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Chair Appointment – ��Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

Marcos Cunningham — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:51:49 +0000

Chair Appointment – ��Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

��Ĵ�ý (��Ĵ�ý) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Alison Jones as Chair of the Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee, commencing in June 2026 for a four-year term.

The Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee is a standing committee of the ��Ĵ�ý responsible for accreditation across the prevocational phase of medical education and training. It assesses and monitors the work of prevocational training accreditation authorities, Workplace Based Assessment providers and pre-employment structured clinical interview providers. It also provides expert advice to the Medical Board of Australia on matters relating to the Competent Authority Pathway for international medical graduates who are seeking general registration in Australia.

Professor Jones brings extensive experience in medical education, accreditation, governance and health workforce development. She has held senior leadership roles across government workforce reform programs, university, specialist medical college and prevocational accreditation authority settings in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She also has a strong commitment to embedding cultural safety, equity and shared decision-making in accreditation and education settings.�� Professor Jones was a member of the Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee from 2017 to 2019, while Director of Medical Education and Research at South Australia Health.

��Ĵ�ý President Professor Geoff McColl welcomed Professor Jones’ appointment. “Professor Jones brings a valuable combination of strategic leadership, practical accreditation experience and deep understanding of the medical training continuum,” Professor McColl said.

“The Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee has a busy work program focused on the first few years of practice for Australian graduates and many international graduates. Under the leadership of Associate Professor Andrew Singer AM, the Committee has overseen the development and implementation of a new two-year National Prevocational Framework for all Australian graduates and has supported health services across Australia to triple the number of workplace-based assessment programs for international medical graduates.�� Professor Jones’ appointment positions the Committee strongly as it increases focus on evaluation and continues to support evidence-informed accreditation and medical education and assessment that responds to the health needs of our communities.”

In line with current ��Ĵ�ý governance arrangements, Professor Jones also serves as an ex officio Director of the ��Ĵ�ý.

The ��Ĵ�ý Directors welcome Professor Jones to the role and thank Associate Professor Singer for his substantial contribution as Chair across his two terms.

Monash COIL program wins national award for collaborative healthcare education

Tina Chiu — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:00:20 +0000

Pictured (left to right): Alison Frances-Cracknell and Zahra Aziz (Monash University), Julie Gustavs (��Ĵ�ý) and Alexandra Webb (ANZAHPE)

A multidisciplinary team from Monash University has been recognised with the ��Ĵ�ý (��Ĵ�ý) and Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice Award for their innovative Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program.

The ��Ĵ�ý and ANZAHPE have a shared commitment to promoting high standards of education and training of the health professions to enable safe, high-quality care. This award recognises the growing importance of interprofessional collaborative practice across the health professions in delivering the best possible care for patients, and the role of interprofessional education in preparing future healthcare practitioners.

The judges felt that all of the submissions were of a very high standard and demonstrated innovative, evidence-informed approaches to interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

The Monash team’s COIL program was commended for its theoretical grounding, stakeholder co-design (including consumers), robust multi-institutional collaboration and design, combining interprofessional and intercultural learning with AI-enabled simulation to prepare students for the realities of modern healthcare. The judges also highlighted the scale and accessibility of the initiative, supported by evaluation data demonstrating high levels of student satisfaction and learning impact.

The COIL program was developed in partnership with Monash University Malaysia, the University of Padua in Italy and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Between 2023 and 2025, the initiative engaged more than 400 students and 25 educators across seven countries and ten health professions.

“The COIL program responds to the growing need for future health professionals to develop collaborative practice capabilities across professional, cultural and geographic boundaries, while addressing the financial, logistical and equity challenges associated with traditional student mobility programs,” said Zahra Aziz, Senior Lecturer in Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University and lead academic in the project.

One of the strengths of the program is its scalability and accessibility. Designed to be delivered across institutions and borders, COIL brings students from different health professions — and from different countries — into shared virtual learning environments. Through AI-supported simulations and structured collaboration, participants develop the skills required to communicate, problem solve and deliver care as part of diverse teams.

