Understanding International Medical Graduate (IMG) assessment experiences and performance
Why this project matters
In Australia about 33% of doctors complete medical school training in other countries. Rural/remote areas (30 % of Australians; 65% of Indigenous Australians) are particularly reliant on International Medical Graduates (IMGs). These areas experience the greatest
health inequities and challenge of access to care. This poses challenges to IMGs who may be new to Australia, Australian healthcare, and ways of working, impacting healthcare outcomes for communities they serve.
Strong IMG assessment processes and support ensuring IMGs are prepared to practise medicine safely and competently in Australia are vital. Challenges in maintaining an appropriately skilled medical workforce in rural/remote areas, require better data and workforce modelling to inform policy. IMGs are a heterogenous workforce, and better understanding their skills, aspirations and experiences is a key to enabling constructive change. For example, modifications to migration, assessment, and registration requirements, and improved training, supervision, support and job design could assist IMGs to maximise their contribution to communities they serve. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the recruitment, assessment, registration and opportunities to practice for IMGs. Countries with substantial reliance on IMGs for medical workforce are examining how to address bottlenecks and ensure efficient pathways.
There is an opportunity for a detailed stocktake of IMG assessment pathways and career models with the view to ensuring currency and relevance for the current healthcare and policy environment.
Aims
This project is designed to provide information on the experiences of International Medical Graduates (IMGs), recruiting health services and other key stakeholders in the common assessment and registration pathways for medical practitioners in Australia. The outcomes of this project will be used to inform policy development and to improve IMG assessment pathways.
This project adopts a mixed-method research approach. It combines the views of IMGs regarding pathways and career experiences with qualitative insights of key stakeholders and quantitative datasets. Specifically, it draws on this evidence base to develop IMG personas and journey maps, and to shed light on the role IMGs play in the medical workforce.
Advisory Group
An Advisory Group provides expert guidance, advice and support to the project and the AMC. The Advisory Group, is chaired by Dr Vijay Roach and members representing include: health consumers and community groups; the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC); postgraduate medical education councils who support IMGs; executive staff of health services; the Medical Board of Australia; Ahpra; the Australian Medical Association; AMC committees; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples; relevant government agencies; International Medical Graduates; IMG recruiters, examiners and supervisors; Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) providers; and bridging course providers.
Outcomes
- Review the literature to explore the experiences of IMGs, and to identify trends, gaps and good practices to inform quality improvements.
- Identify ‘quick wins’ for improvement through preliminary research and stakeholder engagement for action at the AMC, and a system level, including opportunities for interagency action.
- Provide a more differentiated, evidence-based picture of the heterogeneity of IMGs and their current and future potential contribution to the healthcare of Australian communities through detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Inform a clearer understanding of the thinking, feeling, and experiences of IMGs as well as the perspectives of other stakeholders through evidence-based analysis.
- Inform policy development linked to the National Medical Workforce Strategy, improve IMG assessment pathways and communication channels, and identify further support for candidates to improve retention and progression.
Scope and Deliverables
The proposed project scope includes the common assessment pathways for IMGs.
The project is structured in three stages, with corresponding deliverables:
- Stage 1: A Data Diagnostic and Quick Wins Report
- Stage 2: IMG Personas and Interim Report
- Stage 3: Journey Maps and Final Report.
Opportunities to Contribute
This project is based on co-design methodologies. The Advisory Group provides input through zoom meetings and follow up advice through surveys and focus groups. The project will also include a consultation phase which provides the opportunity for broader stakeholders of IMG assessment to review the proposed deliverables and shape the end products.
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