Background
The Medical Leadership and Management Curriculum (the Curriculum) is the key Policy guiding the implementation of the education and training programs of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. The Curriculum identifies graduate outcomes, learning outcomes, training objectives and aligned assessment methods for members of the College (Fellows, Associate Fellows and Candidates) and RACMA’s educational program participants.
Since the current Curriculum was launched in late 2011, additions have been made to knowledge learning objectives and these have been published on the ‘Curriculum’ page of the College website as ‘study themes’. Work has ensued on workplace skill expectations and prioritising attitude development.
In 2017 the Board endorsed a change in the model of learning in the Fellowship Training Program from a progression model to an integrated one. It was acknowledged that a comprehensive renewal of the Curriculum may be required.
For 2018 the ETC is seeking an articulated syllabus for workplace observation and feedback in the Medical Management Practice Domain, including a plan for supervisor training.
For 2018/2019 the ETC is seeking a comprehensive curriculum outline for the Personal and Professional Leadership Domain.
These developments have necessitated some changes in the continuing Terms of Reference of the Curriculum Steering Committee, from 2018.
Scope
Development and monitoring of the Curriculum is the responsibility of the Education and Training Committee (ETC) of the Board and it receives advice from the Curriculum Steering Committee (CSC).
The Curriculum Steering Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending updating of the RACMA Curriculum.
Membership
The Chair of the Curriculum Steering Committee is appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Chair of the Education and Training Committee. The standing members of the CSC are:
- Committee Chair
- Lead Fellow for the Research Training Domain
- Lead Fellow for the Personal and Professional Leadership Development Domain
- Chair Continuing Education Program
- College Fellow with academic background/experience
- Candidate (identified by the Chair Candidate Advisory Committee)
- New Fellow/s
- RACMA Dean
- Consumer (appointed in accordance with College policies)
The membership may include the Chairs of Working Parties for relevant periods. The membership will be representative of the College policies on diversity in governance.
Responsibilities
- To consider the currency of the graduate outcomes, learning outcomes, training activities and alignment of assessment methods in the Curriculum for the Fellowship Training program.
- To seek advice, to consult and to prioritise aspects of the Curriculum that need to be addressed in order to meet standards of best practice in the delivery of the Curriculum.
Processes
- The Curriculum Steering Committee meets at least three times per year, and ad hoc depending on the progress of relevant issues.
- It will receive reports of progress on Action Items from previous meetings.
- It will receive progress reports from members and working parties.
- It will receive requests for advice from other Committees of RACMA (e.g Education and Training Committee, Learning and Teaching advisory Committee).
- It will recommend changes to the Curriculum, to the Education and Training Committee.
- It will recommend topics for prioritising in educative activities.
- It may form Working Parties for issues requiring special investigation and consultation.
- The CSC will develop an annual workplan identifying the priorities for activities for each year, which will be incorporated in the annual report to the Education and Training Committee.
- It will identify priorities with financial implications by December each year to allow for adequate budgeting.
- It will suggest the contents of communications plans if significant recommended changes are endorsed.
Working Parties
- The CSC may establish working parties for issues that require significant investigation and consultation.
- Working Parties will generally be Chaired by a member of the CSC, or a Fellow with particular expertise or interest.
- If not already appointed, the Chair of a Working Party will be a member of the CSC for the duration of the work of the working party.
- Working parties will include new Fellows and Candidates, with appropriate recognition of need for diversity balance.
- Working Parties will be formed with specific objectives and for specified times.
Evaluation
The CSC will develop processes for evaluating its activities, which will include:
- Checklists for the conduct of its meetings on a regular basis;
- Review of its responses to reports from Annual Candidate and Supervisor Surveys on an annual basis; and
- Seeking information to allow for benchmarking with other Specialist Medical Colleges, or other appropriate Educational Groups.
