Asian transition update
Four recommendations from the Asian Transition Working Group were passed at the August ANZCA Council meeting.
At a teleconference on August 28, the four recommendations were presented by ANZCA Vice-President and Asian Transition Working Group Chair, Dr Genevieve Goulding, to Dr Monica Lee and Dr May Leung from Hong Kong, Professor Yoo Kuen Chan and Dr Ye Yun Phang from Malaysia and Dr Meng-Huat Goh and Dr Ashokka Balakrishnan from Singapore.
Following is a summary of the recommendations which will take effect from the start of the 2013 hospital employment year (HEY)* of the Asian training regions:
- A dedicated regulation for ANZCA training in Asia, regulation 38, will be developed along with an explanatory handbook.
- Capping of examination attempts for trainees in the Asian region will commence from the beginning of their 2013 hospital employment year.
- ANZCA training in Asia will cease at the end of the 2018 hospital employment year (that is, in approximately mid-2019).
- In the affiliated Asian training regions, those registered trainees who have not accumulated any approved training time as at the beginning of the 2013 hospital employment year will lose their trainee status.
In addition:
Recommendation 1: Regulation 38 will contain what is currently in regulations 14 and 15 and the parts of regulation 37 (the new training regulation) that is pertinent to the Asian training regions. The writing of regulation 38 has not yet been completed. It will be finalised by February 2013 and effective from the start of the 2013 hospital employment year for each Asian training region.
Recommendation 2: Any exam attempts (final or “old” primary) up to the end of the 2012 hospital employment year will not be included, that is, only exams undertaken from the beginning of the 2013 hospital employment year will be included towards the maximum number of exam attempts allowed (five for the primary exam and seven for the final exam).
Recommendation 3: Any trainee who has not completed their training by the end of the 2018 hospital employment year that is, by mid-2019) will not be able to complete their training in Asia and should apply to the College for information about how they may complete their training.
Recommendation 4: Any registered ANZCA trainee who, at the beginning of the 2013 hospital employment year in their region has not yet accrued any APPROVED training time (including submission of in-training assessments) will no longer be considered a trainee.
For further information, please contact your regional education officer (REO) or ANZCA trainee representative for your region, or contact the College directly.
The College is committed to providing a quality training experience and supporting Fellows and specialists delivering training in Asia over the next seven years. We will ensure that as resources are introduced for trainees and Fellows, full consideration will be given to ensure accessibility to these resources in Asia. Additionally, education and training workshops will continue to be delivered at future ANZCA annual scientific meetings and some continuing medical eduction events.
By reviewing the ANZCA training committee structures for the Asian regions, the College hopes to maintain regular collaborations and strengthen communications so that our partnership continues into the future.
The College will introduce a dedicated section of the website and periodic training e-newsletters for supervisors of training and trainees in Asian regions. It is anticipated these will be ready from the beginning of the 2013 hospital employment year. As resources for trainees and Fellows are introduced to support ANZCA training widely, the College is committed to ensuring ongoing access to these support resources to ensure trainees and Fellows are supported in the delivery of ANZCA training.
* The hospital employment year is the date at which the first new cohort of trainees commences training in an annual cycle; for example, in Australasia, this is December in New Zealand and January or February in Australia.
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