Australian Medical CouncilAustralian Medical Council an independent national standards body for an independent national standards body for

medical education and trainingmedical education and training

(amongst other things)(amongst other things)

Emeritus Professor Laurie GeffenEmeritus Professor Laurie Geffen

OutlineOutline

History of medical governance in AustraliaHistory of medical governance in Australia

Main Main functions of the AMCfunctions of the AMC

Overview of training pathways to registrationOverview of training pathways to registration

Does the AMC have a future?Does the AMC have a future?

A brief history ofA brief history of medical professional governance in Australia medical professional governance in Australia

1837- State Registration Boards sole authorities1837- State Registration Boards sole authorities

1914 Three issues on national reform agenda1914 Three issues on national reform agenda Accreditation of medical educationAccreditation of medical education Assessment of overseas trained doctorsAssessment of overseas trained doctors Uniformity of registration policiesUniformity of registration policies

1963-7 1963-7 Australian General Medical CouncilAustralian General Medical Council with all three functions with all three functions

1970-4 1970-4 Advisory Medical Council of AustraliaAdvisory Medical Council of Australia for accreditation only for accreditation only

1984- 1984- Australian Medical CouncilAustralian Medical Council acquires tripartite functions acquires tripartite functions

2000- Australian Medical Council acquires 2 more functions2000- Australian Medical Council acquires 2 more functions Accreditation of specialist trainingAccreditation of specialist training Advice on recognition of new specialitiesAdvice on recognition of new specialities 2006- COAG adopts a national health registration process 2006- COAG adopts a national health registration process State Boards to be superseded State Boards to be superseded AMC’s future role undecidedAMC’s future role undecided

Current functions of the Australian Medical CouncilCurrent functions of the Australian Medical Council

1.1. Accredits Australian and New Zealand medical coursesAccredits Australian and New Zealand medical courses

2.2. Assesses international medical graduatesAssesses international medical graduates

3.3. Advises Medical Boards on uniform approaches to the registration Advises Medical Boards on uniform approaches to the registration of medical practitioners (and maintains a national network of State of medical practitioners (and maintains a national network of State and Territory medical registers)and Territory medical registers)

4.4. Accredits Australasian specialist medical training Accredits Australasian specialist medical training

5.5. Advises Government on the recognition of new medical Advises Government on the recognition of new medical specialtiesspecialties

1:1: Accreditation of medical schools Accreditation of medical schools

1985-1991 11985-1991 1stst edition guidelines: 10 medical schools accredited edition guidelines: 10 medical schools accredited

1992-1996 21992-1996 2ndnd edition guidelines :review of 2 New Zealand schools edition guidelines :review of 2 New Zealand schools

1996-2000 31996-2000 3rdrd edition guidelines: 2 stage process, major changes edition guidelines: 2 stage process, major changes

2001-2004 42001-2004 4thth edition guidelines: alignment with WFME standards edition guidelines: alignment with WFME standards

2004- 2007 7 new medical schools accredited, 2 under review2004- 2007 7 new medical schools accredited, 2 under review

2:2: Assessment of Assessment of International Medical GraduatesInternational Medical Graduates

1837-1971 1837-1971 State and Territory Medical BoardsState and Territory Medical Boards

1971-77 1971-77 COPQ (COPQ (Department of ImmigrationDepartment of Immigration ))

1978-84 1978-84 AMEC independent examining body AMEC independent examining body

19851985 AMC Examinations CommitteeAMC Examinations Committee

1972 -2006 1972 -2006 NASQAC/ SRACs Specialist PathwayNASQAC/ SRACs Specialist Pathway

1993 1993 AMC /Colleges Specialist Pathway AMC /Colleges Specialist Pathway

2007 2007 COAG/AMC /Board IMG AssessmentCOAG/AMC /Board IMG Assessment Competent Authorities pathwayCompetent Authorities pathway AMC Standard pathwayAMC Standard pathway AMC\College SpecialistAMC\College Specialist pathways pathways

3:3: State /National Uniformity in State /National Uniformity in RegistrationRegistration

1837- State and Territory Boards unique legislation and processes1837- State and Territory Boards unique legislation and processes

1987 AMC Uniformity Committee1987 AMC Uniformity Committee

1992 State and trans Tasman mutual recognition legislation1992 State and trans Tasman mutual recognition legislation

1995 1995 National Compendium of Medical RegistersNational Compendium of Medical Registers (NCMR) (NCMR)

