AMC Annual Report 2019
AMC Annual Report 2019

Governance activities 2018-19

Strategic Plan drives activities

The Strategic Plan 2018-2028, as presented to Council in June 2018, was the driver of the AMC’s governance and operational activities over 2018-19. The Strategic Plan is one of the AMC’s central documents, setting out the public value of the work it does, defining its vision and what is needed to achieve the vision. Over 2018-19, the AMC developed Strategic Pillar Plans to determine priorities and drive initiatives and progress the implementation of specific projects, several of which are outlined in the highlights section.

Annual General Meeting of Council 2018: Launceston

The 2018 AMC AGM was held in Launceston, Tasmania, on Friday 30 November 2018. Site visits were conducted in rural and regional Tasmania on Thursday 29 November 2018. The AGM marked the appointment of the new President (Professor David Ellwood) and Deputy President (Professor Kate Leslie AO) of the AMC.

The focus of the site visits was regionalism and generalism, and included meetings with representatives at the following:

  • Launceston: Launceston General Hospital
  • Launceston Community: Northern Community Centre, Aboriginal Community Health Centre, Northern Midlands Medical Centre, Headspace
  • Burnie and Regional North Tasmania: St Vincent Nursing Home, Rural Clinical School – Burnie, North West Regional Hospital, Rural and Regional Medical Training Hub, Mersey Community Hospital
  • Hobart: University of Tasmania, The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Postgraduate Council of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Division, Workplace Planning Unit – DHHS

Discussions focused on the interdependence of local and national healthcare and education challenges and their intersection with key local and national health and education systems, institutions and community centres.
The AGM commenced with Rural Health Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Paul Worley, presenting to Council his work on rural generalism. Other presentations including review of the AMC’s Constitution, membership linkages with the AMC’s strategic direction, values and engagement approach of the AMC, model of governance and how we invite nominations to Council, the Reconciliation Action Plan, and Workplace Based Assessment project work following the WBA National Summit hosted by the Assessment and Accreditation teams earlier in the year, and changes to Intern training.

General Meeting of Council 2019: Canberra

The AMC’s General Meeting was held in Canberra on Friday 14 June 2019. A key item for discussion included a Special Resolution to amend the Constitution of the AMC to implement changes to the membership and the formation of a new Standing Committee, as detailed elsewhere in this report.
Council received a report from three of the four Chairs of the AMC Standing Committees: Professor Geoff McColl, Chair, Medical School Accreditation Committee, Professor Kate Leslie AO, Chair, Specialist Education Accreditation Committee, and Emeritus Professor David Prideaux, Chair, Assessment Committee
Following the General Meeting, three workshops were presented under the AMC’s Strategic Pillars:

  • Implementing AMC’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan objectives (Strategic Pillar 3 – Promoting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Health)
  • Medical student and trainee wellbeing (Strategic Pillar 2 – Medical education and training responsive to community health needs)
  • Artificial Intelligence and Ethics (Strategic Pillar 4 – Promoting Professional Practice in a technology and AI driven world)
Diagram of What we know about doctors' wellbeing now

AMC Constitutional Review 2018-19

AMC Directors established a Constitutional Review Group (CRG) in June 2018 following discussions and feedback from members that the AMC Constitution needed further review particularly regarding the selection of members and the skills mix of members. The Group was tasked to review the Constitution to ensure it reflected the AMC’s current objects, strategy, activities and operations and that its processes continued to be workable and sufficiently flexible to meet the practical needs of the organisation.
The CRG, comprising Mr Philip Pigou, CEO (Chair); Professor David Ellwood, President; Professor Kate Leslie AO, Deputy President; Dr Jules Catt, AMC Director; Ms Karin Oldfield, Company Secretary; Mr John Topfer, Legal Counsel; Ms Kirsty White, Director, Accreditation and Standards (observer), reported to Council in November 2018.
On the recommendation of Directors, and in accordance with Article 5.5 of the AMC Ltd Constitution, Members adopted a Special Resolution to amend the AMC Constitution at their meeting on 14 June 2019. The changes included:

  • formation of an Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee as a Standing Committee of the AMC (see below)
  • appointment of additional registered medical practitioners taking the number of registered medical practitioner appointments from eight to nine with new categories for a vocational trainee and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registered medical practitioner along with reducing the number of members of State or Territory Medical Boards of the medical Board of Australia from four to two; and
  • removal of external ex-officio Council member positions with review and appointment of all members by Directors to provide consistency across appointments.

