The NFS allows new Fellows to share their experiences of transitioning from Advanced Training to becoming specialist physicians. This feedback helps us support our members and improve training in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Eligibility

All members who completed a RACP Advanced, Faculty or Chapter training program between 1 April 2022 and 31 May 2023 were eligible to participate in the 2024 survey.

Evidence-based improvements

The insights gained from the results of New Fellow Survey help us to:

• understand the challenges encountered during the transition to unsupervised professional practice  
• identify areas for training improvements 
• provide tailored support and/or resources  
• better understand our members' positions and the barriers associated with acquiring specialist roles

Responses are strictly confidential and only used for quality improvement purposes. Identifying details will be removed and only aggregated results will be published. 

About the New Fellow Survey 

First introduced in 2021 and conducted again in 2023 and 2024, the survey has led to significant improvements and ongoing initiatives including:

Educational resources

• new RACP online courses and resources, such as a Health Policy Systems and Advocacy course (released 2024) and a physician self-care and wellbeing resource online course
• exploring the transition to professional practice program to help address commonly encountered challenges
• improving the accessibility of existing resources to assist new Fellows with their transition to unsupervised practice

Changes to training and supervision requirements

• mandating the Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP) for all supervisors of trainees
• revising the RACP Flexible Training Policy (PDF) to support improved gender equity, wellbeing and inclusion during training
• revising of the Advanced Training Research Project requirements to provide greater flexibility (including a new exemption process, extension of deadlines to submit recognition of prior learning applications and the broadening of accepted project types)

Improvements in RACP Services

• establishing a new Member Support Centre to assist members in navigating the College, improving enquiry responses, and enhancing resolution times to better support your needs
• developing a new CPD (Continuing Professional Development) strategy
• creating a new strategy for regional, rural, and remote physicians.

2024 NFS insights

Preparedness for unsupervised practice

New Fellows were asked how well their RACP training prepared them for unsupervised practice in the 10 domains of professional practice outlined in the Professional Practice Framework. The majority reported feeling prepared for unsupervised practice, especially in terms of competencies relating to communication, judgement and decision making and ethics and professional behaviour. However, the survey identified gaps in competencies relating to health policy systems and advocacy, and research.

Transitioning from trainee to Fellow

New Fellows experienced challenges with:

• feeling confident making unsupervised decisions
• transitioning to a less supported environment
• balancing new workload expectations
• finding consistent employment
• navigating private practice

About 1 in 5 new Fellows found the transition to unsupervised professional practice challenging, and over half feel that more support from the College would be beneficial. Additionally, maintaining work/life balance and completing the Advanced Training Research Projects continue to be pain points during training. 

Read more in the 2024 New Fellow Summary Report. (PDF)

Contact us if you have any questions about the survey.