2000 Joint Medical Boards Advisory Committee (JMBAC)2000 Joint Medical Boards Advisory Committee (JMBAC)

2005 2005 Australian Index of Medical PractitionersAustralian Index of Medical Practitioners (AIMP) (AIMP)

2006 Productivity Commission Report on the Health Workforce 2006 Productivity Commission Report on the Health Workforce

2008? National Health Practitioners Registration body2008? National Health Practitioners Registration body

4:4: Accreditation of Accreditation of specialist medical trainingspecialist medical training

(including continuing professional development)(including continuing professional development)

1927-2000 Autonomous Specialist Colleges defined entry 1927-2000 Autonomous Specialist Colleges defined entry criteria , training and assessmentscriteria , training and assessments

2001 AMC forms Specialist Education 2001 AMC forms Specialist Education Accreditation Committee Accreditation Committee

2002-7 Existing Colleges accredited (11) 2002-7 Existing Colleges accredited (11)

2006 Minister dissolves NASQAC/SRACs2006 Minister dissolves NASQAC/SRACs

5:5: Recognition of new medical specialtiesRecognition of new medical specialties

2002 AMC Speciality Recognition Advisory Committee established2002 AMC Speciality Recognition Advisory Committee established to provide advice to Federal Health Minister after 2-stage processto provide advice to Federal Health Minister after 2-stage process

Two new specialities approved thus farTwo new specialities approved thus far Pain medicinePain medicine Palliative medicinePalliative medicine

Two new specialities have passed Stage 1Two new specialities have passed Stage 1 Addiction medicineAddiction medicine Sport and Exercise medicineSport and Exercise medicine

Three new specialities under review Three new specialities under review Sexual healthSexual health Rural and remote medicineRural and remote medicine Cosmetic surgeryCosmetic surgery

Medical education and training in Australia

STAGESTAGE PROVIDERPROVIDER QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY ASSURANCE

BasicBasic Medical schools (19)Medical schools (19)

4 to 6 year courses 4 to 6 year courses

Australian Medical Council Australian Medical Council National accreditation National accreditation

Pre-Pre-vocationalvocational

State Health Departments (8) State Health Departments (8)

2 or more years2 or more years

Postgraduate Medical CouncilsPostgraduate Medical Councils

State-based accreditationState-based accreditation

Post - Post -

graduategraduate

Specialist Colleges (14 )Specialist Colleges (14 )

3 to 7 years3 to 7 years

Australian Medical CouncilAustralian Medical Council

National accreditationNational accreditation

Continuing Continuing professional professional developmentdevelopment

Specialist Colleges (14 )Specialist Colleges (14 )

Career longCareer long

Australian Medical CouncilAustralian Medical Council

National accreditation National accreditation

International Medical Graduate PathwaysInternational Medical Graduate Pathways

StandardStandard Competent AuthoritiesCompetent Authorities SpecialistSpecialistMCQ + clinical exam or MCQ + clinical exam or MCQ + work place MCQ + work place assessment > assessment >

AMC certificateAMC certificate

Advanced standing + Advanced standing + workplace assessment >workplace assessment >

AMC certificateAMC certificate

AMC documentation + AMC documentation + college assessment + college assessment + workplace assessment>workplace assessment>

College fellowshipCollege fellowship

Credential verificationCredential verification Credential verificationCredential verification Credential verificationCredential verification

English testEnglish test English testEnglish test English testEnglish test

Screening examScreening exam

Structured clinical Structured clinical

interviewinterview Structured clinical interviewStructured clinical interview Structured clinical Structured clinical

interviewinterview

Structured orientationStructured orientation Structured orientationStructured orientation Structured orientationStructured orientation

Continuing professional Continuing professional developmentdevelopment

Continuing professional Continuing professional developmentdevelopment

Continuing professional Continuing professional developmentdevelopment

Does the AMC have a future?Does the AMC have a future?

National body on standards of medical training and practiceNational body on standards of medical training and practice

Unmatched expertise in Australia in processes of quality assuranceUnmatched expertise in Australia in processes of quality assurance

Unmatched experience in Australia in IMG assessment Unmatched experience in Australia in IMG assessment

Experience in compiling a national medical registerExperience in compiling a national medical register

Pioneer in formation of international medical regulatory bodyPioneer in formation of international medical regulatory body

Leading role in international bodies on medical educationLeading role in international bodies on medical education