Establishment of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Standing Committee

The AMC established the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee as a Standing Committee under Article 12.1 (h) of its Constitution to strengthen the AMC’s approach to improving the health and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and Māori in New Zealand.
As for all AMC standing committees, the Committee will report to the AMC Directors and will provide strategic advice and recommendations on important matters related to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health. The scope of the Committee’s work will also include supporting AMC’s stated purpose of making health systems free of racism and inequality. The Committee will comprise up to 12 members and will be established in the latter part of 2019.

Responsibilities

  1. Working with the AMC to change attitudes and behaviours so that the rights and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori are respected and affirmed throughout the work of the AMC.
  2. Working with the AMC to show leadership in the accreditation and assessment of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health education and training.
  3. Representing the AMC Directors on government, professional and community groups and other forums related to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori.
  4. Facilitating and supporting the development and maintenance of partnerships, relationships and linkages with key stakeholders that lead to the legal recognition of, and respect for, the distinctive status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as First Peoples.
  5. Leading the development of policies and positions that address matters concerning the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori.
  6. Working with Directors to establish an Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori mentoring network across the organisation.
  7. Facilitating the development of formal agreements with AMC’s Indigenous stakeholder organisations including but not limited to the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association; Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa Māori Medical Practitioners Association, National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation and the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education.
  8. Working with Directors on research that can inform the AMC’s Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health strategy and workforce planning strategy.
  9. Working with AMC senior management on internal policies and strategies that will support the AMC’s Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Health Statement.
  10. Working with AMC committees to address strategies that improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori.
  11. Embedding a succession plan into the work of the Committee – develop a plan for shadowing and mentoring as a way of building leadership capacity for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and Māori in the work of the AMC.
  12. Make recommendations to the Directors on the appointment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori to all AMC committees.

Membership

  1. At least six members of the AMC including two AMC Directors, preferably the Chairs of other AMC standing committees and up to four Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori persons who are members of other AMC Committees .
  2. Two Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori community members.
  3. One representative of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association nominated by that organisation.
  4. One representative of the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network nominated by that organisation.
  5. One representative of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation nominated by that organisation.
  6. One representative of the Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa Māori Medical Practitioners Association nominated by that organisation.

Council Membership

AMC Directors as at 30 June 2018: (back l-r) Dr Bruce Mugford, Professor Kate Leslie AO (Deputy President), Professor Geoff McColl, Emeritus Professor David Prideaux (front l-r) Professor Eleanor Milligan, Professor David Ellwood (President), Dr Andrew Singer AM Absent: Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM
AMC Directors as at 30 June 2018: (back l-r) Dr Bruce Mugford, Professor Kate Leslie AO (Deputy President), Professor Geoff McColl, Emeritus Professor David Prideaux (front l-r) Professor Eleanor Milligan, Professor David Ellwood (President), Dr Andrew Singer AM Absent: Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM

Membership changes over 2018-19 were:

