Remediation
A remediation term may 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 program time and provides additional funding for targeted interventions to meet defined learning goals.
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 training site. However, depending on the relationship with the current training site and the degree of support needed, a move to a different training site and/or location may be required.
Applying for remediation
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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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 training coordinator and medical educator 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 sit Fellowship exams while on the remediation term. Refer to the section on Sitting exams while on remediation.
Outcomes of Remediation
Your progress will be monitored throughout the remediation term, and progress reports will be submitted at the mid and end points of the term. 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/FLI or further remediation) 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 the section on Involuntary withdrawal.