Review of Accreditation Standards for Primary Medical Programs (medical schools)
Where is the medical schools accreditation standards review now?
In November 2022, the AMC closed a formal consultation on detailed proposed changes to the medical school accreditation standards. The AMC is reviewing stakeholder feedback and refining the proposed accreditation standards. Consultation documentation from the previous rounds of consultation can be found under the Communiques section below.
August 2022 – Formal consultation on proposals for detailed changes
April 2021 – Formal consultation on the scope of the review
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is reviewing the approved accreditation standards for primary medical programs. The current accreditation standards are available on the AMC’s website here. The accredited programs and medical schools are listed on the AMC’s website here.
In the scoping consultation, which was undertaken in mid-2021, the AMC sought feedback on how the standards should evolve to ensure that medical graduates continue to have the knowledge, skills and professional attributes to practice safely and competently. The scoping work identified thematic areas of change, including 14 content areas and 5 structural areas. Feedback from stakeholders and AMC policy work is informing the development of revisions across these areas.
The review additionally considers relevant strategic work by the AMC, in particular:
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The completed AMC review of the National Framework for Prevocational (PGY1 and PGY2) Medical Training. The latest news on the framework review can be found on the AMC’s website here.
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The work of the AMC on improving the health of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori people through culturally safe practice across our business areas.
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A joint project with the Australian Digital Health Agency which developed A Framework For A Digitally Capable and Enabled Medical Profession, available here.
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AMC resources on best practice in assessment, available here.
The AMC undertakes broad consultations so that proposals are informed by a wide range of views from all stakeholders in the medical education process. These stakeholders include education providers, learners, patient safety bodies, health services, the medical profession, education regulatory bodies, governments, health consumers and the community, and other health professions. The consultation approach is iterative and responsive to the feedback received.
Combined process for review of Indigenous health content in medical school standards and Prevocational Framework documents
The AMC is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori people through medical education and training standards. As a key part of this commitment, AMC acknowledges the right to self-determination and so is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori people when developing policy which may impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples.
The AMC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Standing Committee has established a combined process for review of cultural safety and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health content in medical school standards and Prevocational Framework documents. A Sub Group of the Standing Committee has been established to lead development of Indigenous health content across these reviews.
This process includes an open invitation to Yarning Circles for all Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori staff in medical schools to inform the development of proposals. Yarning Circles were undertaken in late 2021 and were organised again in November 2022. Also underpinning the review process are targeted consultations aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori health organisations. A targeted consultation of these organisations was done at the beginning of 2022 and two rounds of workshops were undertaken in 2021 and 2022.
If you are an Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and/or Māori person and would like to be involved with AMC reviews, please contact Ms Belinda Gibb, Manager, Indigenous Policy and Programs at belinda.gibb@amc.org.au.
Review Governance
The AMC is the accreditation authority for the medical profession under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory.
The AMC develops accreditation standards for medical programs and their education providers on behalf of the Medical Board of Australia. The Board approves the accreditation standards for the medical profession.
These standards are then applied by the AMC to the assessment of medical programs for accreditation and monitoring of the accredited programs and providers.
The Medical Council New Zealand also approves the standards for the medical profession in New Zealand and the AMC accreditation processes for primary medical qualifications apply across Australian and New Zealand medical schools.
The AMC has established a working group to undertake the review. It includes members from Australia and New Zealand drawn from: medical education providers, peak professional bodies, medical students, prevocational training, health services, health consumers as well as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Māori people. The working group reports to both the Medical School Accreditation Committee and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee.
Membership of the Standards Review Working Group is available here.
Membership of the AMC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Standing Committee Sub Group is available here.
For further information please contact the standards review team at
standardsreview@amc.org.au.