COVID-19
Accreditation requirements in 2020 in response to COVID-19
In line with Australian Government directives for COVID-19, the AMC offices closed on 26 March 2020. The business has now returned to a mix of of remote and office based work.
The following outlines how we will manage general enquires and changes to current business processes. For any enquiries, please use the contact form.
For information regarding changes to accreditation practices
The COVID-19 pandemic places significant additional responsibilities on the people and institutions with whom the AMC works most closely. AMC actions are aims at minimising the impact of its work on health systems and providing flexibility in how it assesses medical programs and their providers against the approved accreditation standards.
The AMC uses a mix of accreditation tools to assess medical programs and their providers. The tools including site visits, meetings, observation of practices, and gathering of evidence through submissions, surveys and data collections.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the AMC has completed accreditation assessments online, and will schedule short site visits as restrictions ease. In making decisions about the scope and focus of site visits, the AMC is considering how best it can develop an objective and comprehensive assessment of the medical program and the provider against the accreditation standards. The AMC is discussing accreditation processes and tools for 2021 directly with education providers.
Accreditation committees, teams, working groups and events
In 2020, the AMC has held online meetings of its accreditation committees, teams and expert groups. The AMC will negotiate meeting for 2021 with each specific group, within safe practices and Government restrictions. AMC accreditation and medical education related workshops will be held online.
Medical schools
The AMC has communicated directly with all medical schools in Australia and New Zealand, on flexibility in accreditation processes and deadlines, and on the information medical schools should provide to the AMC about changes to medical programs during 2020. Further information on the process can be found here and the Notification of change form, can be downloaded here.
The AMC has provided explanatory notes to the Standards for Assessment and Accreditation of Primary Medical Programs by the Australian Medical Council to assist medical schools. The explanatory notes are available here.
Prevocational training and assessment
WBA programs and providers
The AMC has communicated directly with all WBA providers, outlining flexible arrangements for providers to report on changes in assessment approaches and the delivery of, their WBA programs during 2020. Further information is available here.
Intern training accreditation authorities
At the end of March 2020, the Medical Board of Australia advised of its decisions concerning rotation, supervision, assessment, and time requirements for interns in 2020. (See here.)
The AMC has advised intern training accreditation authorities that it expects they need to review their practices for assuring the quality of training posts and programs in health services during this time. The AMC will be communicating with intern training accreditation authorities about AMC monitoring of their processes in light of these changes circumstances and changes Medical Board of Australia requirements, during 2020.
Pre-employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI) Providers
The AMC will be communicating with PESCI providers about more flexible arrangements for reporting during 2020.
Specialist medical colleges
The AMC has communicated directly with all specialist medical colleges on flexibility in accreditation processes and deadlines, and on the information colleges should provide to the AMC about changes to specialist medical programs during 2020. Further information on the process can be found here and the Notification of change form, can be downloaded here.
AMC joint statements with partner organisations
Medical Deans, AMC and Medical Board statement: Importance of clinical experience for medical students’ learning and progression
Updates and resources
| Document | Date added/updated |
| AMC medical school accreditation and changes 2020 | 26 March 2020 |
| AMC explanatory notes to primary medical program standards April 2020 | April 2020 |
| Importance of clinical experience for medical students’ learning and progression | 7 April 2020 |
| AMC workplace based assessment program accreditation and changes 2020 | 9 April 2020 |
| AMC notification of change(s) form medical schools | 16 April 2020 |
| AMC WBA notification of change(s) form | 16 April 2020 |
| AMC notification of change(s) form specialist colleges | 2 July 2020 |
| AMC specialist program acceditation and changes | 2 July 2020 |
Questions
If there are any questions, please fill out the contact form