News

Updates to ANZCA governing documents for 2025

11 Dec 2024

A number of changes have been made to ANZCA’s governing documents ahead of the 2025 hospital employment year (HEY).

Every year, ANZCA’s governing documents undergo review and update to remain current and accurate regarding training, assessment, administrative and best-practice processes.

An overview of changes made to the relevant documents for the 2025 HEY is shown below.

Trainees, supervisors of training and fellows are encouraged to review all relevant governing documents (handbook, curriculum and associated regulation), prior to the new hospital year, to ensure updated processes are understood and implemented.

Updated documents are now available on the ANZCA website. For more detail about updates, please refer to the change control register found at the end of each document.

Significant changes were made to the Anaesthesia training program curriculum, to reflect:

the removal of the initial assessment of anaesthetic competence (IAAC) from introductory training
the addition of two new assessments to introductory training: the multiple-choice question assessment (MCQA) and specified emergency scenarios (SES)
the addition of a patient clinical interaction assessment (PCIA) to advanced training.

Training program

Updates

Anaesthesia

The IAAC has been removed from introductory training. Two new assessments replace the IAACQ: the MCQA and SES. Changes have also been made to recognition of recent anaesthetic experience and working beyond level 1 supervision in line with current practice.

See sections relating to introductory training, recognition of recent anaesthesia training and assessments in the anaesthesia handbook for training

A patient clinical interaction assessment (PCIA) has been added to advanced training (AT)

See sections relating to advanced training and assessment in the anaesthesia handbook for training

Scholar role meeting requirements have been updated – the college now accepts multiple short virtual meetings to form one full meeting.

See section 2.13.3 of the anaesthesia training handbook

Multiple changes have been made to examination processes, the way results are received and examination failure and feedback processes.

See the examination section of the anaesthesia handbook for training

Updates to special consideration and reconsideration, review and appeal processes, in line with the updated policies.

See sections 2.14.5 and 3.7 of the anaesthesia handbook for training

Wording regarding acceptable supervisors of clinical experience was updated to better reflect current practice and provide clarity regarding SIMG supervisors

See section 2.5.2 of the anaesthesia handbook for training

Addition of information regarding recognition of prior learning (RPL) for rural generalist training

See section 1.6.6 of the anaesthesia handbook for training

Updates to departmental roles, specifically head of department and introductory training tutor roles, and the inclusion of a patient clinical interaction assessor role.

See sections 4.1 onwards of the anaesthesia handbook for training

Diving and hyperbaric medicine (DHM)

Updates to special consideration and reconsideration, review and appeal processes.

See sections 8.3 and 12 of the diving and hyperbaric medicine handbook

Rural generalist anaesthesia (RGA)

Updates to special consideration and reconsideration, review and appeal processes.

See sections 2.6.8 and 3.6 of the rural generalist anaesthesia handbook

Updates to Recommended prior learning and registration for current trainees of RACGP or ACRRM.

See sections 1.1-1.3 of the rural generalist anaesthesia handbook

Update to paediatric life support course requirements for trainees who already hold a current course.

See section 2.7.2

Updates to fee structures and time limits on training completion.

See section 1.7, 2.4 and 2.8 of the rural generalist anaesthesia handbook

Specialist international medical graduates (SIMG)

Documents have been updated to include new assessment requirements for SIMGs (the PCIA).

See section 6, 7.6 and 26 of the handbook for specialist international medical graduates.

Training program

Updates

Anaesthesia, DHM and RGA

Three accreditation descriptors were added to the Introduction section of each program accreditation handbook. The three descriptors define the following: Accreditation purpose, Accreditation philosophy and Accreditation definition.

RGA

Updates to arranging an accreditation inspection of a new site and outcome of site inspection.

See sections 5 and 9 of the RGA Accreditation handbook

Updates to types of accreditation sites.

See section 10 of the RGA Accreditation handbook

Regulation and associated training program	Changes made in 2024
23 SIMG	Updated text to reflect addition of the PCIA and insertion of new clause 23.9.8. See clauses 23.9.8, 23.9.9 and 23.9.10 of Regulation 23 Updated text to reflect new Reconsideration, review and appeal (RRA) policy. See clause 23.21 of Regulation 23 Addition of Appendix A, regarding the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) expedited specialist pathway or Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) Fast-track provisional vocational (specialist) registration. See Appendix A of Regulation 23
36 DHM	Updated text in relation to training fees See clause 36.10.4.1 of Regulation 36 Updated text to match wording (of the same topic – annual fee cycle and financial hardship) of regulation 37 See clause 36.19.4.5 of Regulation 36
37 Anaesthesia	Insertion of new text at 37.7.1.5.2 relating to training prior to registration for approved vocational training in Australia or NZ See clause 37.7.1.5.2 of Regulation 37 Updated to align with the updated Special Consideration Policy See clause 37.14.6.4.2 of Regulation 37 Updates regarding the annual fee cycle and financial hardship See clause 37.21.3.2 of Regulation 37 Minor edits to the section relating to the Primary examination See clause 37.14.6 of Regulation 37 Amended wording to remove ambiguity around leave. See clause 37.9.1 of Regulation 37 Updates to align with the introduction of the MCQA and the SES in introductory training. See clauses 37.7.1.6.1, 37.7.1.6.2, 37.10, 37.12.5, 37.14.5 of Regulation 37
44 RGA	Minor updates referring to Registration (notably the time periods) See clauses 44.3.1.1, 44.3.1.2, 44.3.1.3, 44.3.2.1.2 and 44.3.2.1.3 of Regulation 44 Updated to reflect changes in the way RGA training sites are accredited See clauses 44.7.1, 44.7.3, 44.7.5, 44.7.5.1, 44.7.5.2 and 44.7.5.3 of Regulation 44 Updated text that allows recognition of APLS without fee for RGA trainees who hold current certificates. It additionally provides more clarity to trainees regarding completion requirements See clause 44.14.1.3.1 of Regulation 44 Updated to align with RRA policy amendment See clause 44.29.1 of Regulation 44

Curriculum and handbooks

ANZCA Handbook for Accreditation Appendix 1

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ANZCA Handbook for Accreditation Appendix 1