Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Withdrawal


Policy

Page last updated 29 January 2024

1. Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this policy is to describe the circumstances under which a participant may withdraw or be withdrawn from the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream (PEP Standard).

1.2 The PEP Standard has been developed to provide non-vocationally registered doctors with a route to Fellowship grounded in individualised learning and workplace-based assessment.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all participants in the PEP Standard.

2.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the Practice Experience Program Code of Conduct, Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Participation Guide, Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Progression Policy and the Practice Experience Program Standard Stream - Leave and Extensions Policy.

2.3 This policy replaces the previous Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Withdrawal Policy and will come into effect as of Tuesday 4 January 2022

3. General principles

3.1 Refunds

  1. PEPEA participants who withdraw more than 48 hours before the scheduled assessment will be refunded their enrolment fee as outlined in the Assessment and Examination Candidate handbook.
  2. Prior to the commencement of a PEP Standard term, participants who have accepted their program agreement, paid their term invoice and withdraw under clause 4, or are withdrawn under clause 5, will be refunded their co-payment for that term minus a $500 administrative fee.
    1. The RACGP acknowledges the unfortunate misalignment of the release of Fellowship exam results and the entrance dates of the PEP Standard. Therefore, participants who meet the terms of clause 3.1.ii and withdraw due to passing all three Fellowship exams (AKT, KFT and Clinical Exam) will be refunded their co-payment minus a $200 administrative fee.
  3. Once a PEP Standard term has commenced, participants who withdraw under clause 4, or are withdrawn under clause 5, will not be refunded their co-payment for that term or any previous terms.

3.2 Re-Entry

  1. Participants who withdraw or are withdrawn prior to the commencement date of the first term of the PEP Standard for any reason may reapply for future intakes. Acceptance of previously withdrawn participants into second or subsequent intakes of the PEP Standard is at the discretion of the RACGP.
  2. Participants who withdraw or are withdrawn after the commencement date of the first term of the PEP Standard cannot re-apply or re-enter the program, even if the co-payment has been refunded, as no further funding subsidy from the Australian Government’s Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program is available. Applications for re-entry to the program cannot be accepted.
  3. Participants can apply to other RACGP-approved programs subject to the applicable selection, eligibility, or entry policies.

4. Voluntary withdrawal

4.1 Participants must inform in writing both the RACGP and their Training Organisation of their intent to withdraw from the PEP Standard.

4.2 Voluntary withdrawal is subject to a cooling off period of 20 business days from the date the participant writes to the RACGP of their intent to withdraw. The cooling off period enables the participant to reconsider their decision to withdraw. After this cooling off period the participant will be formally withdrawn and advised by the RACGP in writing.

4.3 If a participant chooses to reconsider their decision to withdraw within the cooling off period, they must write to both the RACGP and their Training Organisation of their intent to remain enrolled in the PEP Standard.

4.4 Once formally withdrawn from the PEP Standard, the voluntary withdrawal cannot be appealed under the RACGP Reconsideration and Appeals Policy.

4.5 The RACGP will withdraw the participants provider number 20 business days after the cooling off period concludes.

5. Involuntary withdrawal

5.1 The categories of involuntary withdrawal may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Withdrawal based on medical registration
    1. Failure to maintain medical registration;
    2. The imposition of restrictions, conditions, suspension and/or undertakings which prevent the participant from working the requisite comprehensive Australian general practice during their time on the Program.
  2. Withdrawal based on Professional misconduct
    1. If the participant is found by Ahpra to have behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct, they will be withdrawn.
  3. Withdrawal based on education and training requirements
    1. The participant fails to comply with the professional and ethical, personal and educational requirements of the Practice Experience Program Code of Conduct, and the signed Program Agreement;
    2. The participant fails to maintain continuous progression in line with the Practice Experience Program Progression Policy and the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Satisfactory Completion Framework.
    3. The participant’s allocation of program time, leave, clinical break and extensions (where applicable) has been exhausted in line with the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Leave and Extensions Policy;
    4. The participant is unable to return to the program within permitted timeframes following loss of employment and/or provider number;
    5. The participant repeatedly fails to respond to correspondence from the Training Organisation, the RACGP or their ME, as required by the Program Agreement;
    6. The participant fails to pay their required co-payment for any term.

5.2 If a participant does not comply with the terms of participation, the RACGP will withdraw the participant (involuntarily withdrawal).

