(1) This procedure supports the commitment of the University to creating additional pathways for Indigenous people to enter the University (NeW Directions Strategic Plan 2013-2015) and continues the University’s long tradition of supporting the education of Indigenous doctors. The Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine (BMedSc/MD) is offered jointly by the University of Newcastle and the University of New England and is known as the Joint Medical Program (JMP). Admission is managed through a common selection process. (2) Applicants will be required to lodge an application to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by UAC’s October closing date by including for the program among their preferences. (3) The University of Newcastle’s Admissions Office will provide a list to the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and to the Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle as soon as possible after the October closing date, of those Indigenous applicants who have included the program as a preference on their UAC application by the October closing date. (4) The University of Newcastle’s Admissions Office will provide the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle with a UAC Full Applicant Report (FAR) for each Indigenous applicant. (5) The School of Medicine and Public Health will check each applicant’s academic eligibility based on the FAR. Applicants using the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry pathway must satisfy a minimum academic requirement to be eligible for consideration. That is, an ATAR or notional ATAR of 72.55 or a Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalent to a 'pass average' in a minimum one full-time year or equivalent of approved study attained from a Higher Education Institution or a recognised Indigenous enabling program (UoN – YAPUG or UNE – TRACKS). Only those applicants who provisionally satisfy or satisfy the minimum academic requirement will be considered against the other selection criteria in the assessment of personal qualities process (see Section 4 below). (6) Applicants who are currently studying in a University award program or a recognised Indigenous enabling program (UoN – YAPUG or UNE – TRACKS) will be deemed as provisionally satisfying the academic requirement. Applicants sitting the HSC, or equivalent, in the current year will be treated as if they provisionally satisfy the academic requirement. (7) The academic eligibility of all applicants recommended for final selection will be checked against academic / HSC or equivalent results (following the assessment of personal qualities process) before firm UAC offers are made. (8) Applicants who satisfy, or provisionally satisfy, the minimum academic criteria and who have included the program as a preference in their application to UAC will be invited by letter to attend the remaining selection processes: the Confirmation of Aboriginality interview; the Assessment of Personal Qualities (comprising the Multiple Skills Assessment and an online personal qualities test); and the Miroma Bunbilla pre entry activity week. (9) Confirmation of Aboriginality interviews will be conducted by The Wollotuka Institute in November/December. Applicants’ Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander status will be assessed on the basis of Self-Identity and Community Support. Results will be forwarded to the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle. (10) Assessment of Personal Qualities for eligible applicants will be conducted in November / December at the University of Newcastle. Assessments will not be conducted outside the standard JMP interview period. (11) The Assessment of Personal Qualities comprises a Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) and an online psychometric test as determined by the JMP Admission Committee and approved by the relevant Board at each University. MSA panels will include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representatives, who will be either an academic representative (from the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle or School of Rural Medicine, University of New England) or a community representative. The Assessment of Personal Qualities will take the same format as that used for non-Indigenous applicants. Eligible applicants will be ranked for final selection on their overall MSA score. (12) Pre-entry activities will be conducted over the course of a week in November / December in the Miroma Bunbilla program. Attendance is a requirement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander special entry pathway to the JMP. The program’s activities will include (but may not be limited to) attending problem-based learning tutorials, anatomy laboratory sessions, completing tasks associated with teamwork, research and presentation. Applicants will be required to satisfy a threshold requirement in the overall Miroma Bunbilla score to be eligible for further consideration. (13) Applicants eligible for Assessment of Personal Qualities will be requested to nominate their preferred enrolment location: University of Newcastle and/or University of New England. Information concerning enrolment location options will be provided with the letter of invitation to attend the Assessment of Personal Qualities. (14) In late December the School of Medicine and Public Health will provide the University of Newcastle Admissions Manager a list of Indigenous applicants who are eligible to receive offers to the Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine (including enrolment location). Prior to offers being made, the academic eligibility of each applicant will be rechecked through UAC. Only applicants who satisfy the academic requirement and the Miroma Bunbilla Pre-Entry program requirements will be included on the ranked list for final selection. (15) Offers will be made to eligible candidates down the ranked MSA list until the available positions within the program at each enrolment location are filled. Offers will be forced through UAC. (16) This procedure should be read in conjunction with the Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine – Admission and Selection Policy.JMP - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Selection Procedure (Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine)
Section 1 - Context
Section 2 - Applications
Section 3 - Assessment of Academic Eligibility
Section 4 - Criteria
Section 5 - Confirmation of Aboriginality Interview
Section 6 - Assessment of Personal Qualities
Section 7 - Miroma Bunbilla – Pre Entry Activities
Section 8 - Preferred Enrolment Location
Section 9 - Offers
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