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Newsletter Issue 6
Welcome to the sixth Newsletter for the Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors (ACF) Project. This newsletter aims to update you on the current project progress from each of the Working Parties and National Steering Group.
PROJECT UPDATE
Following the National Forum in November 2008, work has continued to finalise a number of project initiatives. The forum provided a valuable opportunity for gathering feedback. Two workshops were conducted to review both the results of the barriers to sharing resources survey and the Guidelines for workplace implementation. Dr Greg Keogh provided the Forum participants with an update on project outcomes and Prof Dick Ruffin provided information on the new assessment initiatives. The use of an audience response system in this session was very valuable in providing the large group with an opportunity to comment on specific aspects of the tools.
The following documents have been endorsed by the NSG and are now available under ACF Resources, on the CPMEC website (www.cpmec-old.stagingwebsite.dev) for use:
1. National Term Description Template
This document provides Term Supervisors with a template for developing Term Descriptions. The template has been designed as a word form to allow entry of text and also use of an ACF checkbox list which is included so that term supervisors can indicate the capabilities they expect will be addressed during their specific term.
Guidelines for Term Supervisors using the template are also provided.
In addition, a number of samples of completed Term Descriptions are available to illustrate how the tool can be implemented in practice. These are not intended as the gold standard but rather examples of how supervisors are including the ACF within their Term Descriptions. The samples include; Sample General Medicine 1, Sample General Medicine 2, Sample Haematology/Oncology, Sample General Surgery, Sample Emergency.
2. National Guidelines for Implementation
This document has been developed to raise awareness of the ACF, promote its value to stakeholders and to provide background guidelines and practical examples as to how the ACF may be implemented in your institution. These are guidelines to assist junior doctors, supervisors and institutions in the implementation of the ACF. The document has been developed to include a general description of activities along with suggested examples for individual audiences. The Guidelines are presented as a complete set or you are able to download a version for a specific audience group e.g. Junior Doctors, Medical Educators, Supervisors or Administrators.
The CDLWP is currently working on the development of guidelines for sharing resources, generic acknowledgement of authorship statements and an education package regarding Intellectual Property. These suggestions came from participants at the workshop conducted at the National Forum.
The NSG will be meeting on 24th March and at this meeting will be considering the final Guidelines for assessment for endorsement. A discussion paper has been developed outlining future project directions and potential changes to the governance and working parties. Proposed changes are essential to ensure that the governance is in line with the endorsed project directions. Information regarding these initiatives will be published in the next issue of this newsletter.
The NSG has received official endorsement of the ACF from the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to working with them to further the integration between undergraduate and postgraduate training.
The NPD and the NPC continue to attend the teleconferences of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Assessment subgroup. This attendance is facilitating ongoing dialogue and sharing of ideas and developments.
ASSESSMENT PILOT PROCESS
The Assessment Working Party is currently finalising the arrangements for piloting the National Assessment Tools in second intern term. PMCs have been asked to provide nominations for pilot sites. Once the pilot sites have been determined the AWP will provide supervisors with training in the use of the tools and the link with their Term Description documents. Guidelines for both Supervisors and JMOs are currently being developed to assist the use of the tools. A formal evaluation process will be implemented to gather data on both the tool, resources required for implementation and supervisor training requirements prior to National rollout.
The draft Assessment tools which will be piloted between April and June 2009 are now available on the cpmec website at http://cpmec-old.stagingwebsite.dev/index.cfm?Do=View.Page&PageID=98
ACF REVISION
A subgroup of the National Steering Group met in Sydney on 16 and 17 February to undertake the first major review of the ACF since its launch in November 2006. The purpose of this review was to take into consideration the feedback which had been received since the launch and to consider the way in which capabilities were expressed in order to facilitate assessment. The draft revised version will be circulated shortly for comment/feedback prior to finalisation by late May. Stakeholders will be notified when the draft version is available.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please send comments, enquiries or feedback about this newsletter or the ACF project, to the National Project Coordinator (NPC), Mrs Debbie Paltridge, via dpaltridge@cpmec-old.stagingwebsite.dev.
