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JMP - Student Support for Professional Practice Guideline

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Section 1 - Application of Guideline

(1) This guideline applies to all students enrolled in MEDI Course/Units offered by the School of Medicine and Public Health (University of Newcastle)(UON)) and School of Rural Medicine (University of New England (UNE)) in the delivery of the Joint Medical Program (JMP).

(2) This guideline is to be read in conjunction with the following:

  1. at UON:
    1. JMP Student Support for Professional Practice Procedure;
    2. JMP Schedule;
    3. JMP Student Placement Policy;
    4. JMP Review of Progress Rules;
    5. JMP School Assessment Responsibilities Guidelines;
    6. JMP Student Academic Misconduct Rule;
    7. Academic Integrity and Ethical Academic Conduct Policy;
    8. Student Conduct Rule;
    9. Students with a Disability Policy;
  2. at UNE:
    1. JMP Students Support for Professional Practice Procedure;
    2. JMP Schedule;
    3. JMP Student Placement Policy;
    4. JMP Review of Progress Rules;
    5. JMP School Assessment Responsibilities Guidelines;
    6. JMP Student Academic Misconduct Rule;
    7. Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules.
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Section 2 - Definitions

(3) In the context of this document:

  1. JMP means the Bachelor of Medicine – Joint Medical Program and Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine – Joint Medical Program offered by the University of Newcastle and the University of New England in partnership;
  2. Dean means the Dean of Medicine - Joint Medical Program (JMP);
  3. School means the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, and the School of Rural Medicine at the University of New England;
  4. SSPP Committee means the JMP Student Support for Professional Practice Committee;
  5. University means the University of Newcastle and/or the University of New England;
  6. Universities means the University of Newcastle and the University of New England.
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Section 3 - Requirements and Scope

(4) There are mandatory obligations for education providers and practitioners to report a student with an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

(5) The Medical Board of Australia’s codes, guidelines and policies state that:

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm (s.141(1)(b)).
In all cases, the student’s impairment must place the public at substantial, or considerable, risk of harm in the course of clinical training.
In relation to a student, ‘impairment’ is defined under s.5 of the National Law to mean the student ‘has a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence) that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect the student’s capacity to undertake clinical training – a. as part of the approved program of study in which the student is enrolled; or b. arranged by an education provider. (Medical Board of Australia - Codes Guidelines and Policies) 

(6) In addition, the Medical Board of Australia’s ‘Guidelines for mandatory notifications’ apply in relation to all medical students in Australia, effective 1 July 2010.

(7) The National Law requires practitioners, employers and education providers to report ‘notifiable conduct’, as defined in s.140 of the National Law, to the National Agency in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

(8) The mandatory notification obligation applies to all practitioners and employers of practitioners in relation to the notifiable conduct of all practitioners, not just those in the same health profession as the practitioner. It applies where the notifying practitioner is also the treating practitioner for a practitioner.

(9) This guideline is intended to complement the national requirements as a source of assistance and remediation for students to lead to the completion of the JMP and subsequent practice of medicine.

(10) On rare occasions a student’s behaviour may warrant referral to other university disciplinary or academic processes, and be subject to the outcomes of those processes. This guideline and the associated procedure provides a framework which can integrate with the other university protocols to consolidate processes and support personnel to address the needs of students who are in difficulty.

Rights and Responsibilities

Rights Responsibilities
JMP Students have the right to appropriate welfare support. The Universities will make every effort to provide appropriate welfare support to JMP students in a timely and responsive manner to assist with identified matters of concern.
JMP Students have the right to be informed and aware of the Student Support and Professional Practice procedures of the JMP.
The Universities will inform JMP students of the Student Support for Professional Practice procedures:
a. prior to entry;
b. on enrolment; and
c. at the start of each year.
JMP Students entering into the Student Support for Professional Practice process have a right to fair treatment according to principles of natural justice and due process. The Universities have a responsibility to monitor and observe mandatory notifications to the Medical Board of Australia.
  The Universities have a responsibility to ensure that JMP students are provided with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to undertake clinical training and to progress towards safely practising in the profession of medicine.
  Each JMP student has a responsibility to be aware of and to comply with the personal health guidelines for the Joint Medical Program, which are consistent with the inherent requirements of the medical profession as defined by the Medical Board of Australia and the Medical Council of NSW. 
  Each JMP student has a responsibility to manage issues which may impact on their successful achievement of the knowledge, skills, behaviour and outcomes of their program.
  JMP students have a responsibility to comply with the professional and ethical standards expected under the Medical Board of Australia’s ‘Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications’ and registration standards.

(11) The companion document to this guideline, the JMP Student Support for Professional Practice Procedure, articulates the steps which can be used to support students who may be experiencing significant issues within their program of study. The procedures are intended:

  1. as a first level of response to identified matters of concern that complements the current processes of the university, and
  2. to ensure that students of the JMP are afforded consistency and support in remediating these matters before they are referred to the academic or behavioural jurisdictions within each university.

(12) Additionally, the SSPP Committee and this guideline have been established in order to provide recommendations to the Dean of Medicine - Joint Medical Program (JMP) concerning a student’s fitness to practice in order to comply with the Medical Board of Australia’s ‘Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications’ and to:

  1. provide support and remediation to students to assist them complete the medical program and have a smooth transition into the medical workforce; and
  2. accept referrals from, and/or make referrals to relevant University positions and committees as appropriate.
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Section 4 - Essential Supporting Documents

(13) JMP Student Support for Professional Practice Procedure.