in five areas including: 1. Commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Māori through its assessment and accreditation processes and to monitoring its progress 2. AMC governance and organisational reform 3. International Medical Graduate assessments 4. Accreditation of education providers and programs 5. Working with other health and education stakeholder bodies

2 Committee positions available In line with its commitment to governance and organisational reform, and to change in its international medical graduate assessment and accreditation processes, it is seeking expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in positions on the four committees listed below. It is also seeking expressions of interest from Māori for positions on the committees that accredit programs across Australia and New Zealand. The committees are: Board of Examiners (being renamed the Assessment Committee) Medical School Accreditation Committee accredits programs across Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee Specialist Education Accreditation Committee accredits programs across Australia and New Zealand All AMC committees include a broad range of members, reflecting the stakeholders. Members may be: educators, clinicians, scientists, senior academics, junior doctors and medical students, international medical graduates, health consumers and community members, health service managers, health practitioners, or state and federal policy makers. Further information on each committee is provided in the attachment, together with the names and contact information for the AMC staff members able to answer questions about the work. Time commitment Members of AMC committees are appointed for four-year terms. These committees oversee significant areas of AMC work. They typically meet four to five times a year, in a combination of face to face meetings (usually in Sydney or Melbourne), and teleconferences. Committee members have considerable reading material. They may contribute to the committee by leading discussion on an item, or by contributing to the development of policy or procedures. Arrangement by the AMC to support committee members The AMC: provides support, induction and training for new committee members pays a fee to members for participation in meetings of committees pays superannuation for individuals as required under Superannuation Guarantee legislation arranges and meets the cost of necessary accommodation and travel meets the cost of meals and incidental expenditure, such as taxi fares. Expressing interest in a position or positions When the AMC is filling positions on its committees by seeking expressions of interest, it sets up a selection panel for the committee. The panel short lists applicants and interviews those short listed for the position. We welcome expressions of interest (together with current curriculum vitae) by close of business 9 December 2016.

3 Please address expressions of interest to the staff member listed on the attachment or the AMC Company Secretary, at the postal address provided on the previous page or by to: or Karin Oldfield Company Secretary I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia on which our members live and work, and to their Elders and ancestors, past and present.

4 Australian Medical Council assessment and accreditation committees Accreditation committees for binational processes The AMC is the accreditation authority for the medical profession in Australia under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, and accredits programs and providers in all stages of medical education. It works with the Medical Council of New Zealand to accredit medical programs in New Zealand. Two AMC committees oversee these binational processes: Medical School Accreditation Committee, and Specialist Education Accreditation Committee. The AMC develops accreditation standards. It assesses medical programs and their providers (a university or a specialist college), and accredits the programs which meet the accreditation standards. The AMC sets up accreditation assessment teams to review material presented by the education provider, interview stakeholders, and prepare an accreditation report. The teams report to an accreditation committee. The committee makes the recommendation on whether or not the program meets the standards, on the period of accreditation and on any accreditation conditions. Once the AMC has accredited a program, the committee monitors the program to ensure it continues to meet the standards. It does this by requiring regular progress reports. There are two positions on each of the Medical School Accreditation Committee and the Specialist Education Accreditation Committee (since the AMC accreditation processes cover both Australia and New Zealand expressions of interest from both countries are sought). The terms of reference for these committees are to: advise the AMC on guidelines, policy and procedures for accreditation of medical programs oversees one of the AMC s accreditation programs (either medical school or specialist program accreditation) encourage improvements in medical education in Australia and New Zealand that respond to evolving health needs and practices, and educational and scientific developments (this can be by sponsoring workshops, or developing policy or guidance for providers). The Medical School Accreditation Committee This committee manages the process for assessment and accreditation of primary medical programs, offered by Australian and New Zealand medical schools. Presently there are 20 Australian medical schools and 2 New Zealand medical schools which are accredited by the AMC, although additional applications for accreditation are being considered. The Medical School Accreditation Committee meets three to five times per year. At least half the meetings are all day meetings in Melbourne or Sydney. At any time, the committee has at least one working party considering improvements to the accreditation process, developing guidance for medical schools, or reviewing the standards for accreditation of medical programs. The committee Chair is Professor Geoff McColl, Head of Melbourne Medical School and Professor of Medical Education and Training, University of Melbourne. The committee includes members

