This Appeals Process is expressed in terms appropriate to the College.

However, it is also to apply throughout the College and the Faculties.

Accordingly, references to Office Bearers, Fellows, Councils, Boards and Committees apply equally to Office Bearers, Fellows, Councils, Boards and Committees of the Faculties, unless otherwise indicated.

It is expected that persons will lodge appeals only as a last resort, with the College having exhausted avenues of reconsideration by the body making the original decision.

31.1   Reconsideration and Review of Decisions

Before convening the Appeals Committee, the Chief Executive Officer/Faculty Executive Officer may advise an applicant to seek a reconsideration of the original decision.  Such reconsideration shall not, and does not, constitute an appeal under these Rules.

The Appeals Committee shall only be convened if the Chief Executive Officer/Faculty Executive Officer is satisfied that the applicant has exhausted all other avenues of reconsideration and review of the relevant decision.

31.2   Appeals Committee

31.2.1   An Appeals Committee may be convened by the Chief Executive Officer, comprising the following:

Chairman: The Vice-President of the College, or another Councillor appointed by the Council.

Members: A Fellow of the College (from the specialty involved in the subject matter of the appeal).

A Fellow of the College (from a specialty not involved in the subject matter of the appeal).

Two other appropriately qualified persons who are not Fellows of the College, of whom one will be a member of the legal profession.

31.2.2   The Appeals Committee will not comprise any individual who was party to the decision of the College to which the appeal relates.

31.2.3   The Chief Executive Officer and the College Solicitor shall be the Secretary and Legal Adviser respectively to the Appeals Committee, but shall not form part of the Appeals Committee.

31.2.4   A quorum for meetings of the Appeals Committee will be the Chairman and three other members.  All members of the Appeals Committee shall be entitled to vote on decisions.  The Appeals Committee shall decide on the basis of a majority vote.  In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman may exercise a casting vote.

31.3   Grounds of Appeal

31.3.1   Any person adversely affected by a decision referred to below, may, within three months of receipt of notice of such decision, apply to the Chief Executive Officer to have the decision reviewed by the Appeals Committee.  Such application shall be in writing and accompanied by all relevant information or grounds upon which the person seeks to rely in respect of the review.

31.3.2   The decisions which may be reviewed by the Appeals Committee are:

31.3.2.1   Decisions of the Assessor or DPA Assessor, Supervisors of Training, the Committees for Examinations, the Training Accreditation Committee, or Formal Project Assessment Committees in relation to the assessment of progress of trainees of the College and the Faculties (including admission, dismissal or recognition of training).

31.3.2.2   Decisions of Councils, Boards and Committees in relation to applications for admission to Fellowship.

31.3.2.3   Decisions of the Assessor or DPA Assessor in relation to applications from overseas trained doctors for assessment for recognition on behalf of the Australian Medical Council, or the Medical Council of New Zealand, or any applicable State or Territory Medical Board (or for other appropriate purposes).

31.3.2.4   Decisions of Committees for Examinations in relation to examinations or training required by the Overseas Trained Specialists Committee to be undertaken by overseas trained doctors for assessment as set out above.

31.3.2.5   Decisions of the relevant Committees in relation to participation in the CPD Program and awarding of the CPD Certificate.

31.3.2.6   Decisions of the Boards and Committees of the College or the Faculties in relation to accreditation for training of hospitals, units, teaching centres, or other persons.

31.3.2.7   Decisions of the College in relation to the financial status of Fellows, trainees or other persons.

31.3.2.8   Such other decisions of the College or the Faculties and their Boards or Committees, as the Council may permit or determine.

31.3.3   An appeal may only be made on one or more of the following grounds:

31.3.3.1   That an error in law or in due process occurred in the formulation of the original decision.

31.3.3.2   That relevant and significant information was not considered, or not properly considered, in the making of the original decision.

31.3.3.3   That the original decision was clearly inconsistent with the evidence and arguments put before the body making the original decision.

31.4   Consideration of Appeals

31.4.1   In any appeal, the applicant will have the onus of proof to establish the grounds of the appeal.

31.4.2   At least twenty-one days prior to the convening of the Appeals Committee hearing, the Chief Executive Officer will advise the applicant of:

31.4.2.1   The date, time and place of the hearing. For Appeals generated in Australia or New Zealand, every effort will be made to convene the Appeals Committee in the relevant Australian State/Territory or New Zealand in order to minimise costs to the appellant.

31.4.2.2   The right of the applicant to appear before the Appeals Committee and to seek leave to have legal representation.

31.4.3   An applicant to the Appeals Committee shall have the right to appear and address the Appeals Committee in relation to his or her submissions.  The applicant may be accompanied by another person, but shall not be entitled to have an advocate or be legally represented before the Appeals Committee, unless the Appeals Committee has given its prior consent.

31.4.4   The Appeals Committee must act according to the rules of natural justice and decide each appeal on its merits.  The Appeals Committee is not bound by the rules of evidence and, subject to the rules of natural justice, may inform itself on any matter, and in such manner as it thinks fit.

31.4.5   The Appeals Committee shall be entitled to consider all relevant information which it thinks fit, and may invite any person to appear before it or to provide information.

31.4.6   The Appeals Committee shall conduct its affairs with as little formality as possible, but otherwise, subject to these Rules, shall have full power to regulate its conduct and operation.

31.4.7   Except where otherwise required by law, or otherwise determined by the Appeals Committee, a transcript of the hearing of the Appeals Committee and other information provided to the Appeals Committee, shall be kept confidential (save that information may be released with the consent of the applicant and a report of the Appeals Committee may be issued by the Appeals Committee to the Council, and/or published by the Council, as the Council thinks fit).

31.4.8   Minutes of hearings of the Appeals Committee shall be confined to a report of the decision made by the Appeals Committee and its recommendations, if any, to Council.

31.4.9   Costs to the appellant associated with convening a meeting of the Appeals Committee will be capped at AUD1,000 per Appeal.  The Appeals Committee may recommend to the Council that some or all of the costs be waived.  In the event that the Appeal is successful, all ANZCA related costs paid by the appellant will be refunded.

31.4.10   The Chief Executive Officer may delegate his or her powers and duties in respect of any appeal to such persons as he or she determines.

31.5   Decisions of the Appeals Committee

31.5.1   An Appeals Committee may, upon considering all submissions:

31.5.1.1   Confirm the decision which is the subject of the appeal.

31.5.1.2   Revoke the decision which is the subject of the appeal.

31.5.1.3   Revoke the decision and/or refer the decision to the relevant Council, Board or Committee for further consideration (upon such terms or conditions as the Appeals Committee may determine).

31.5.1.4   Revoke the decision and/or replace it with such other decision as it thinks fit.

31.5.1.5   Recommend to the Council whether part or all of the costs associated with the Appeals Committee should be waived.

Promulgated April 2006
Revised August 2008