February

The following update highlights the recent discussions from the first 2025 College Trainees’ Committee (CTC) meeting, held via Zoom on Thursday, 13 February.

Discussions from the First Meeting of the Year:

• Paediatric Clinical Exam Report
• Annual Submission to the Australian Medical Council
• New Curricula and Training Management Platform Implementation

Paediatric Clinical Exam Report

With the Paediatric Clinical Exam Report released on 15 January 2025, the outcomes and actions will be applied to all Divisional Clinical Examinations (DCEs) across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The response and expected changes to the DCE has been and will continue to be a key piece of work for the CTC for 2025.

The CTC was informed that the College’s intention is to provide the safest exam as quickly as possible through a variety of mechanisms. Members provided feedback and guidance on the proposed response.

Annual Submission to the Australian Medical Council (AMC)

The RACP annual monitoring submission to the AMC is due 21 July. The CTC will be included in the development of the College-wide submission. In addition, the AMC has invited the CTC to develop an optional parallel trainee submission, to encourage trainee representatives to put forward their perspectives. The trainees’ submission is due by 28 July.

New Curricula and Training Management Platform (TMP) Implementation

The new curricula and TMP commenced earlier this year. Feedback from trainees highlighted the need to simplify the resources currently available on the platform. College staff are also working on an FAQ resource. The CTC noted the wide range of training sessions available through to mid-April, as well as informal online ‘drop in’ TMP support sessions.

Trainees’ Committee Updates

We discussed feedback provided from trainee representatives on other College Bodies. Updates included the following feedback:

• A Joint Statement (PDF) has been released by the College, Post Medical Council of Victoria, and Department of Health Victoria regarding the implementation of the revised National Framework for Prevocational (PGY1 and PGY2) Medical Training (NFPMT) in 2025, which explicitly supports entry into Basic Training from PGY2.
• Advocacy by the Northern Territory Trainees’ Committee and its parent committee in response to the policy decisions made by the new government on the reduction in age of criminal responsibility and minimum prices of alcohol.
• After a successful Aotearoa New Zealand Trainees’ Day last year, the Trainees’ Day for 2025 is scheduled to be held later this year in Queenstown.

The CTC membership is listed here. Please contact us via TraineesCommittee@racp.edu.au if there are any concerns you would like raised, or if we may be of assistance with particular matters.

Dr Kristof Wing
Chair, College Trainees’ Committee
February 2025

October

The following update highlights the recent discussions from the fourth College Trainees’ Committee (CTC) meeting of 2024, held in person on Friday, 4 October.

The face-to-face meeting was a productive all-day meeting with the morning dedicated to three consecutive workshop sessions, where members formed smaller groups to discuss key issues on the following topics:

• Clinical Assistants (Physician Assistants)
• Training Provider Standards
• Selection into Training and Changes to Prevocational Training

The workshop format ensured the Committee explored these issues as thoroughly as possible in the available time, including through the use of assigned ‘devils advocates’ to ensure robust policy recommendations. Key position statements were agreed upon, and outcomes of these workshops will form the basis for formal Position Statements from the Committee, which will in turn be used in consultation with key College stakeholders and bodies.

Summary positions on these issues are:

Clinical Assistants (Physician Assistants)

We were updated on the workforce survey results which showed respondents had a mixed view on the role of Physician Assistants. The CTC agreed on the following:

• the term ‘Clinical Assistant (CA)’ is preferred, and the term Physician Assistant should be retired
• Ahpra registration should be mandatory for CAs and Continuing Professional Development requirements must be defined; and
• CAs should not have the ability to prescribe.

Training Provider Standards

The CTC provided feedback on the proposed amendments to the Training Provider Standards, which define the conditions of training. The CTC highlighted that:

• increased clinical independence of trainees with more regular educational or professional check-ins with supervisors would yield higher quality training outcomes
• protected teaching time for trainees should be measured, and that this should occur as part of a process of new routine monitoring; and
• the CTC unanimously agreed on the importance of acting on concerns about bullying and harassment, noting the challenges of relatively limited supervision in regional and rural areas and difficulty with anonymity regarding trainee safety and reporting.

Selection into Training and Changes to Prevocational Training

The new [Australian] National Framework for Prevocational Medical Training framework is now mandatory for PGY1 and will be mandatory for PGY2 from 2025, which will have some impacts on physician training. Developed in consultation with the CTC, information and FAQs regarding the NFPMT and Basic Training are now available.

