This Strategic Plan is designed to guide the activities of the Council over an approximately three-year cycle, vertically integrating with organisation-wide Strategic Plans and planning processes, where relevant. VISION To ensure excellence in Australian medical education and training towards a highly skilled health workforce and optimal quality in patient care MISSION To be the national voice for doctors-in-training (DiT) in Australia by delivering strong advocacy and leadership on medical education and workplace issues, including clinical training, work-life flexibility, fatigue management and doctors health To provide effective representation through internal and external channels to ensure that the views, concerns and aspirations of DiTs are clearly articulated and acted upon To present innovative and evidence-based solutions to key policy issues of concern to DiTs To be the central conduit for DiT discussion on national issues, by virtue of strong relationships with junior doctors, other trainee representative groups, fellow AMA committees and external stakeholders To play a key role in growing and sustaining AMA membership, in the interests of a strong and representative professional voice for DiTs OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES Objectives are considered below in terms of areas of leadership, areas of collaboration and areas of contribution. Key area of Leadership 1. Medical education and training 2. Doctor health, wellbeing and safety 3. Engagement and communication Key area of Collaboration 4. Workforce 5. Membership Key area of Contribution 6. Public Health 7. E-Health The ongoing activities describe the long-term actions required to achieve the Objectives, some of which will fall beyond the power and remit of CDT. Operational Plans will be created annually to further define specific initiatives for each 12-month period. Adopted March 2014; for review October 2016 1/7
Key areas for LEADERSHIP: 1. MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Capacity and integration Prevocational and vocational training capacity is increased in line with Australian-trained graduate numbers Supervisory capacity and infrastructure is expanded to meet the needs of such additional training positions There is optimal integration between stages of medical training Selection and/or allocation mechanisms for prevocational positions and vocational training programs are fair and transparent Advocate for funding and accreditation of sufficient numbers of additional medical training places Contribute to the operation of the National Medical Training Advisory Network Executive Committee Advocate for the creation of National Training Plans to guide coordinated workforce planning Monitor annual audits against Health Workforce 2025 to ensure that they are conducted in a timely and transparent manner Advocate for enhanced systems for the matching and allocation of prevocational positions Advocate for fair and transparent vocational training selection mechanisms Quality and standards The high quality of Australian medical education and training is maintained Robust accreditation processes exist for undergraduate, prevocational and vocational medical education that are free from political interference and sectional interests IMG doctors have access to appropriate training, education and support Advocate for further research into key performance indicators for medical education, including through the implementation of a National Training Survey Conduct and publicly report on periodic Training, Education and Supervision and Specialist Trainee Surveys Provide submissions to AMC reviews of accreditation standards and education and training provided by specialist medical colleges Engage with innovation and reform of the prevocational medical education system Explore innovative models for quality medical training in expanded settings, including in the community Funding Undergraduate medical education is appropriately funded There is transparent and equitable allocation of funding for teaching, training and research (TTR) Advocate for an increase in Universities base funding for medical education Contribute to the research, design and implementation of Activity-Based Funding systems for TTR Advocate for health system funding models that allow for increases in medical workforce capacity 2/7
Geographic distribution Policies to address geographic medical workforce maldistribution are evidencebased, effective and fair for DiTs and medical students Advocate for changes to existing bonded workforce programs, such that these programs are more fair for DiTs and medical students Advocate for rural workforce policies that provide incentives for DiTs to work in regional and rural areas Supervision, leadership and academic medicine Develop proposals to address factors impacting on the attraction and retention of doctors in regional and rural areas Explore models of medical training that emphasise generalism Opportunities exist for DiTs to practice and develop leadership skills in clinical and non-clinical settings Hospitals and education providers provide professional development opportunities to all doctors engaged in teaching, supervision and research A clearly defined pathway for clinical academia is established Engage relevant external stakeholders to develop and promote leadership events that encourage the development of leadership capabilities for DiTs Develop and promote AMA events that encourage the development of leadership capabilities for DiTs Engage relevant external stakeholders regarding optimal support and professional development opportunities for supervisors Explore and disseminate best practice examples of trainee engagement in TTR 2. DOCTOR HEALTH, WELLBEING & SAFETY Health and wellbeing There is ongoing recognition of doctors health and wellbeing as an issue of national importance Health services and education providers are aware of their responsibilities with respect to doctors health and wellbeing Confidential doctors health advisory services (DHASs) are maintained, with equity of access to an agreed level of service in all jurisdictions There is decreased stigma associated Engage relevant external stakeholders to promote health and wellbeing among medical practitioners Advocate for the development of epidemiological databases, critical incident registers, confidential investigation of sentinel events and open discussion of systems issues Engage the Medical Board of Australia, and relevant stakeholders, regarding funding and reform of DHASs Advocate for DiT representation and participation in the governance of DHASs Advocate for the strengthening of mental health and resilience training in undergraduate medical education Advocate for increased mental health support for DiTs, 3/7
