Withdrawal Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the principles and circumstances under which the Registrar may withdraw or be withdrawn from a Training Program.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Registrars enrolled in the:

      1. Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program , or

      2. Fellowship Support Program (FSP)

   2. Registrars training towards RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship 

2.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the relevant training program registrar handbook. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and the relevant handbook, the terms of this policy take precedence. 

1. 1. Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy

   2. relevant training program registrar handbook

      1. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and the relevant handbook, this policy takes precedence. 

3. General principles

3.1 The RACGP recognises that circumstances may arise that require Registrars to withdraw (voluntarily) or be withdrawn (involuntarily) from a Training Program.

3.2 The RACGP is committed to ensuring that the withdrawal process is fair, without conflict of interest or bias, transparent, clear, consistent and complies with legislative requirements, including anti-discrimination and privacy legislation.  

3.3 The RACGP offers guidance and advice to Registrars to assist them throughout the withdrawal process and provides wellbeing resources per the RACGP Wellbeing Hub. Additional appropriate support is offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Registrars and culturally and linguistically diverse Registrars.  

3.4 Registrars who have been withdrawn (voluntarily or involuntarily) from the AGPT Program or FSP and wish to enter or re-enter an RACGP-Approved Program must meet the requirements set by the relevant Training Program’s entry policy.

4. Voluntary withdrawal

4.1 Registrars must inform the RACGP in writing of their intention to withdraw from a Training Program.

4.2 Registrars who voluntarily withdraw from a Training Program after the Commencement of Training receive a Cooling Off Period of 20 Business Days to enable them to reconsider their decision.

1. 1. Registrars who withdraw before their Commencement of Training do not receive the Cooling Off Period

   2. Registrars who have voluntarily withdrawn from the Training Program and are seeking to reapply for entry can waive the Cooling Off Period.

4.3 Registrars who voluntarily withdraw from a Training Program cannot apply for reconsideration or appeal of their withdrawal decision.

5. Involuntary withdrawal

5.1 The RACGP will consider cases of involuntary withdrawal on a case-by-case basis. The decision to withdraw a Registrar from a Training Program is subject to this policy, at the RACGP’s sole discretion.

5.2 The RACGP may withdraw a Registrar from the Training Program, including but not limited to, on the following grounds:

1. 1. Clinical competence - the Registrar is unable to sustain an acceptable level of Clinical Competence, in the opinion of the RACGP, to progress with the Training Program.

   2. Capacity - the Registrar is unable to continue the Training Program, in the opinion of the RACGP, including but not limited to, instances where the Registrar:

      1. failed to maintain their Ahpra Medical Registration as required by the Training Program

      2. has Addenda imposed on their Ahpra Medical Registration, which renders them unable to progress with the Training Program

      3. has any other restrictions that impact their ability to practise or progress in the Training Program

      4. exhausted their Fellowship exam Candidacy

   3. Compliance - the Registrar failed to comply with RACGP policy or their Education and Training Requirements including but not limited to:

      1. unsuccessful completion of, or non-compliance with the requirements of a Focused Learning Intervention (FLI) or Remediation

      2. providing misleading, incomplete or false information to the RACGP during the course of their Training Program

      3. failed on more than one occasion to respond to correspondence from the RACGP relating to the Registrar’s enrolment in the Training Program

         1. Before withdrawing the Registrar, the RACGP must attempt to contact the Registrar a minimum of three times, including once by certified or registered mail, over a minimum of eight calendar weeks.

      4. inability to meet their Program Time requirements per the Training Program Requirements Policy, Extensions of Program Time Policy and Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy

         1. Registrars training towards RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship are to refer to the Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook.

      5. cases where the RACGP assesses the Registrar as not meeting the required standards to enable them to successfully be admitted to Fellowship and subsequently obtain Ahpra Medical Registration as a specialist GP, 

      6. inability to start the Training Program after the maximal deferral period of Commencement of Training

      7. cases where the Registrar’s leave extends beyond a reasonable timeframe, in the RACGP’s opinion, for that category of leave, per the Program Leave Policy.

      8. cases where AGPT Registrars who currently hold Accepted Temporary Visas and do not obtain permanent residency or citizenship of Australia or New Zealand before Completion of Training,

      9. failure to maintain RACGP Financial Membership throughout training,

      10. breach of any Training Program requirement evidenced in any training program agreement, or other written correspondence to a Registrar

      11. failure to pay Training Program term fees (where applicable).