There was consensus on the following:

• the College should aid with mapping of training to workforce but not restrict training positions
• that trainees should be treated as adult learners when deciding on applying for progression to training
• the number of Basic Training positions should not be tied to available Advanced Training positions.

Further to the workshop sessions, the CTC discussed:

RACP Accreditor Trainee Representatives

• the expression of interest process is open to trainees for the RACP Accreditor – Trainee Representative positions. The CTC recommended that any expressions already received should be reviewed immediately to enable the trainee representatives to undertake the observation visits in 2024 and be available as an accreditor for 2025.

Unconscious Bias Training for Examiners

• the need for unconscious bias training for examiners to be more robust and meaningful was discussed, which dovetailed discussion on the College’s Bullying, Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Action Plan. The Committee will receive an update in early 2025 on this matter.

Trainee wellbeing and communication between trainee College bodies

• the wellbeing of trainees and improving the interaction with the College will be a key focus area for the CTC in 2025, with a particular focus on improving and streamlining the escalation of individual trainee issues; and
• cross-pollination of state/territory events and working to improve the communication between groups to improve awareness of emerging threats and opportunities.

The CTC membership is listed here. Please contact us via TraineesCommittee@racp.edu.au if there are any concerns you would like raised, or if we may be of assistance with particular matters.

Dr Kristof Wing
Chair, College Trainees’ Committee
October 2024

July

The following update highlights the recent discussions at the third College Trainees’ Committee (CTC) meeting of 2024, held via Zoom on Thursday, 25 July.

Among many issues, there are five key issues the CTC is focussing on at present. These are:

• The College’s responsiveness to trainee enquiries (Enquiry Handling)
• The role of clinical assistants/physician assistants
• Selection into Basic and Advanced Training
• Workforce issues and capacity to train/capacity to employ
• High stakes examinations (i.e. Divisional Written and Divisional Clinical Examinations)

They are of high concern to the CTC, and it is engaged in active advocacy on these issues.

This meeting saw welcome progress on enquiry handling and concerns around clinical assistants, and the Committee established sub-groups on Selection into Training and eligibility for the Divisional Written Examination.

The Role of Paramedical Personnel (clinical/physician assistants)

We discussed clinical/physician assistants and feedback was sought from members on positions the College may take. The College is reviewing experiences with this clade of healthcare worker in other nations. It is recognised that trainees are exposed to significant risk under current frameworks, with the potential for marked benefits to the trainee experience if clinical assistants are appropriately implemented. It was agreed the addition of any new workforce should add value and benefit to the health system, encompass appropriate regulation, and most importantly improve patient care and outcomes.

The CTC Executive will remain actively seized of the matter, and trainees are considered a key stakeholder in policy discussions around this issue.

Training Enquiry Handling Update

The College Board has recently approved resourcing to substantially improve enquiry handling within the College, as it is recognised as a major cause of poor wellbeing amongst trainees.

It was presented to the Committee that the College would refocus the existing contact centre to provide a single point of contact for enquiries, ensuring they are systematically recorded, tracked, and resolved under agreed timeframes (i.e. KPIs). Work will initially focus on resourcing a Member Support Centre ready to support trainees in early 2025.

It was noted that the Contact Centre has remarkably attended to over 24,000 inbound enquires between January to June 2024.

Selection into RACP Training Programs

We were provided an update about a three-phase project looking at selection into training across the training continuum. A high-level plan for the project was approved by the College Education Committee at its July meeting. CTC members discussed subspecialty training availability and variance of entry points/job applications across jurisdictions. The CTC will continue to assist with this review.

Training Provider Standards Review Workshop

The Training Provider Standards set out the criteria by which sites are accredited by the College. In concert with a scheduled review, the College has developed an action plan to address the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) recommendations over the course of 2024 through revisions to the Training Provider Standards.

The CTC was briefed on this process and invited to contribute to this review in the second half of 2024.

Examinations Update

We discussed exam support through the Training Support Unit for trainees who were on their final attempts, particularly regarding the visibility of support resources, as current engagement is typically low amongst candidates. It was noted that the Training Services team is looking to provide broader support and resource services for high-stakes assessments for all candidates. We discussed the stigma and language around exam support and the provision of enhanced support as being a positive experience and moving away from terminology such as “trainees in difficulty”.