5 appointed after consultation with: Australian Medical Students Association; Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils; Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges; Medical Council of New Zealand; Medical Board of Australia, and Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand. It also includes a community member and members of the Australian Medical Council. All members of the committee are invited to be a member of at least one AMC accreditation team to assess a medical school program in Australia or New Zealand. AMC staff member: Annette Wright. Tel: Annette.wright@amc.org.au Specialist Education Accreditation Committee This committee manages the process for assessment and accreditation of specialist medical programs. Sixteen specialist medical colleges offer specialist medical training and education in 23 separate medical specialties. Most of the colleges provide training in both Australia and New Zealand. Colleges also assess specialist international medical graduates seeking to be recognised as specialist practitioners, and set standards for continuing professional development of medical specialists. The accreditation standards applied by the AMC cover these three training, education and assessment functions. The committee meets three to five times per year. At least half the meetings are all day meetings in Melbourne. The Chair of the committee is Professor Kate Leslie AO, who is a specialist anaesthetist and head of research in the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Melbourne Hospital. The committee includes members appointed after consultation with the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council; the Australian Medical Association; the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges; the Medical Council of New Zealand; the Medical Board of Australia; Universities Australia and Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand. The committee also includes a doctor in training, a health consumer member and members of the Council. All members of the committee are invited to be a member of at least one AMC accreditation team to assess a provider of specialist medical programs. AMC staff member: Jane Porter: Tel: jane.porter@amc.org.au Accreditation and assessment committees for Australian processes The following two committees deal specifically with standards of medical education in Australia, and the AMC is seeking expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate on these committees. Board of Examiners (Assessment committee) There is one position on the Board of Examiners. This committee monitors and reports on the performance and outcomes of AMC examinations and assessment pathways for international medical graduates. It is supported by a number of assessment results panels, research and development groups, as well as an appeals committee. The AMC conducts assessments of international medical practitioners seeking to practise in Australia on behalf of the Medical Board of Australia. The AMC assesses doctors trained in medical schools overseas that the AMC has not accredited. It does so to establish whether or not a medical practitioner has the necessary knowledge and clinical competence to practise medicine safely in the Australian community. There are two parts to the AMC examination: MCQ: A computer-adaptive multiple-choice question test.

6 Clinical: A structured clinical assessment then evaluates the clinical competence and performance of the candidate in terms of medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes for the safe and effective clinical practice of medicine in Australia. In any year, the AMC assesses about 2,500 MCQ and 2,000 clinical exam candidates. The AMC sets the standard for assessments, develops publications and guides to support doctors undertaking the examinations, runs the assessments, trains examiners, and maintains and develops assessment item banks (multiple choice questions and clinical scenarios). Professor David Prideaux, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, Prideaux Centre for Research in Health Professions Education, Flinders University chairs the Board. The committee meets two to three times a year in Melbourne. AMC staff member: Megan Lovett Tel: Megan.Lovett@amc.org.au Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee There is one position on the Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee. The Committee is seeking expressions of interest from an Australian Indigenous junior doctor or doctor in training. The committee oversees the accreditation of the following providers: Intern training accreditation authorities. The AMC accredits the eight state-based authorities responsible for accreditation of intern posts and programs. The AMC develops standards and procedures for accreditation and monitoring of intern training accreditation authorities and also develops national guidance and standards on internship. Pre-employment Structured Clinical Interviews. PESCI is an objective assessment of the clinical experience, knowledge, skills and attributes of an international medical graduate to determine if they are suitable to practise in a specific position. It is a structured interview using scenarios. The AMC develops guidelines and procedures for accreditation and monitoring of PESCI providers. Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) programs. The WBA pathway it is an alternative to the clinical exam component of the assessment pathway for international medical graduates. A WBA program is a structured program (minimum six months) of on the job assessment. It tests if the candidate has an adequate and appropriate set of clinical skills and the professional qualities to practise safely within the Australian healthcare environment and cultural setting. The AMC develops guidelines and procedures for accreditation and monitoring of WBA providers. The committee meets three to four times a year, in Melbourne or by teleconference. At any time, the committee has at least one working party reviewing a set of accreditation standards and procedures. Committee members are invited to join an accreditation team or policy working party at least once during their term, and to assist in the progress report reviewing process. Professor Liz Farmer, Clinical Professor, University of Wollongong and medical education consultant is committee chair. The committee includes members appointed after consultation with: Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council and Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils. The committee also includes a junior doctor/doctor in training member, members with technical expertise in assessment, accreditation, medical registration, and a community member. AMC staff member: Sarah Vaughan. Tel: sarah.vaughan@amc.org.au