“At first, I was unsure how to contribute outside my medical training, but I quickly realised how much I could learn from others,” said Elizabeth Bell, BMBS Hons Student and COIL program participant. “Nurses offered insights into patient communication and holistic care, while pharmacists emphasised safe medication practices. Through our conversations, I developed a deeper respect for the complementary roles that different professionals play in achieving patient-centred care.”

A central aim of the award is to support early career academics in health professions education.

Amna Mazeh, Educator and Researcher, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University and early-career academic involved in the project said, “This recognition is a wonderful reminder of why this work matters. “For me, COIL’s greatest outcome has been bringing together students from different health professions and countries to work together across cultural and language barriers, reflecting the reality that health professionals do not work in silos.”

In this inaugural year of the award, we congratulate recipients Zahra Aziz, Amna Mazeh, Barbara Kemp-Harp, Alison Francis-Cracknell and Debra Kiegaldie.

Joint statement: Building the capability of the health workforce to recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence

Tina Chiu — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:00:17 +0000

Around one in five Australian women who experience violence from a current or former partner turn to a general practitioner or other health professional for advice or support. Health practitioners play an essential role in responding sensitively, respectfully, and safely to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).

��Ĵ�ý has joined Ahpra, National Boards and fellow Accreditation Authorities in a joint statement committing to build the capability of Australia’s health workforce to recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).

Read the full joint statement on .

If this statement has caused you any distress, please reach out to speak with someone:

: 1800 737 732
: 13 92 76
: 1800 55 1800
: 1800 497 212
: 1800 811 811
: 1800 600 636

Noreen Alqueza: a rural generalist calling

Rachel Ippoliti — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:08:35 +0000

For Noreen Alqueza, the appeal of working as a generalist doctor in rural communities lies in the unique combination of community connection, clinical diversity and the opportunity to make a diﬀerence.

“In rural settings, you are closely connected to the community, which makes the work more meaningful despite its challenges,” Noreen said. “No two days are the same. I might move from a complex paediatric consultation in the morning to procedural work in the afternoon.”

For the past decade, Noreen has worked across the Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) Sector and private general practice in rural and remote communities across Australia. She is currently a Rural Generalist trainee with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Before moving to Australia, Noreen was working in both Singapore and the Philippines where she completed her medical and paediatric training. It was her work in rural general practice in the Philippines that exposed her to a broad range of clinical presentations — from delivering babies to managing chronic disease — experiences that would later prove invaluable in rural and remote Australia.

Finding a home in Australia

Noreen moved to Australia seeking both new professional opportunities and a better long-term environment for her family. While the climate and lifestyle were strong attractions, Noreen was also drawn to the Australian healthcare environment which aligned with the kind of doctor she wanted to be. “What stood out to me was a system that supports broad, versatile practice where I could continue developing clinically while working across both hospital and community settings,” she said.

“At the time, I didn’t know what a Rural Generalist was. It wasn’t until I moved into general practice here, that I realised Australia had developed a unique Rural Generalist framework that perfectly integrated my hospital background with community .”

“Australia was the place where I could truly be both a hospital and community clinician.”

Noreen’s pathway to registration in Australia began in 2013 while she was still in the Philippines preparing for the ��Ĵ�ý Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) examination.

After passing the MCQ examination, she immediately began applying for roles in Australia.

“That evening after receiving my results, I sent oﬀ a handful of applications,” she said. “The next day I was invited to an interview and started work in January the following year at Mater Health Services in Brisbane.”

“I’m very grateful to Mater Health Services for supporting my initial move, and to Hervey Bay Hospital where I completed the rotations required for General Registration,” she said.

Although Noreen initially considered specialising in paediatrics, a year working in general practice shifted her perspective. Rather than pursuing a hospital-based paediatric career, Noreen found herself drawn to rural general practice — a pathway that combines a broad scope of practice with continuity of care and community connection.