President: Associate Professor Jill Sewell’s term as President concluded at the end of the 2018 AGM. Deputy President, Professor David Ellwood, was elected to the position for a two year term to the end of the AGM in November 2020.
Deputy President: Professor Kate Leslie AO was elected to the position for a two year term to the end of the AGM in November 2020.
Directors: Professor Eleanor Milligan, Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM and Dr Bruce Mugford were elected as Directors for a term of two years, to the end of the AGM in November 2020.
Community Member:Professor Eleanor Milligan was reappointed by Directors on 1 November 2018 for a further four-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2022
Practitioner Member: Dr Bruce Mugford was reappointed by Directors on 1 November 2018 for a further four-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2022
Senior Executive of a Public Hospital: Dr Sayanta Jana was reappointed by Directors on 1 November 2018 for a further two-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2020
Senior Executive of a Private Hospital: Dr Jeanette Conley was reappointed by Directors on 1 November 2018 for a further two-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2020
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander member: Dr Tammy Kimpton was appointed to Council in November 2018 for a four-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2022
Practitioner member of the MBA: The terms of Associate Professor Kim Rooney and Dr Greg Kesby expired at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM; Dr Jenni Davidson and Dr Sergio Diez Alvarez were each appointed to Council for a four-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2022
Post-graduate trainee practitioner member: Dr Jules Catt’s term expired at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM; Dr Artiene Tatian was appointed to Council for a two-year term to the end of the AGM in November 2020
Confederation of Post Graduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC): Dr Claire Blizard was appointed the new Chair of CPMEC in late 2018 following the retirement of Professor Richard Tarala and was appointed as Council Member by Directors.
Consumer member: In 2018 AMC Consumer Member Ms Eileen Jerga was appointed to the Medical Board of Australia and resigned from Council due to the conflict of interest with her new role. Ms Louise Miller Frost was appointed to Council by Directors in May 2019.

Governance Structure

Figure 1: AMC Governance structure
The AMC’s governance structure is defined by its Constitution

Figure 1: AMC governance structure

Council

The Council (AMC Ltd Members) is responsible for electing the President and Deputy President and appointing and removing directors, determining the AMC’s future and maintaining the AMC’s Constitution to ensure it is fit for purpose. The 27 Members are appointed according to the Constitution and are drawn from a wide cross-section of the groups associated with medical education, health delivery and with the standards of medical practice in Australia.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Dr Claire Blizard
  • Dr Jeanette Conley
  • Dr Jenni Davidson
  • Dr Sergio Diez Alvarez
  • Dr Iain Dunlop AM
  • Professor David Ellwood
  • Dr Sayanta Jana
  • Associate Professor Abdul Khalid
  • Dr Tammy Kimpton
  • Mr Fergus Leicester
  • Professor Kate Leslie AO FAHMS
  • Ms Louise Miller Frost
  • Professor Eleanor Milligan
  • Professor Geoff McColl
  • Dr Bruce Mugford
  • Professor Richard Murray
  • Adjunct Professor Debora Picone AO
  • Emeritus Professor David Prideaux
  • Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM
  • Dr Bhavi Ravindran
  • Professor Papaarangi Reid
  • Dr Andrew Singer AM
  • Mr Tom Symonds
  • Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley AC
  • Dr Artiene Tatian
  • Dr Philip Truskett AM
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Associate Professor Jill Sewell AM
    Dr Jules Catt
    Associate Professor Kim Rooney
    Dr Greg Kesby

Directors

The AMC Directors determine the AMC’s strategic direction and manage its business activities including having responsibility for determining the direction of AMC committees and authorising expenditure of moneys for the purposes relating to the AMC’s affairs. Directors’ receive high-level advice from the AMC’s Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee, Investment Policy Advisory Group and Standing Committees. The Directors for all or part of the 2018-19 financial year are listed in the Directors’ 2019 Report in the financial statements, where their attendance at meetings is also detailed. The Directors meet at regular intervals and have in place mechanisms for the conduct of special meetings.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Professor David Ellwood
  • Kate Leslie AO FAHMS
  • Professor Eleanor Milligan
  • Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver AM
  • Dr Bruce Mugford
  • Professor Geoff McColl
  • Dr Andrew Singer AM
  • Emeritus Professor David Prideaux
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19
    Associate Professor Jill Sewell AM
    Dr Jules Catt
    Associate Professor Kim Rooney

Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee

The Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee assists the AMC Directors to fulfil their corporate governance and oversight responsibilities in relation to financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, project management, external audit and compliance with relevant laws, regulations and codes.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Mr Geoff Knuckey (Chair) – independent
  • Professor David Ellwood (President)
  • Dr Bruce Mugford (Director)
  • Professor Eleanor Milligan (Director)
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Associate Professor Jill Sewell
    Dr Jules Catt
    Associate Professor Kim Rooney

