Specialist trainees ‘highly satisfied’ with work and training experience

AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, said today that the survey has recorded a high level of satisfaction among Australia’s 16,800 specialist trainees with both their work and training experiences.

A/Prof Owler said that, overall, the survey respondents reported a more positive view of their training experience than respondents to the first AMA survey four years ago.

“The survey shows that medical colleges are performing well in most areas of vocational training,” A/Prof Owler said.

“Career choice, level of supervision, standard of training, clinical experience, and access to safe working hours are areas where trainees continue to have a high level of confidence.

“There are however, significant areas where colleges have fallen short of their trainees’ expectations, many of which have remained unchanged since 2010.

“There has been underperformance in responsiveness to cases of bullying and harassment, training feedback, and appeals and remediation processes.

“The cost of training remains an issue for trainees.

“Trainees are also uncertain about how to access academic streams and accredited overseas rotations as part of their training program.”

A/Prof Owler said the survey not only highlights strengths and areas for improvement in training programs, and identifies emerging issues and trends in vocational training, it can now provide longitudinal data on core issues over the period covered by the two surveys since 2010.

“These results will help medical colleges and health departments shape and improve the quality of vocational training, and will inform AMA advocacy for vocational training.

“Australia must maintain the quality of vocational training in the face of escalating trainee numbers, and a changing work and policy environment.

“To ensure that quality is maintained and improved, the AMA is calling for funding for a National Training Survey to monitor and inform the quality of training nationally.

“A National Training Survey – similar to the successful United Kingdom model – would dramatically improve workforce planning, including important downstream planning to guarantee employment for doctors when they have finished their specialist training.”

A/Prof Owler said the AMA strongly supports the Australian model of specialist training, which does a great job in preparing doctors for independent practice.

“Our medical colleges do their best to heed the views of their trainees,” A/Prof Owler said.

“The AMA surveys provide the colleges with valuable complementary information to help them further support their trainees. 

“The challenge is to manage career expectations, promote a safe and healthy workplace, and better integrate high-quality prevocational and vocational training pathways to ensure Australia continues to produce highly qualified doctors.”

The 2014 AMA Specialist Trainee Survey is available at https://ama.com.au/article/2014-ama-specialist-trainee-survey-report-findings-february-2015

23 February 2015

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