Noreen had originally planned to complete the ��Ĵ�ý Clinical Examination as part of the standard pathway but then discovered the Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) program.

“There were only five hospitals oﬀering the WBA program in Australia at that time,” she said. “I feel very lucky to have been given a place in the program at Hervey Bay Hospital. It also allowed me to complete my rotations while doing the WBA.”

The WBA program assesses doctors in real clinical environments over six to twelve months, evaluating a range of clinical skills and professional behaviours.

“It allowed me to demonstrate my clinical ability in a real-world regional setting over time, which aligned closely with my prior experience,” she said.

Because she was already working within the Australian healthcare system, Noreen said she could focus on adapting to the clinical environment rather than searching for employment.

“For the WBA, the preparation was simply the work itself,” she said.

“Being immersed in a clinical environment at Hervey Bay and Maryborough Hospitals meant every patient interaction, ward round and multidisciplinary discussion contributed to assessment, making it a practical and continuous way to demonstrate competence.”

Like many international medical graduates, Noreen found adapting to Australia’s health system one of the biggest challenges.

“The primary challenge was adapting to the specific regulatory and administrative frameworks of the Australian health system while simultaneously navigating a new medico-legal and cultural landscape,” she said.

What helped most, she says, was immersion.

Over the years, Noreen has worked across metropolitan, regional and remote settings, including Queensland Children’s Hospital, Mater Health, Monash Health, private practices on the Sunshine Coast, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Dalby and Gympie, and remote communities such as Bamaga.

The importance of trust

Some of Noreen’s most significant professional experiences in Australia came through her work in the Aboriginal Medical Services sector.

Early in her Australian training, she spent almost two years working in rural and regional communities where she developed a deeper understanding of integrated team care, cultural safety and the importance of trust in healthcare.

“Clinical care is important,” she said. “But what is equally important is building rapport with patients and the community.”

“Working in the Aboriginal Medical Service sector reminded me of that instinct — clinical excellence is ineﬀective without trust. It reinforced that the clinical part is only the beginning; treatment happens when a patient feels culturally safe.”

Noreen says the experience reminded her of the values that first shaped her approach to medicine in the Philippines.

“In the Philippines, the connection between culture, family and medicine is innate; you treat a patient within the context of their beliefs, values and community connection,” she said.

International medical graduates now make up more than half of Australia’s general practice workforce and play a critical role in rural and remote communities. Noreen believes international medical graduates bring valuable skills, experience and perspectives that are sometimes underestimated.

“International Medical Graduates are not simply filling workforce gaps,” she said.

“We are skilled professionals who bring a global perspective to the Australian healthcare system.”

“Many of us have already worked in high-responsibility roles before arriving, and a significant number choose to work and remain in rural areas long-term, contributing to both service delivery and continuity.”

For Noreen, the journey from the Philippines to rural Australia has been one of discovery — adapting to a new country and healthcare system while finding a professional pathway where she can truly make a diﬀerence.

“It’s been rewarding to find that the experiences I’ve gained throughout my career can be applied meaningfully in rural communities,” she said.

“Having clinicians who can bridge the gap between private general practice and the local emergency clinic is vital for the sustainability of smaller communities. I can provide family-centred continuity of care—from supporting newborns to managing chronic disease—right where it is needed most.”

Noreen hopes to transition into Advanced Skills Training with Queensland Health, building on her background in paediatrics and neonatology to provide more complete, family-centred care in rural settings.

Alongside her clinical work, Noreen is also a member of the ��Ĵ�ý’s Assessment Committee and is completing a Master of Public Health focused on international medical graduates working in rural and remote Australia.

Her research explores what helps international medical graduates integrate, remain and thrive in rural communities with the goal of identifying practical solutions for long-term workforce sustainability.

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 1st June. ��Ĵ�ý will re-open on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.

Marcos Cunningham — Fri, 29 May 2026 06:22:53 +0000

For all inquiries, please email��amc@amc.org.au.

