A New Model of Clinical Placement Governance for Victoria

A new model of clinical placement governance is being developed to improve the efficiency of clinical placement coordination and delivery in Victoria. This work is parallel and complementary to the new health workforce reform framework intitiated by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in November 2008.

Update

The Clinical Placements Governance Steering Committee met in September 2009 to consider stakeholder feedback on a proposed model of clinical placement governance for Victoria. The current proposal has received general stakeholder support and the Steering Committee recommended that the model would comprise of two key governance elements:

• The Victorian Clinical Placements Council (VCPC) as the 'regional entity' with responsibility for strategic statewide policy setting and planning, and efficient provision of stakeholder-informed advice to HWA; and
• A network of geographically-defined Regional Clinical Academies (RCAs) to provide a platform for parthership building, local coordination, research and innovation in the area of professional entry clinical placements.

These two key governance elements will seek discipline-specific advice as appropriate.

The proposal is currently being considered by the department, and negotiations for implementation will be carried out with the Commonwealth Government and Health Workforce Australia. Further information about the status of the proposal will be made available as soon as possible.

Background

Clinical Placements Agency Concept

In 2008, the department published a discussion paper, 'Clinical Placements in Victoria: Considering a Clinical Placement Agency'. The development of the clinical placement agency concept was underpinned by the need to build system capacity across the state and promote a more streamlined approach to the organisation and management of clinical placements in Victoria.

Four consultation workshops were held with stakeholders and their feedback was collated into a report on the outcomes: 'Clinical Placement Agency: Report on Consultation Workshops.' These outcomes have subsequently informed the development of the new model of clinical placement governance for Victoria outlined below.

Developing a model for Victoria

The Council of Victorian Health Deans and the Department of Health jointly initiated a project to provide advice on statewide governance arrangements for improving clinical placements in Victoria. A Clinical Placements Governance Steering Committee was established in early 2009 to provide input from a range of stakeholders including nominated representatives from public, private and small rural hospitals, the aged care sector, education providers, general practice, community health, regional health and community services and the department.

The Council engaged Darcy Associates to recommend a model (in consultation with stakeholders) for clinical placements governance in Victoria. Darcy Associates conducted a literature review, considered clinical placement data, and engaged in targeted consultation with stakeholders to develop a model. This process included two roundtable consultations in metropolitan and regional Victoria with broad stakeholder representation, and bilateral meetings with specific stakeholder groups.

Early stakeholder consultations indicated a preference for a model of governance which involves the establishment of a Victorian Clinical Placements Council and a series of Regional Academies to oversee the coordination of clinical placements across the state. For further information, please see:

The Clinical Placements Governance Steering Committee met in July 2009 to consider the feedback received during these consultation processes. The issues raised by stakeholders were grouped into four key areas:

• Organisation of the Victorian Clinical Placements Council
• Rural Clinical Academies
• Discipline Councils
• Funding and infrastructure arrangements.

Working groups were established in each of these areas to address these issues in more detail. 

Messages from stakeholders

The Department of Health is continuing to consult with stakeholders on the development of this model.

In mid-2009 a series of consultation forums were held across Victoria and the department invited stakeholders to submit written responses to the proposed model. A report summarising the outcomes of the forums is now available: