Chair’s message for e-DiT – November 2022
I’m writing this after a busy few days with the CDT executive team in Canberra.
The AMA office was buzzing following the Federal Budget announcement. Of note we have seen funding for expansion of the Single Employer Model for rural general practice trainees, advanced skills training posts for GPs, GP trainees and rural generalists and expansion of the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program. This is a step in the right direction from a government that seems to have a genuine interest in improving primary care in Australia.
In the lead up to AMA Federal Council we took the opportunity to meet with the National Health Practitioner Ombudsmen, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd, the Australian Medical Council and Safe Work Australia
The National Health Practitioner Ombudsmen (NHPO) is currently undertaking an internal review of the procedural aspects of accreditation processes. We discussed the importance of trainee complaints, reconsideration, review and appeals processes and how the NHPO could best support these processes.
We had a productive discussion with the AMC which signalled a collaborative working relationship. The first part of the meeting was centred around the review of accreditation standards for primary medical programs for which CDT are advocating for increased focus on LGBTQIA+ health, generalism, climate health risks, student wellbeing and inclusion and diversity. We also discussed the upcoming review of accreditation standards for specialist medical programs and flagged that we will be focusing on trainee wellbeing, complaints, selection processes, flexibility, examinations and examinations feedback. The sudden, recent introduction of a fellowship fee by RANZCR was also raised and we are having ongoing discussion with the AMC regarding this issue.
Safe Work Australia has recently amended the model Work Health and Safety Regulations to include specific regulations for psychosocial risks in workplaces. We met to consider how these regulations can be translated and enforced in health care settings and how CDT can contribute to Safe Work Australia’s work in the health care space.
AMA Federal Council followed where, for the first time, we had three DiTs officially sitting on council – Dr Dan Wilson and myself as DiT representatives, and Dr Ekta Paw as an ordinary member. CDT Deputy Co-Chair Dr Elise Buisson also attended as an observer. The importance of improving conditions for general practitioners and attracting and retaining a primary care workforce was a prominent theme across the two days. Two position statements developed by CDT, with significant input from the CDT Policy Advisory Committee, were passed – Competency Based Medical Education and Entry Requirements for Vocational Training were passed, with strong support for both.
After years of zoom meetings it was certainly enjoyable, and more productive to meet face to face. The countdown is now on for our face to face CDT meeting which will be held in Canberra on November 19th and 20th.