New standards for assessment of specialist medical training programs

In 2002, the Australian Medical Council (AMC) implemented a process for assessment and accreditation of specialist medical training programs.

Since then, AMC assessment teams have assessed the training and professional development programs of 12 of the specialist medical colleges. The first round of AMC assessments of college programs was completed in mid-2008.

An AMC working party, which comprises nominees of key stakeholders in the AMC assessment process, such as colleges, specialist medical trainees, other phases of medical education, health departments, health consumers and the Medical Council of New Zealand has been reviewing the standards against which programs are assessed. The working party has taken account of the AMC's experience, national policy developments relating to specialist medical training and international developments in medical education.

Draft standards were circulated to stakeholder organisations for comment in January 2008. The AMC thanks all organisations which provided comment on the standards. The standards were endorsed by the June 2008 meeting of the Australian Medical Council. A copy is available here.

The AMC has also reviewed and updated the formal description of the AMC assessment process. It is not proposing major change to the process, but the amended description reflects the evolution of the AMC process since its introduction in 2002.

A copy of the updated statement concerning the AMC assessment process is available here.

New procedures for AMC assessment of medical courses

In 2007, the AMC completed a review of the accreditation standards for basic medical education.

In June 2008, the Council approved revised procedures for the AMC accreditation process.

Changes include:

• A clear statement on the scope of the AMC's accreditation role
• A revised definition of a major change to a medical course, and revised procedures for assessing major course changes.
• Updated policy on conflict of interest and confidentiality.

 A copy of the new procedures is available here.