with medical practitioners mental health issues, including substance abuse particularly during early prevocational years Advocate for improved recognition of medical practitioners mental health issues, including substance abuse Promote ongoing access to temporal, online doctors health resources Fatigue management There is increased awareness of fatigue and associated risks among trainees, educators and employers Safe hours initiatives do not compromise quality of training Advocate for a balanced, flexible approach to safe hours and fatigue management that improves patient and doctor safety, maintains the quality of training, and meets clinical training needs. Conduct and publicly report on a periodic Safe Hours Audit Promote AMA tools and resources regarding fatigue management Work-life flexibility DiTs are not disadvantaged when rotating for mandated medical training There is greater flexibility in workplace and training arrangements for all trainees Promote AMA tools and resources regarding work-life flexibility, including the MJA Job Share register Advocate for flexible work arrangements including part-time and job-share positions Engage with state and territory AMAs, where relevant, regarding industrial arrangements for DiTs Bullying and harassment There is widespread awareness of medical workplace bullying and harassment issues Promote the AMA position statement on Workplace bullying and harassment Lobby colleges to implement zero tolerance bullying and harassment policies Social media and technology There is increased DiT awareness of professional issues associated with social media use and clinical photography Promote AMA tools and resources regarding online professionalism and clinical photography Engage relevant external stakeholders to develop and roll out comprehensive social media and clinical photography education strategies Inappropriate and unprofessional use of social media by DiTs is minimised 4/7
3. ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION There is regular electronic communication with DiT members and non-members regarding CDT activities CDT contributes regularly to public media on issues relevant to DiTs Convene an annual AMA Trainee Forum Coordinate regular AMA National Conference policy sessions on issues relevant to DiTs Present AMA views and opinions at key national medical education conferences (at least one annually) Publish AMA views and opinions in key scientific journals (at least one annually) Monitor relevant research publications and offer DiT speakers to media to discuss emerging issues Contribute articles for AusMed, Australian Doctor, Medical Observer, Panacea and other medical publications Develop innovative mechanisms for DiTs to be able to contribute to internal debate and discussion of policy issues Develop and improve channels of communication with members and non-members, including through use of web, e- DiT (email) and social media 5/7
Key areas for COLLABORATION: 4. WORKFORCE The medical education system continues to produce doctors capable of providing excellent health care in the Australian context Progress is made towards the aspirational goal of self-sufficiency in the Australian health workforce Innovative workforce models maintain clinical teaching opportunities for DiTs, enhance the efficiency of the training and improve patient outcomes Engage relevant external stakeholders regarding medical workforce and general practice training issues Contribute to the AMA Economics and Workforce Committee regarding relevant workforce issues of interest to DiTs Monitor pilot projects regarding health workforce task substitution and/or role delegation to ensure that clinical training opportunities are maintained and patient safety is not compromised Explore opportunities for education of DiTs regarding effective career planning 5. MEMBERSHIP CDT works in partnership with Federal and State AMA to grow AMA DiT membership AMA membership is valued by DiT members AMA DiT members would recommend membership to their colleagues AMA DiT membership is perceived to be excellent value for money Develop and promote a consistent AMA CDT brand to prospective DiT and medical student members Engage relevant AMA departments to improve data collection on DiT membership Ensure discussion of membership data is included in each Council meeting agenda Facilitate sharing of membership resources between state and territory AMA branches Engage other professional organisations to improve the dissemination of AMA membership forms Improve engagement with potential IMG doctor membership initiatives Encourage state and territory AMAs to foster representative roles for international doctors on DiT committees Ensure DiT input into development of new AMA membership initiatives Ensure attendance of DiT representatives at state and territory AMA intern welcome functions and medical student events 6/7
Key areas for CONTRIBUTION: 6. PUBLIC HEALTH DiT awareness of global health, Indigenous health, rural health and climate change issues is increased There is appropriate training and support for doctors considering working in Indigenous health & global health Contribute to the AMA Taskforce on Indigenous Health regarding relevant Indigenous health issues of interest to DiTs Contribute to the AMA Public Health and Child and Youth Health Committee regarding relevant Global Health, public health and climate change issues of interest to DiTs Contribute to the AMA Rural Medical Council regarding relevant rural health issues of interest to DiTs 7. E-HEALTH New e-health systems are secure, user-friendly and integrated into the regular work duties of DiTs Engage with the design and implementation of e-health systems, where relevant to DiTs Contribute to the AMA Economics and Workforce Committee regarding relevant e-health issues of interest to DiTs 7/7