Due to the closure, there may be a backlog of emails. Please be patient as we address all inquiries, which will be handled in the order they are received.

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 25th May, and will have limited staff on Tuesday, 26th May. ��Ĵ�ý will be fully reopened on Wednesday, 27th May 2026.

Marcos Cunningham — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:45:07 +0000

For all inquiries, please email��amc@amc.org.au.

Due to the closure, there may be a backlog of emails. Please be patient as we address all inquiries, which will be handled in the order they are received.

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 27th April, and reopen on Tuesday, 28th April 2026.

Marcos Cunningham — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:22:48 +0000

For all inquiries, please email��amc@amc.org.au.

Due to the closure, there may be a backlog of emails. Please be patient as we address all inquiries, which will be handled in the order they are received.

Primary Source Verification delays– Iran and regional considerations for IMGs and SIMGs

Tina Chiu — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:29:32 +0000

We recognise that the current situation in Iran is impacting international medical graduates and specialist international medical graduates, particularly those holding Iranian-issued qualifications.

Fifth edition of Good Medical Practice: Professionalism, Ethics and Law launched today

Tina Chiu — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:00:49 +0000

Henco Nel: a passion for patient-centred care

Tina Chiu — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 23:00:41 +0000

It’s��7am on a Wednesday morning and��Henco��is on the train, heading to the��Fiona Stanley��hospital in��Perth��where he works as an Infectious Diseases Advanced Trainee. By mid-morning he will��have reviewed��in-patients with advanced HIV��and opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, and returned travellers presenting with fevers. Later that��day��he’ll��see inpatient consults with complicated infections including infective endocarditis and infections in organ transplant recipients before moving to clinic to care for patients with diabetes-related foot disease and other bone and joint infections.��

It’s��demanding, intellectually rigorous work — but for��Henco, it is also extremely valuable and rewarding. “I’ve been fortunate to work closely with esteemed clinicians and researchers,” he says, “and to lead multiple investigator-initiated trials while also contributing to large, practice-changing international studies.”��

Working across several��infectious��diseases departments in Western Australia has also given him something less tangible, but equally important:��a strong sense��of belonging to a broader professional community united by shared values and a common purpose.��

Henco��moved to Perth from South Africa in 2020��where he��completed��his basic physician training. He went on to undertake dual subspecialty training in infectious diseases and general medicine — a path shaped by his early experiences as a junior doctor in regional hospitals in South Africa.��His interest in infectious diseases began there, caring for vulnerable patients with complex health challenges.��

“Managing patients from incredibly poor backgrounds with advanced HIV, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, postpartum sepsis, and children with severe malnutrition and complicated infections — I saw first-hand how infectious diseases intersect with injustice and health disparities,”��Henco��recalls. “Infectious diseases physicians have a unique opportunity to advocate for some of the most underrepresented patient populations.”��

Henco��grew up in��Bloemfontein, a small city in central South Africa, where he completed his undergraduate medical degree. From early on, he was driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.��“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with physicians who demonstrate a relentless commitment to caring for and advocating for their patients,” he says. “They’ve��continuously reminded me why I became a doctor in the first place.��Medicine brings together science, problem-solving,��compassion��and lifelong learning — and that still inspires me.”��

Working overseas had always been part of��Henco’s��plan. He wanted exposure to diverse patient populations and opportunities to grow his clinical and research skills.��“Australia appealed to me because of its high clinical standards, strong training pathways and focus on evidence-based, patient-centred care,” he says. “My wife and I first visited��Perth��in 2015��and immediately felt connected to the culture and lifestyle.”��

While completing his��medical��internship in South Africa,��Henco��embarked on the��standard pathway��to��registration and working in Australia.��

“The process was thorough and challenging but also exciting,” he said.��“I completed ��Ĵ�ý examinations while working 60-hour weeks in understaffed regional hospitals in South Africa.��The biggest challenges were finding time and saving enough money to cover the costs.”��

At the time, there were no��Multiple-Choice Question��Examination centres in South Africa, so��Henco��flew to��Perth��to sit the exam.��The following year, after passing��the MCQ exam, he travelled again — this time to Melbourne —��to sit��the clinical examination.��

Henco��approached��exam��preparation with a structured long-term study plan that emphasised Australian clinical guidelines and clinical reasoning rather than rote memorisation.��He��relied heavily on��Ĵ�ý��handbooks, supplementing them with��additional��reading on commonly examined conditions,��medications��and management approaches. Online question banks and discussion groups with other international medical graduates also proved invaluable.��

Despite the intensity,��Henco��believes the preparation strengthened him as a clinician — not only for Australia, but in South Africa as well.��

“The exams are generalist by design. You revise across multiple specialties, which mirrored the reality of my work in South Africa, where I was managing a broad range of conditions,” he explains. “I also appreciated the holistic nature of the exams. They focus strongly on patient-centred, individualised care. That aligned well with how I practise.”��

Throughout the process, he credits the steady support of his wife.��“Emotional support — whether from partners,��friends��or family — is essential. I encourage future candidates to lean on the people closest to them.”��

Today,��Henco��thrives on the intellectual challenges of infectious diseases and the opportunity to integrate patient care with research. He sees��Western��Australia as an exceptional place to train, offering diverse clinical settings and patient populations.��

With��particular interests��in��the gut microbiome,��transplant infectious��diseases��and musculoskeletal infections,��Henco��hopes to improve patient-centred outcomes through research and holistic care.��“I’ve been fortunate to interact with colleagues and patients from many different backgrounds,” he says.��“It’s broadened my understanding of what it means to be a good doctor — and ultimately, a good human being.”��

Those experiences have reinforced��for him��the importance of tailoring care to each individual patient.��“We must remain focused on our patients’ values and goals. Every patient encounter is an opportunity to improve someone’s quality of life — however they define that.”��

Now settled in��Perth��with his wife and two young��daughters,��Henco��plans to complete advanced training��in infectious diseases��and pursue a career as a clinician-researcher.��

While the journey to Australia was demanding and at times uncertain, he has no regrets.��“Even though our relocation��wasn’t��straightforward,��we’ve��never looked back. We would��definitely��do��it��all��over again,”��he said.��

Henco��believes international medical graduates enrich Australia’s healthcare system through their diverse experiences,��resilience��and adaptability. He hopes others considering the journey feel empowered to take the leap.��

“It’s challenging,” he says, “but it’s absolutely worth it.”

Here to serve: international medical graduates in Australia

This story is part of the series Here to Serve: international medical graduates in Australia.

The series showcases the diverse experiences and contributions of international medical graduates working in Australia.

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Chair Appointment – ���Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

Chair Appointment – ���Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

Monash COIL program wins national award for collaborative healthcare education

Joint statement: Building the capability of the health workforce to recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence

Noreen Alqueza: a rural generalist calling

Finding a home in Australia

The importance of trust

The ���Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 1st June. ���Ĵ�ý will re-open on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.

The ���Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 25th May, and will have limited staff on Tuesday, 26th May. ���Ĵ�ý will be fully reopened on Wednesday, 27th May 2026.

The ���Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 27th April, and reopen on Tuesday, 28th April 2026.

Primary Source Verification delays– Iran and regional considerations for IMGs and SIMGs

Fifth edition of Good Medical Practice: Professionalism, Ethics and Law launched today

Henco Nel: a passion for patient-centred care

Here to serve: international medical graduates in Australia

��Ĵ�ý

Chair Appointment – ��Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

Chair Appointment – ��Ĵ�ý Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 1st June. ��Ĵ�ý will re-open on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026.

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 25th May, and will have limited staff on Tuesday, 26th May. ��Ĵ�ý will be fully reopened on Wednesday, 27th May 2026.

The ��Ĵ�ý will be closed on Monday, 27th April, and reopen on Tuesday, 28th April 2026.