Medical School Accreditation Committee

The Medical School Accreditation Committee oversees and advises the AMC Directors on the accreditation process for primary medical programs and providers. Based on recommendations and reports from the Committee, the AMC Directors make accreditation decisions concerning medical programs. The AMC informs the Medical Board of Australia of Directors’ accreditation decisions and provides the accreditation report so that the Medical Board is able to make a decision on approval of the accredited program for the purposes of registration.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Professor G McColl (Chair)
  • Professor J Dahlstrom OAM
  • Professor K Forsyth
  • Professor J Fraser
  • Ms J Yang
  • Professor I Haq
  • Dr L Lack
  • Mr F Leicester
  • Professor P Reid
  • Ms S van Bremen
  • Dr M White
  • Professor B Canny
  • Professor S Ewen
  • Professor A Hennessy AM
  • Dr B Ravindran
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Mr R Thomas

Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

PreVAC oversees accreditation and review processes for the prevocational phase of medical education including: review of intern training accreditation bodies, accreditation of international medical graduate assessment processes for workplace-based assessment and pre-employment structured clinical interviews.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Adjunct Associate Professor A Singer AM (Chair)
  • Associate Professor K Anderson
  • Dr S Conroy
  • Dr V Cook
  • Dr G Cooke
  • Professor B Crotty
  • Associate Professor A Dawson
  • Dr J Ghannam
  • Professor J Hamdorf AM
  • Professor R Hays
  • Dr J Katsoris
  • Ms P Lello
  • Professor I Mitchell
  • Dr M Naidoo
  • Clinical Professor R Tarala
  • Dr A Tatian
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Associate Professor A Jones
    Dr J Lawler
    Professor B McGrath
    Associate Professor D Smallwood

Specialist Education Accreditation Committee

SEAC oversees the process for assessment and accreditation of specialist medical education programs and continuing professional development programs.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Professor K Leslie AO FAHMS (Chair)
  • Professor R Langham
  • Associate Professor A Khalid
  • Dr C Clarke
  • Dr T Kimpton
  • Ms K Ngārimu
  • Professor M Permezel
  • Dr K Jenkins
  • Dr P Truskett
  • Dr S Nicolson
  • Dr A Singer AM
  • Professor T Lawler
  • Professor M Leech
  • Professor A Cripps AO
  • Dr L Raiti
  • Ms J Gibson
  • Ms H Maxwell-Wright
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Professor I Civil CNZM
    Dr J Grabek

Assessment Committee

The Assessment Committee monitors the operation of the AMC examinations and reviews the performance of the MCQ Examination, Clinical Examination and Workplace-based Assessment. Three panels’ report to the Committee: MCQ Assessment Panel, the Clinical Assessment Panel and the Workplace–based Assessment Results Panel. The Committee and its panels oversee the AMC examination process and advise Directors on international medical graduate assessment issues.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Membership as at 30 June 2019:
  • Emeritus Professor D Prideaux (Chair)
  • Professor B McGrath
  • Associate Professor P Devitt
  • Professor N Hudson
  • Professor K Nair AM
  • Professor P Jones
  • Associate Professor A Dawson
  • Dr N Mackay
  • Dr P Vine OAM
  • Professor P Hay
  • Dr P Harris
  • Professor L Jackson Pulver AM
  • Dr J Gladman
  • Dr J Conley
  • Mr F Leicester
  • Professor E Farmer
  • Dr A Akram
  • Professor J Barnard
  • Non-current members serving during 2018-19:
    Dr R Sweet

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee

The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Committee was established in June 2019 to strengthen the AMC’s approach to improving the health and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and Māori in New Zealand.
Membership as at 30 June 2019:

  • Committee to be formed in the second half of 2019

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Page Created 11 Nov 2019 | Page Updated 27 Nov 2019