Page 4 - RCPA Annual Report 2016-17

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
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Last year was a really big year in many ways for the College but 2017 seemed to be an example of how “time distorts” and, if possible, it was even busier. There were many signi cant happenings with two of the highlights since my last report being completion of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) accreditation process (with a successful outcome!) and further development and clari cation of the College’s role in the revalidation process.
The report of the College’s assessment by AMC was handed down in early 2017 and it con rmed what we thought – our curricula, training programs and assessment mechanisms are in good shape and we have been able to easily address any issues that were identi ed. The outcome was testament to the skills, knowledge, application and hard work of all those involved
– stalwart members of the Board of Education and Assessment (BEA), our large and amazing dedicated voluntary group of Fellows who are Supervisors, Trainers, Educators and Examiners and our wonderful College Education Team. Special thanks should also go to Neil Lambie in his important role as Registrar.This is the core business of the College and we now have continuing accreditation of all our training programs for another ten years.
2017 saw Pathology Update return to the new Sydney Convention Centre and both the venue and the program proved to be very successful –
we were the rst major medical event held there after it reopened and went off very smoothly with our largest attendance ever. Pathology Update returns to Sydney next year and after that will be rotating between Melbourne and Sydney.Talking of refurbishments - 2017 saw the completion of the works at Durham Hall with the upgrade being much needed after 30 plus years of continual use.
The RCPAQAP continues to go from strength
to strength under the expert guidance of the QAP Board and the direction of the CEO Dr Tony Badrick. The programs continue to be enhanced and support advances in laboratory practice as well as providing nancial support for College activities. My thanks go to all those Fellows who are involved in the management and delivery of the various programs.
RCPA biennial visits to our SE Asian colleagues in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong were another highlight. In October meetings were held with Fellows in each location as well as participation in scienti c meetings and visits to laboratories. QAP representatives accompanied the College delegation and participated in the scienti c program at most sites.
The RCPA continues to successfully attract and support trainees in these jurisdictions and nancial allowance is made for trainees where salaries are signi cantly lower than those seen in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian political landscape over the year continues to be “interesting” for Pathology – both at a Federal and State Government level. The College has maintained a vigorous advocacy
role and many College Fellows, including your Board of Directors and Committee members, have been actively involved in interaction
with governments (both Federal and State).
As happened in 2016, in 2017 we were active protecting the interests of Fellows and patients in the “blood soaked battle elds of health policy”. Your representatives had meetings with Health Ministers including Greg Hunt in Canberra and