Remediation
A remediation term will be recommended by your RACGP training team when your progress through training is unlikely or unable to be completed within the usual training time, with the usual resources. Remediation is a critical educational intervention to help address concerns about performance and will ultimately help you progress towards fellowship, meet the requirements of the Fellowship Policy and the Competency profile of the Australian General Practitioner at the point of Fellowship. A remediation term suspends your training time and provides additional funding for targeted interventions to meet defined learning goals.
Applying for a remediation term
Your RACGP regional team will work with you to develop an individualised remediation plan. You must agree with the plan for it to proceed. Depending on the nature of the learning need, refusal to engage in the remediation can result in withdrawal from the training program. This is a rare outcome but may apply if there are significant concerns about patient safety, professionalism or program compliance.
The remediation plan may involve additional education, supervision, assessment and pastoral supports to improve your areas of learning need.
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The RACGP regional team will apply to the National Remediation team to commence a remediation term.
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You’ll be notified of the outcome within 25 business days of the completed application being received.
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Please be aware that while waiting for approval of the remediation term you may be placed on Category 2 leave if we identify a potential safety risk to you or the community if you continue training without remediation in place. Your TC and ME will work closely with you if this is the case.
If the remediation application is approved, your program time will be suspended for the period of remediation, and you’ll be unable to enrol in or sit Fellowship exams while on a remediation term. Your progress will be monitored throughout, and progress reports will be submitted at the mid and end points of the term.
Remediation terms can occur at any time in training. There is evidence that early identification of the need for remediation results in shorter remediation terms and better learning outcomes. A remediation term is usually undertaken while continuing to work in community general practice. Most remediation terms can be conducted in the registrar’s current practice. However, depending on the relationship with the current practice and the degree of support needed, a move to a different practice and/or location may be required.
Outcomes of Remediation
In most instances, remediation is successful and the concerns about performance are addressed. The registrar is then able to resume the training program.
However, in some instances, an additional intervention (eg focused learning intervention) is required to address ongoing performance concerns. Occasionally, serious performance concerns remain at the end of remediation, and the result is withdrawal from the program. For more information about withdrawal, refer to Involuntary withdrawal.