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The College values trainee feedback offers a range of formal and informal mechanisms for trainees to provide it. These include:
Trainees’ Committee
Trainees may contact the Trainees’ Committee at any time to contribute comments or raise concerns or queries with respect to education, training, assessment and professional matters. The committee is represented on the RCPA Council and Board of Education and Assessment where they have voting rights, and is consulted regarding any significant policy change that may impact on trainees. Please note that the Committee does not deal with concerns of a personal nature.
Education Advisor
The Education Advisor plays a pivotal role in terms of personal communication with trainees. The Education Advisor endeavours to meet with as many as possible during extensive site visits, and responds to many queries in person, by telephone or email, endeavouring to do so within 24 hours as far as possible.
Surveys
Comprehensive education surveys of trainees and fellows are conducted biennially and are promoted via email and in Pathology Today. Surveys for new Fellows conducted annually are designed to elicit specific concerns regarding recent training experience and employment issues. Other surveys are sometimes used to address specific programs and issues.
Curriculum review
All RCPA curricula and assessments are routinely reviewed in detail every five years. The Trainees’ Committee is always included, along with examiners and the Discipline Advisory Committee, in the first round of consultation in these reviews. All trainees in the relevant discipline are subsequently contacted and encouraged to provide feedback.
Supervisor reports
Trainees may record comments about their training on the Supervisor’s Report form after it has been signed by the supervisor. This will bring the matter to the attention of the Board of Education and Assessment Registrar who is responsible to follow up any significant concern and to seek a resolution where possible.
Training site accreditation
As part of the training site accreditation process, visits are undertaken periodically by representatives of the Board of Education and Assessment or as part of the NATA or IANZ laboratory accreditation processes. The visit will include consultation with trainees, and a review of training facilities and adequacy of supervision. Please refer to the College Policy on Accreditation of Training Sites.
Board of Education and Assessment
Trainees may communicate with the General Manager – Operations or the Registrar of the Board of Education and Assessment regarding issues they wish to bring to the Board’s attention. Contact bea@rcpa.edu.au.
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