   4. Professional conduct - the Registrar is determined by the RACGP to have failed to demonstrate a high level of professional behaviour including but not limited to:

      1. a finding of Serious Academic Misconduct per the Academic Misconduct Policy

      2. a finding of Professional Misconduct

      3. any conduct which is a breach of the Membership Code of Conduct in the opinion of the RACGP

         1. It is not necessary for a committee to be set up under the Membership Code of Conduct or the Board to make a finding.

5.3 The RACGP must notify the Registrar in writing before involuntarily withdrawing them.

1. 1. Before sending the notification of withdrawal, the RACGP 

      1.  may request more information from the Registrar and

      2. must provide the Registrar with an opportunity to explain in writing, in a show cause notice, why the Registrar should not be involuntarily withdrawn.

6. Amendment of this policy

The Censor-in-Chief (CiC) may, without the consent of the RACGP Board, make Minor, Moderate and Consequential Amendments to this policy at any time. 

If the CiC makes amendments, they must advise the RACGP Board of those amendments as soon as practicable. 

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

7. Responsibilities

7.1 Censor-in-Chief	Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments
7.2 RACGP Board	Approving major amendments
7.3 Registrar	Notifying the RACGP in writing if they choose to withdraw voluntarily

 

8. Glossary

8.1 Accepted Temporary Visas	A visa accepted by the RACGP, as determined by the relevant application guide.
8.2 Addenda	Includes, but is not limited to, restrictions, conditions, limitations, reprimands, supervision requirements, tribunal outcomes, suspensions, undertakings and/or any other remarks or changes on a registrar’s medical registration. Refer to ahpra.gov.au.
8.3 Ahpra Medical Registration	Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Refer to ahpra.gov.au.
8.4 Business Day	A day when the RACGP national office is operating.
8.5 Candidacy	The three-year period, separate to training program time, during which a registrar can attempt Fellowship exams
8.6 Clinical Competence	Demonstrated ability to consistently perform relevant clinical tasks to the standard prescribed in the Progressive capability profile of the general practitioner.
8.7 Commencement of Training	The first day on which the registrar begins their RACGP-approved program.
8.8 Completion of Training	The point at which the RACGP deems that the registrar has completed their training program requirements.
8.9 Consequential Amendment	An amendment that requires urgent implementation as a necessary result of an amendment to another policy or process.
8.10 Cooling Off Period	A period of time during which a registrar may retract their decision to voluntarily withdraw from a training program.
8.11 Education and Training Requirements	The mandatory components of the registrar’s RACGP-approved program as defined in the relevant registrar handbook.
8.12 Fellowship	Admittance to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
8.13 Focused Learning Intervention (FLI)	An approved targeted educational intervention, delivered during training, to address individual learning needs and performance issues.
8.14 Major Amendment	An amendment that materially changes the operation of the policy but is not otherwise a minor or moderate amendment (ie a change to one major clause or policy review).
8.15 Minor Amendment	An amendment to style, to correct grammatical mistakes, change overall formatting, make updates that do not materially change meaning, or any other amendment, which in the opinion of the Censor-in-Chief, does not materially alter the operation of the policy.
8.16 Moderate Amendment	An amendment that materially changes the operation of a policy by a limited amount (ie a change to one minor clause, or changes that have a limited impact on the outcome of the policy).
8.17 Professional Misconduct	As defined in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009
8.18 Program Time	The length of time required to complete an RACGP-approved program per the Training Program Requirements Policy
8.19 RACGP-Approved Program	An education or training program approved by the RACGP as a suitable pathway to Fellowship, including: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), Fellowship Support Program (FSP), Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Practice Experience Program Specialist – Partially Comparable Stream, and Practice Experience Program Specialist – Substantially Comparable Stream. These Training Programs are approved specified programs listed in Division 6 of the Health Insurance Regulations 2018 (Cwlth).
8.20 RACGP Financial Member	An RACGP member who has:  met the membership category requirements,  had their complete membership application form accepted, and  paid their current membership fee in full.
8.21 Registrar	A medical practitioner enrolled in the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).
8.22 Remediation	An approved additional term of program time in which the registrar receives further support in order to address performance concerns.
8.23 Serious Academic Misconduct	Cases of substantiated Academic Misconduct, for which the sanctions imposed fall under clauses 7.4. f, k, m, n, o of the Academic Misconduct Policy.
8.24 Training Program	Either the:  Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).

 

9. Related documents, legislation and policies

• Academic Misconduct Policy 
• AGPT Registrar Training Handbook
• Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy 
• Extensions of Program Time Policy 
• FSP Registrar Handbook
• Membership Code of Conduct 
• Program Leave Policy 
• Training Program Requirements Policy 
• RACGP Wellbeing Hub
• Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy
• Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook

10. Policy review and currency

This policy will be reviewed every three calendar 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.