Committees Updates

We discussed feedback provided from trainee representatives on other College bodies. Updates included the following feedback:

• Points regarding psychological support for consultants in Aotearoa, and how this may be extended to trainees.
• Nuclear Medicine Trainee Interest Group (TIG) is seeking to strengthen knowledge of the Nuclear Medicine training pathway within the College.
• Communication on Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) funding.
• Further advocacy needed for protected time for BPTs and protected research time for ATs undertaking Advanced Training Research Projects (ATRPs).
• Concern around Aotearoa Trainees’ Day proceeding due to low registration numbers – noting workforce pressures and workload on trainees.

The CTC membership is listed here. Please contact us via TraineesCommittee@racp.edu.au if there are any concerns you would like raised, or if we may be of assistance with particular matters.

Dr Kristof Wing
Chair, College Trainees’ Committee
July 2024

May

The following update highlights the recent discussions at the second College Trainees’ Committee (CTC) meeting of 2024, held via Zoom on Thursday, 2 May.

I would like to extend my deep gratitude to Dr Hashim Abdeen for his invaluable work, leadership and contribution to the College Trainees’ Committee (CTC) over the past five years as a CTC member and Chair of the Committee. I have learnt much from Hash and look forward to doing my best to fill some very large shoes. As the new Chair of the CTC, I am excited to continue the work of the Committee and to advocate on behalf of all trainees.

The College Trainees’ Committee is the peak representative body within the College for all trainees. We have 19 members from all Divisions and Faculties from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and are lucky to have a dedicated Secretariat and Executive.

We are here to advocate on your behalf and to amplify the voice of trainees.

Key items discussed at the May CTC meeting were:

AMC/MCNZ Reaccreditation Process

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) and Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) conducted their first College visit as part of the reaccreditation assessment process. The CTC provided a confidential written submission and were strong advocates in virtual sessions focussed on trainee issues. The visits were a rewarding experience to showcase the good work of the College, as well as an opportunity to reflect on opportunities for improvement.

Cross College Examination Review Update

The Committee was provided with an update on the cross-College examinations review. Members discussed the diverse opinions regarding the best outcome of the future of College examinations. The review will make recommendations to the College Education Committee (CEC) aligned to principles of programmatic assessment and contemporary education, and assessment methodologies that are sustainable and acceptable.

Curriculum Program Implementation

The College is working to renew Advanced Training programs with more emphasis on competency in training, to ensure the programs remain globally respected and trusted. Members discussed different requirements, with trainee feedback relating to rural training requirements to be raised at the next College Education Committee meeting.

Update from Trainee Representatives

We discussed feedback provided from the trainee representatives on other College bodies. Updates included the following feedback:

• Aotearoa New Zealand is setting up their Trainees’ Day for later in the year.
• Investigating whether all States and Territories have a Basic Training Network Exam Preparation Guideline.
• Delays in the return of College mandated assessments as a consistent issue faced by many trainees.

Please contact us at TraineesCommittee@racp.edu.au if there are any concerns you would like raised, or we can be of assistance to you.

Dr Kristof Wing
Chair, College Trainees’ Committee
May 2024

March

The following update highlights the discussions at the first meeting of 2024 on Thursday 7 March via Zoom, with a focus on the following key areas:

• Trainee Representatives in Accreditation
• 2023 Medical Training Survey Results
• Examinations

Trainee Representatives in Accreditation

The College is seeking to formalise roles and responsibilities of trainee representatives for inclusion on site accreditation visits. This will provide an increased voice for trainees and demonstrates the College's efforts in maintaining workplace standards.

2023 Medical Training Survey Results

Results from RACP trainees from the Medical Training Survey are consistent with previous years however point towards some small but significant improvements in key areas. The results are being taken into consideration to identify areas of improvement. The Medical Training Survey results are publicly available and can be accessed here.

Examinations

We received an update noting the February 2024 examinations were successfully delivered across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

An examination review is underway, that will consider the role of College high stakes exams in the context of renewed curricula which are based on a hybrid time and competency-based model, and in the context of the principles of programmatic assessment.

CTC Chair

After four years on the CTC, first as the Queensland trainee representative, then Deputy Chair and finally as your CTC Chair, I am stepping down from the Committee after achieving fellowship. I thank you all for your support and contributions to the CTC.

Please join me in congratulating Dr Kristof Wing who was endorsed by the CTC at the March meeting as our new CTC Chair. Kristof will commence as Chair following Board approval.

Contact us

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, 2 May 2024.

Please contact us via TraineesCommittee@racp.edu.au if there are any concerns you would like raised.

Dr Hashim Abdeen
Chair, College Trainees’ Committee
March 2024