Education Integration Project

- Development and Evaluation of Vertical Integrated Teaching Networks

   in Western Sydney

 

What is the purpose of this project?

Conducted over 12 months, the project is a collaboration between WentWest, University of Western Sydney and University of Sydney, which aims to establish clusters of general practices and other primary care facilities. These clusters will support the development of an integrated education/teaching system that provides a quality educational experience for participants at all levels, while focusing on the needs of the local community.

 

This project will focus on the the following objectives:

• To establish five pilot clusters in Western Sydney for the provision of an effective and integrated learning environment that focuses on local community health care, through the engagement of WentWest, Universities, hospitals, divisions, and healthcare providers;
• To increase the involvement of registrars as teachers. Encourage registrars to share their experiences in their areas of expertise with students, PGPPP doctors, fellow registrars and, where appropriate, Supervisors and other general practitioners;
• To broaden and enrich the role of supervisors as lead educators within their clusters, and ensuring that the standard of education is met;
• To develop and expand teaching skills for registrars and supervisors;
• To incorporate various teaching tools and activities to encourage collegiality between students, PGPPP doctors, registrars and GPs, improve teaching efficiently, create lateral thinking and generate enthusiasm;
• To cultivate professional and collaborative culture that would see the return of medical students to the teaching practices as registrars, retention of current registrars and attract more GPs to the region;
• To generate cost saving through the efficient sharing of resources between major providers and local training facilities.

 

Who are invited to participate?

You are welcome to participate in this project if:

1. You are either a GP supervisor or are involved in one of the components of vertically integrated GP education and training (in either medical school, prevocational hospital training, vocational training and continuing professional development);
2. You are based in one of the following clusters: Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hills/Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Nepean.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

For Supervisors

You will have the opportunity to experience an enriched role as a lead educator and participate in developing an education module that best suits your cluster. You will be able to access networking technology and teaching resources provided by WentWest and the universities. Teaching of medical students can be shared with the involvement of registrars in teaching.

 

For Registrars

If you are a registrar who becomes involved with teaching activities, you will have the opportunity to experience teaching, which can be enjoyable and rewarding. You will enhance your own learning by teaching junior doctors and/or students. You will also receive teaching training and gain an opportunity to build up your communication and presentation skills.

For PGPPP Doctors and Medical Students

You will be exposed to various learning tools and activities, in addition to “sitting in” on consultations. You participate in opportunities for free and open discussion with your registrar teachers about health care issues and your experience in the practice. You will gain a clear understanding of general practice that will help you to make a better and more informed career choice in the future. 

 

How will this project help you to sharpen your teaching skills?

Four face-to-face training workshops on teaching and training will be developed for supervisors and registrars as teachers. The four modules will include:

• Adult learning styles and principles of teaching and learning;
• Designing, planning and delivering learning programs: Learn plans;
• Planning, organising and delivering group-based learning programs;
• Delivery of effective individual learning in the workplace, feedback, and evaluation.

An additional on-line module will be made available for all participants that will provide a summary of the four face-to-face programs plus additional resources and an assessment component.

Supervisors and registrars who attend the above training workshops will be encouraged to present at two Supervisor Development Workshops in 2012 to showcase and demonstrate their skills in teaching to the rest of the team.

 

What will be your contribution to this project?

For Supervisors

We will ask for your input to formulate an integrated teaching module, which will be adopted in your practice and in your cluster.

 

For Registrars

If you would like to participate in the 'Registrars are Teachers, Too' program, you will attend the workshops that provide training for teaching medical students and/or PGPPP doctors.

 

For Every Participant

You will be encouraged to attend the clinical education meetings held in each cluster and contribute in the evaluation process.

 

What should you do if you want to take part?

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Jade Chang on (02) 8811 7155 or email: jade.chang@wentwest.com.au

 

Thank you for considering the opportunity.

 

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