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Training and Assessment Review

A review of the ACEM Training Programme was undertaken between January 2010 and July 2011.  The review was designed to ensure that the curriculum remains contemporary in both clinical content and educational method and that ACEM Trainees are experiencing the highest quality teaching and learning opportunities and achieving optimal clinical competence.  The review was overseen by the Training and Assessment Review Working Group (TARWG) reporting to the College’s Board of Education and ACEM Council.

Project Overview

Aim

The project aim was to enhance educational quality in the ACEM Training Programme by assessing and identifying:

  • The teaching, learning and assessment methods currently used.
  • The roles and responsibilities of competent emergency physicians.
  • The learning needs of trainees, including clinical and non-clinical skills, knowledge and attitudes.

Consultative Phases

Submissions
The first consultative stage in the review took the form of an open submissions process. Any organisation, institution, group or individual with an interest in the ACEM Training Programme was able to comment on structured questions regarding the current training programme, indicate desired outcomes of training and also propose innovative ideas for the curriculum.  The submissions were open from February 2010 to 31 May 2010.

Focus Groups
The second consultative phase in the review was a series of focus groups conducted in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia in May to July 2010.  The groups focussed on major issues surrounding the ACEM Training Programme, as identified in the submissions process and/or by relevant College Committees and College Staff.

Project Outcomes

The major outcome of the the ACEM Training and Assessment Review was a set of recommendations for change to the ACEM Training Programme. These ten recommendations cover all aspects of the training programme, including content, teaching and learning resources, assessment processes and the overall structure of the programme.  The recommendations for change were approved by the ACEM Board of Education (BoE) and Council at their July 2011 meetings.
For details, download a copy of the ACEM Recommendations for Curriculum Change (PDF 90KB)

Following the dissemination of the review outcomes, a process of re-writing and implementation will need to be undertaken.  The ACEM Curriculum Revision Project (CRP) aims to undertake the necessary development processes to produce a revised ACEM Training Programme, which is aligned with the recommendations from the review process.

Training and Assessment Review Working Group

The role of the TARWG was to act as a steering group for the training and assessment review process; and specifically to:
• set the agenda, timeline and project framework for the training and assessment review process.
• provide guidance on direction of the training and assessment review process.
• provide guidance on the methodological approaches to be utilised.
• advise on methods to access key groups for participation in the review process.
• provide general expertise on the practice of emergency medicine, when required.
• oversee the analysis process from the review.
• convene specialist reference groups to assist with interpretation of results.
The roles of the TARWG did not include:
• re-writing the curriculum.
• representation of any specific emergency medicine specialty/interest content.

Title                                                 Name                                      Region                
Member Simon Craig VIC
Member Bill Croker NSW
Member Ruth Hew VIC
Chair Alana Killen VIC
Member Pip Keir NSW
Member James Kwan NSW
Member Marian Lee NSW
Member Victor Lee VIC
Member Yuresh Naidoo WA
Trainee Representative Christopher Duncan NZ
Trainee Representative Shane George QLD
Member Terry Brown TAS
Member Ifeanyi Chiezey VIC
Member Simon Chu SA
Member Neil Cunningham VIC
Member Jennifer Davidson NSW
Member Trevor Jackson WA
Member Katie Mills QLD
Member Debra O'Brien WA
Member Andrew Singer ACT
Member Nicholas Taylor ACT
Member Andrew Perry SA
College of Emergency
Nursing Representative
Di Crellin VIC
New Zealand
Government Representative
Des Gorman NZ
Government Representative Peter Brooks* ACT
*Formerly Padmaja Jha
Note. The Training and Assessment Review Working Group (TARWG) was disbanded at the conclusion of the review (July 2011).

Further Information

If you have any queries regarding the ACEM Training and Assessment Review, please email: curriculum@acem.org.au