Practice Experience Program (PEP) Standard Stream - Program Agreement Changes

Individual program requirements

Mandatory units:

• Core skills unit
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
• Doctor’s health
• Clinical skills in the general practice context
• Communication and consulting skills – Part 1
• Communication and consulting skills – Part 2

Allocated units*:

• Adult Medicine Cardiovascular
• Adult Medicine Endocrine
• Adult Medicine Rheumatology
• Men’s health
• Musculoskeletal and sports medicine
• Oral health
• Palliative care and pain management
• Refugee and asylum seeker health

1 Unit to be selected, consider ‘Other units’ for suggestions.

Other units†:

• Abuse and violence
• Adult Medicine Haematology
• Children and young people
• Ear and nose medicine
• Oncology
• Pregnancy care
• Sex, sexuality, gender diversity and health
• Travel medicine

*These units have been allocated to you based on the information submitted as part of your application and the results of your Initial Core Skills Analysis (ICSA), and are highly recommended. However, allocated units may be substituted for other available units. Unit allocation will be finalised following medical educator consultation in Term 1 of the Program.

^†These units are not allocated at this point; however, they are recommended for consideration in planning learning and in the medical educator consultation in Term 1 of the Program.

Suggested learning program

Participants will have access to all learning units to be completed in a self-directed manner. We encourage participants to discuss activities within their learning units with their Mentor. Each unit is accredited for CPD points with the RACGP. The RACGP highly recommends participants undertake the following learning units during their first term which have a strong focus on the Australian General Practice context. As a guide the RACGP suggests five learning units for each term. It is advised that you prioritise the core units early in your PEP journey. See core units below. 

• PEP Core skills unit 1 - Practising in context
• PEP Core skills unit 2 - Safety (patient - practice - personal)
• PEP Core skills unit 3 - Emergencies and disaster management
• PEP Core skills unit 4 - Communication and consulting skills
• PEP Core skills unit 5 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• PEP Core skills unit 6 - General practice specific skills
• PEP Core skills unit 7 - Applying evidence to practice

The Program is a supported, self-directed program of practical and relevant educational activities delivered by the RACGP in partnership with general practice Regional Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia.

The Program consists of a maximum of three general practice training terms. Each term is six months in duration.

If accepted into the Program, the Program will commence on the Program start date and for the Program duration as set out in the form above.

To complete the Program, you must meet all the Program requirements as outlined below and comply with the Policies during the Program.

Upon commencing, you will be assigned to an RTO that will support you with meeting the Program requirements and in undertaking required assessment activities.

Throughout the Program, you will be asked to participate in ongoing quality improvement and evaluation activities and complete RACGP surveys from time to time.

The Program is a supported, self-directed program of practical and relevant educational activities delivered by the RACGP in partnership with general practice training organisations across Australia.

The Program consists of learning terms in six month blocks. To complete the Program, you must meet all the Program requirements as outlined below and comply with the Policies during the Program.

Upon commencing, you will be assigned to a training organisation that will support you with meeting the Program requirements and in undertaking required assessment activities.

Throughout the Program, you will be asked to participate in ongoing program evaluation activities (e.g. online surveys at each Program stage from application to completion), the data from which will inform RACGP and training organisation program delivery and quality improvements.

1. We recommend that you complete the Initial Core Skill Analysis (ICSA) MCQs during the first month of your program and again at the commencement of your last term.
2. We recommend that you meet with the Medical Educator at your training organisation in the second month of your first term to review your ICSA and other application details, to help you plan your learning, and orientate you to the program.

1. Complete approximately 150 hours of learning and activities for each term, including the mandatory learning units during the first term, as outlined in the ‘Individual program requirements’ document accompanying this Program Agreement

1. Show ongoing engagement with the learning units which will be monitored via your CPD activity.
2. Complete the Workplace-based Assessment (WBA) components for each term, including but not limited to direct observation of consultations, clinical case analysis and other requirements as stipulated in ‘the Policies’.
3. Actively participate in all educational meetings and discussions;
4. Maintain a learning plan based on feedback from WBAs and medical educator feedback.