5.3 The RACGP will inform the participant and the Training Organisation of our intention to withdraw the participant from the PEP Standard. The participant has 10 business days from the date of being notified of the withdrawal to lodge a reconsideration application with the RACGP under the RACGP Reconsiderations and Appeals Policy. If an application is not received, the participant will be formally withdrawn from the PEP Standard and advised in writing.

5.4 Once formally withdrawn from the PEP Standard, a participant cannot appeal the withdrawal under the RACGP Reconsideration and Appeals Policy.

5.5 The participant’s issued provider number will be withdrawn 20 business days after the date of the formal withdrawal in accordance with the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Progression Policy and the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Satisfactory Completion Framework Guidance Document.

6. Amendment of this Policy

The Censor-in-Chief (CIC) may, without the consent of the Board, make Minor, Moderate and Extenuating Amendments to this policy at any time. If the CIC makes amendments, they must advise the Board of those amendments as soon as practicable.

The Board may make amendments to this policy at any time.

7. Responsibilities

7.1 RACGP Board

Responsible for approval of policy and Major Amendments.

7.2 Censor-in-Chief (CIC)

Responsible for approval of Minor, Moderate or Extenuating amendments to the policy by delegation of the RACGP Board.

7.3 Participants

Responsible for complying with all clauses outlined in this policy,

7.4 RTOs

Responsible for liaising with the RACGP regarding withdrawals from the PEP program.

7.5 RACGP

Responsible for monitoring withdrawals from the PEP Standard including the provision and withdrawal of provider numbers.

8. Glossaries

8.1 Minor Amendment

An amendment to style, to correct grammatical mistakes, to change overall formatting, to make updates which do not materially change meaning, or any other amendment, which in the opinion of the owner of the policy, does not materially alter the operation of the policy. 

8.2 Education requirements

The required learning units, portfolio completion activities, communication with the Training Organisation and RACGP, and assessments as outlined in the participant’s Program Agreement.

8.3 Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program

An Australian Government initiative under which the RACGP’s Practice Experience Program and ACRRM’s Independent Pathway are funded.

8.4 ME

Medical Educator

8.5 Notifiable conduct

Please see the meaning given in the Medical Board of Australia Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications.

8.6 Participant

A medical practitioner enrolled in the Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream.

8.7 PEPEA

The Practice Experience Program Entrance Assessment. It comprises clinical applied knowledge questions and Situational Judgement Test (SJT) questions.

8.8 RACGP approved program

One of the following:

  1. Australian General Practice Training Program,
  2. Remote Vocational Training Scheme, and
  3. RACGP Fellowship Program - Practice Experience Program (PEP).

These streams are approved specified programs listed in Division 6 of the Health Insurance Regulations 2018 (Cth) (the Regulations).

8.9 Restrictions

Means Conditions, Notations or Undertakings associated with the doctor’s medical registration with AHPRA. Definitions of these can be found on the AHPRA website.

8.10 RTO

Regional Training Organisation

8.11 RVTS

Remote Vocational Training Scheme

8.12 Training Organisation

Training Organisation, which for the purposes of this policy encompasses Regional Training Organisations (RTOs), the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) and the RACGP.

11. Related Documents, Legislation and Policies

Compliance

Guidance

10. Policy Review and Currency

This policy will be reviewed every three years from the last approval date, or when there is a significant change in the intent of the policy. This policy remains valid and applicable notwithstanding if it is overdue for review.
 

 

Version

Date of effect

Amended by

2

04/01/2022

Policy Officer, Education Policy and Guidance

Amendment details

  • Addition of clause in 3.1 relating to refunds for those who receive a pass mark in the Clinical Exam.
  • Amendment to clause 3.1 removing $100 administrative fee for PEPEA withdrawal and reduced withdrawal timeframe.
  • Amendment and addition to clause 3.2 relating to re-entry to clarify those who have previously participated in the PEP or another program subsidised by the Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program are not eligble for re-entry to the PEP Standard.
  • Amendment to clause 4 increasing cooling off period to 20 business days for voluntary withdrawals.
  • Amendment to clause 4.5 and 5.5 outlining timeline for withdrawal of provider number.
  • Nomenclature review.

Policy owner:

Board

Approved by:

Censor-in-Chief

Approved on:

14/12/2021

Next Review Due:

11/24

   

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