What are Progress Review Panels?

Progress Review Panels (PRPs) are a group involved in physician education to review trainee progress and make evidence-based decisions about whether trainees are meeting the standards for their phase of training.

There are 2 types of Progress Review Panels used in our training programs.

• Primary panel: our training program committee oversees a training program. This will be the default panel that each trainee is assigned to.

• Secondary panel: these panels are typically set up within a specific training setting, network, or geographic area. Trainees are assigned to the panel based on the primary training setting where they’re completing their training. For the 2025 rollout, secondary panels are only in place for Basic Training programs.

Both panels are part of our education governance structure that promotes fair, transparent, and curriculum-aligned progression decision-making.

Why are we introducing Progress Review Panels?

Progress Review Panels are being introduced as part of our new curricula. They aim to:

• support consistent, fair, and transparent decisions about trainee progression
• bring together multiple perspectives and data sources to make robust decisions
• identify and support trainees who may need additional help
• ensure that trainees are meeting the expected standard for each phase of training

How do Progress Review Panels work?

Panels typically meet 2–4 times per year. They use aggregated assessment data from learning and observation captures, progress reports, and supervisor feedback to inform their decisions. Panels aim to make decisions by consensus and fairly manage any conflicts of interest.

Panels are responsible for:

• reviewing trainee progress against curriculum standards (competency) and training program requirements (compliance)
• making decisions about whether a trainee can progress, needs to progress with conditions, or can’t progress to the next phase of training
• identifying trainees who may need additional support via the training support pathway.
• setting clear, achievable conditions if required. This can include proposing modified training requirements for individual trainees, as appropriate
• recording recommended trainee progression decisions via the Training Management Platform (TMP)
• coordinating the sensitive communication of panel feedback between trainees and their supervisors (prior to progression decisions being published in TMP)

Who can be on a Progress Review Panel?

Progress Review Panels are flexible by design to suit the local training context. Each panel is made up of individuals with experience in delivering training programs and education at their setting. The panel should be diverse and suit the needs of the training setting(s) involved in the panel.

Key roles include:

• Panel Chair – a Fellow with a strong understanding of the training program and its requirements, who leads the decision-making discussions.
• Panel Lead – manages logistics like meeting coordination, agenda setting, and any follow-up actions.

The panel lead role may also be the chair.

Other panel members may include:

• Directors of Physician/Paediatric Education (DPEs) must be part of any Basic Training panels
• Director of Medical Services
• Education Supervisors / Rotation Supervisors
• Heads of Department
• Trainee representatives
• Nurses
• Allied health professionals
• Representatives from diverse professional or cultural backgrounds
• Other relevant members

Setting up a Progress Review Panel

If you’re involved in the delivery of training at your setting/network, here’s what you need to do to set up a panel.

1. Find appropriate panel members: Ensure a mix of supervisors and educators with expertise in the program.
2. Nominate a panel chair: A Fellow with a strong understanding of the training program and its requirements, who leads the decision-making discussions.
3. Plan meetings: At least twice per year, with flexibility based on trainee numbers and timing of training phases.
4. Complete the set up form: Provide your panel details to us, including training settings/networks, panel members (if known) and panel meetings (if scheduled).