1. Complete the workplace-based assessments (WBAs) for each term, including but not limited to direct observation of consultations, clinical case analyses, multisource feedback and logbooks
2. Actively participate in all educational meetings and discussions
3. Continually reflect and document learning planning in the learning plan based on feedback from learning unit activities, WBAs and medical educator feedback

1. Complete the Workplace-based Assessment (WBA) components for each term, including but not limited to direct observation of consultations, clinical case analysis, multisource feedback and other requirements as stipulated in the Policies.
2. Actively participate in all educational meetings and discussions

1. Exercise the degree of professionalism, skill, care and diligence expected of an Australian general practitioner
2. Be courteous and timely in all interactions with the RACGP
3. Avoid conduct that may bring the RACGP into disrepute or adversely affect its standing or reputation in the medical profession or community generally

1. Exercise the degree of professionalism, skill, care and diligence expected of an Australian general practitioner. Please refer to the RACGP PEP Code of Conduct and the Fit and Proper Fellow policies.
2. Be courteous and timely in all interactions with the RACGP and your allocated training organisation;
3. Avoid conduct that may bring the RACGP into disrepute or adversely affect its standing or reputation in the medical profession or community generally.

Not applicable.

Following completion of the program’s educational requirements, the participant must meet the post-education progression requirements outlined in the Post-Education Progression Policy to maintain access to a PEP provider number, including:

1. Work in a placement approved by the RACGP and advise the RACGP of any changes to your employment in the post educational period within 10 working days;
2. Maintain medical registration;
3. When deemed eligible under the GPE Pathway Exam Eligibility policy, commence RACGP exam assessments;
4. Meet the requirements for a post-educational PEP provider number as outlined in the PEP – Provider number continuation requirements guidance document.

Following completion of the Program, you will be required to complete an exit interview or survey to provide feedback on the Program.

Not applicable

The RACGP will facilitate your access to a 3GA provider number. Once in the program, you must fulfil the terms of the Practice Experience Program Progression Policy in order to maintain access to this provider number. On satisfactory completion of the program a post-education provider number will be issued. Failure to adhere to ‘the Policies’ will result in immediate withdrawal of the provider number during either component of the program.

If you withdraw or are withdrawn from the Program for any reason, you may subsequently apply for re-entry into the Program. The RACGP may in its discretion choose to accept your application for re-entry.

If you withdraw or are withdrawn from the Program for any reason, you may subsequently apply for re-entry into the Program. The RACGP may in its discretion choose to accept your application for re-entry, and you should note that subsidisation is not available for second or subsequent intakes. Please note, there is no full fee payment structure in place at the time of producing this agreement and therefore the participant will not be able to re-enter the program once they have been accepted previously and benefited from the government funding.

You acknowledge and agree to the RACGP disclosing personal information received from you to third parties, including the RTO or your supervisor (if applicable), for the purpose of the Program.

You consent and agree that the RACGP may seek and disclose your personal information and other information relating to your participation in the Program from/to third-parties where it is reasonably necessary or required by law for the RACGP to administer your participation in the Program.

All information you provide during your participation in the Program, and in periodic evaluation activities, will be stored and handled securely in accordance with National Privacy regulations. The RACGP Privacy Policy includes information about access to information, complaints handling, and data sharing.

Any personal data collected for the purpose of evaluating the Program will be treated confidentially, and anonymity preserved in de-identified aggregated evaluation results to inform Program reporting and improvements.

You consent to being contacted by the RACGP for evaluation activities at each Program stage, from application to completion, to FRACGP exams, and FRACGP admission.

You consent for the RACGP to use your training and other data for the purpose of evaluation and research activity that aims to inform Program improvements, and best practices in the Australian medical education and training.

You must read and understand all relevant RACGP policies published on the RACGP website before signing this Agreement.

You must read and understand all relevant RACGP policies published on the RACGP website before signing this Agreement. Please refer to the RACGP PEP policies section.