• Who is eligible?
• Program Expectations
• Use of Information Technology
• How to Apply?
• Selection Process
• Fees
• Contact

What is ACRRM’s Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) Pilot Program?

The WBA pilot program has been developed for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) on the Standard Pathway working in general practice as an alternative to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Clinical Examination.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has developed WBA processes and tools to assess the clinical competence of IMGs who have passed the AMC Multi-Choice Question (MCQ) examination, but who have not progressed through the AMC clinical examination and already have limited registration with the appropriate medical board to work in general practice.

The objective of the program is to provide a fair and effective WBA pathway alternative for Standard Pathway IMGs working in general practice, that is cost and time efficient in a wide range of geographical settings.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply for the WBA program applicants must:

1. Have achieved a pass grade in the AMC onshore/offshore MCQ Examination and be eligible to sit the AMC Clinical Examination.
2. Have been awarded a primary degree in medicine and surgery after an approved course of study by a medical school listed in the current International Medical Education Directory (IMED) or other publications approved by AMC.
3. Provide evidence of English Language Proficiency (e.g. IELTS).
4. Have limited registration as a medical practitioner for Area of Need under the Health Practitioner National Law Act 2009.
5. Have achieved a pass grade in the pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI) - if a PESCI was not required at the time of your registration application, please provide evidence to support this, e.g. a letter from AHPRA in your State.
6. Be employed in a clinical position at an accredited training general practice within the geographical areas covered by ACRRM accredited Training Providers (TPs) - all TPs on the map below except Victorian Metropolitan Alliance General Practice Training and WentWest.

Acceptance onto the WBA program will be conditional on TPs delivering the formative assessment components of the program.

*While it is preferred that applicants are working in an accredited training practice, they may not be excluded if the practice is seeking accreditation and is considered by the TP to potentially be able to meet the standards required for accreditation.

Program Expectations

The assessments in the WBA have been designed to provide a valid, reliable, logistically feasible and comprehensive process for candidates to demonstrate competence and performance that meets minimum set standards (end Post Graduate Year 1) in knowledge, skills and attitudes across all clinical domains and dimensions, including safe and culturally appropriate application in the Australian setting.  This is the standard required by the AMC for the awarding the equivalent of the Part 2 exam.  To ensure equity with and for other Part 2 candidates, candidates in the ACRRM WBA program are assessed using AMC approved assessment processes and standards.  Candidates in this program must therefore successfully meet the prescribed assessment requirements before the AMC awards a certificate that is the equivalent of the Part 2 exam, which will then enable the successful candidate to obtain general registration with AHPRA. 

To successfully complete the 12 month WBA program the candidate must:

• complete the three formative Mini Clinical Examinations (mini-CEXs) assessed by the TP; in the second, fourth and seventh months of the program;
• complete the ten formative Case Based Discussions (CBDs) x 2 cases conducted monthly by the TP, commencing in the second month of the program;
• pass the summative mini-CEX assessed by ACRRM in the sixth, ninth and eleventh month;
• pass the summative CBDs at 4, 7 and 10 months; and
• pass the Multi Source Feedback (MSF) overall.

A candidate handbook which sets out the details of the program rules, regulations and requirements will be provided to successful candidates prior to their commencement in the pilot.

Use of Information Technology

The ACRRM WBA model utilises Information Technology (IT) to support the assessment modalities.  For example the formative and summative mini-CEXs will be conducted remotely using iPod devices to record the patient consultations.  Further information and instruction will be made available to successful applicants.

How to apply?

The application process is closed.  To apply for the WBA pilot program you will need to download and complete the application form which will be available here when the application process is open.

There are seven parts to the application form which must be completed.  Processing of applications will not commence until all parts of the application form have been received by ACRRM.  All applications are scored on merit therefore the standard of responses will have a strong bearing towards successful acceptance onto the program.

Part One My Identity

Please fill out the first section of the application form with your current contact details.

Part Two My Principal Supervisor Details

You must print Appendix A (Confirmation of Supervision of Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) Applicant) and hand it to your nominated supervisor for completion and forwarding to ACRRM.  Your application will not be processed until your supervisor confirmation is received.

Part Three Eligibility Criteria

You must meet all the eligibility criteria to be considered for the WBA program.  Please check whether you meet all the criteria before submitting an application.

Part Four Selection Criteria

To measure your suitability for the WBA program you will need to answer all five of the Selection Criteria questions.  By responding to each question carefully and thoughtfully you will help the Selection Panel to assess your suitability for the program.  Please note this is a merit based process.

Part Five Supporting Documentation

Please ensure you have included all supporting documentation with you application.  Please include evidence for any exemptions, for example IELTS or PESCI, a letter from AHPRA in your State.

Part Six Applicant Declaration

Please select if you have acknowledged the declaration.

Part Seven Privacy Notice

Please read the Privacy Notice.

All applications must be emailed to wbaacrrm [dot] org [dot] au along with all supporting documents.

Closing Date

The application process is closed.

Selection Process

In the interests of fairness, all applicants that submit the required documents by the closing date will be subject to the same selection process, as detailed below:

• Eligibility – only applicants that meet the six eligibility points above will be considered for the program;
• Scoring – eligible applicants will have their answers to the five ‘Selection Criteria’ questions scored out of five by three ACRRM Fellows.  The applicants’ average total score out of 25 will be calculated.  Applicants scoring 17 to 25 will be shortlisted for the program.  Applicants scoring 13 to 16 will be offered a short teleconference with the ACRRM Fellows that scored their answers, to try to improve their score to 17 or above.  Applicants that are unsuccessful in this interview and applicants scoring 0 to 12 will not be offered a position on the program;
• Training Providers – shortlisted applicants will be judged on their appropriateness for the program by the training providers covering their geographical area.  If no training provider agrees to support an applicant, then they will not be offered a position on the program;
• AMC – the details of the remaining applicants will be sent to the AMC for verification.  Successful applicants will then be offered a position on the program.

Fees

Applicants selected into the pilot program will be required to pay an administration fee of $600 to AMC.

For this pilot ONLY funding received by ACRRM from the DOHA will cover the medical educator support, assessment and administrative costs.

Contact

For any further information regarding the WBA model please contact:

ACRRM IMG Assessment Team

Email: wbaacrrm [dot] org [dot] au Or by phoning 07 3105 8200