Prevocational Unit Supervisors

Prevocational training is the foundation of medical education from which doctors develop competencies and skills after completing their basic medical qualification. The term “prevocational” encompasses doctors in their first postgraduate years after medical graduation (PGY1 and PGY2).

Supervisors play a vital role in shaping the experience of prevocational doctors during a term. The prevocational unit supervisor is responsible for overseeing prevocational trainees within their unit, with the aim of optimising supervision, learning, wellbeing and the working environment for the prevocational medical staff within the unit. They are expected to actively pursue excellence in medical education and collaborate closely with Monash Doctors Education who have primary responsibility for overseeing prevocational training.

For a detailed prevocational unit supervisor position description, please click HERE

Term dates are set by the Postgraduate Medical Council Victoria and can be found here https://www.pmcv.com.au/term-dates).

Supervisors are expected to meet with interns and HMOs at the start, middle and end of each rotation.

The aim of the first meeting in week 1 (ideally day 1) is to:

  • Clearly explain expectations for the role, including any specialised tasks or training
  • Discuss key learning opportunities while working on the unit
  • Answer any questions the intern/HMO may have
  • Schedule mid-term and end-of-term meetings

The initial meeting sets out the expectations and learning opportunities for the term, allowing for progress review at the mid-term and end of term meetings. Assessment information is available on the monashdoctors website under ‘Assessment’ (along the top banner bar) or here: https://monashdoctors.org/assessments/

To find out who the next intern/HMO coming to your unit will be, please ask your unit head or email MonashDoctors_Operations@monashhealth.org for assistance.

Please ensure that there is an updated unit handbook for your unit for 2024.

Unit handbooks can be accessed at: https://monashdoctors.org/unit-handbooks-2/

These pages are password protected. Please email mededucation@monashhealth.org for access or if you need assistance with updating your unit handbook.

The intern and general HMO curriculum documents provide a useful overview of JMS training and can be found at the following links:

intern curriculum and HMO curriculum.

More detailed information about prevocational training, including the ongoing review of the National Framework for Medical Internship, is available from the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

As a component for prevocational doctors training, Monash Doctors Education coordinates an Intern and a HMO tutorial series held face to face, which they are expected to attend. Please set the expectation that their pagers/work phones are held by registrars and there are no clashing conflicts that prevent their attendance. If possible, please arrange a dedicated office space for them.

Interns – weekly, Thursdays 12:30 – 1:30pm – Click here to go to the website Education Calendar to find information about the Intern tutorials.

HMOs – weekly, Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30pm – Click here to go to the website Education Calendar to find information about the HMO tutorials.

IMG Tutorial Starter Series – Monday 12:30 – 1:30pm – Click here to go to the website Education Calendar to find information about the IMG tutorials.

Links to the tutorial programs are populated in the Monash Doctors calendar, click here

Catch up on past INTERN / HMO/ IMG tutorial starter series

Past INTERN/HMO/IMG tutorial starter series can be viewed by signing into Latte, click on link below:

LATTE – Please note: You need to be logged into Latte – search “IMG tutorial starter series” or “Intern Tutorial” or “HMO Tutorial” under Find Learning. (If you have any problems with sound, try another device)

IMG doctors may find the working environment in Australian hospitals different to what they are accustomed to. To facilitate their transition to Monash Health, we suggest some additional resources.

  1. The IMG Tutorial Starter Series was established in 2023 to provide our IMG doctors with additional support as they begin their employment at Monash Health. It is a series of Tutorials/ talks which will occur on Mondays between 1230 – 1330, click HERE  to view the IMG Tutorial topics and presenters . The teaching and talks will focus on detailed orientation to the Australian Health Care system, clinical reasoning and a range of high priority clinical topics including managing sick patients, top tips for successfully working in Medicine, Surgery and ED. The tutorials will focus on areas that have been identified as challenging for our IMG colleagues. To join the IMG Tutorial Starter Series, please click HERE.
  2. Please see the Monash Doctors Education IMG Starter Pack HERE, containing information for IMG doctors commencing at Monash Health.
  3. Becoming familiar with Australian terminology and communication styles is a crucial component of effective communication with colleagues and patients. Doctors Speak Up is a multimedia resource specifically designed to assist IMG doctors working or seeking work in Australia. There are several videos on clinical communication and other helpful learning activities.  https://doctorsspeakup.com/
  4. Proficiency in touch typing is essential for EMR use. There are many free online programs that can be used for a short time each day to improve touch-typing speed and accuracy, eg https://www.ratatype.com/
  5. The Cultural Atlas is an educational resource providing comprehensive information on the cultural background of Australia’s migrant populations and can be found here Home — Cultural Atlas (sbs.com.au)

Assessment is an integral component of a career in medicine. It gives the doctor an opportunity to receive feedback, engage in self-assessment and reflection, and if indicated, improve performance. It also reassures supervisors and the organisation that optimal care is provided by competent doctors.

At Monash Health all junior medical staff must have formal performance assessments. Prevocational supervisors are responsible for all these assessments, including wherever relevant the delegation to other senior medical staff.

  • Interns are required to undergo both a mid-term assessment and an end-of-term assessment.
  • HMOs (PGY2 and beyond) must have an end-of-term assessment. All assessments must be completed in collaboration with the doctor being assessed.

Assessment information is available on the monashdoctors website under ‘Assessment’ or here: https://monashdoctors.org/assessments/

It is often useful to check in with the other consultants / registrar of the unit, as well other health professionals when appropriate, to find out how the intern/HMO is going after the first week or two, to identify any emerging issues early.

If you have any concerns about intern or general HMO’s performance or wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to contact MDE so we can work with you and the intern/HMO, to assist. Performance concerns that are identified early allow for time to find out more and offer targeted supports, as compared to when these are raised at the end of the term or on the assessment form for the first time. By that time, the intern/HMO has moved to a new rotation in a new unit with different challenges and no proactive supports; issues rarely resolve spontaneously.

If you have any concerns, please call Monash Doctors Education 9594 3743 or email Dr Kayty Plastow kayty.plastow@monashhealth.org or mededucation@monashhealth.org 

It is essential to your role as prevocational supervisor, that you attend the dedicated workshops planned by MDE.  These workshops focus on general training in supervision and also aim to bring together prevocational supervisors with a range of experience from across all Monash Health sites and units to foster a community of practice with a focus on the needs of Monash Health interns/HMOs.

In 2024 we have planned in person attendance (restrictions allowing) in seminar room 2, Monash Health Translational Precinct (MHTP), from 4pm – 5:30pm on the following dates:

  • 21/3/2024 (Thurs)
  • 15/5/2024 (Wed)
  • 8/8/2024 (Thur)
  • 23/10/2024 (Wed)

Past workshop resources can be found on latte. Click on the link below:

LATTE – Please note: You need to be logged into Latte – search “Prevocational Unit Supervisors” under Find Learning. (If you have any problems with sound, try another device)

Picture of our 2024 MDE team below.

Monash Doctors Education (MDE) for your reference.

  • The DCTs (Directors of Clinical Training) are all specialists at Monash Health.

Their main role is to optimise the education and training for the Interns, HMOs and IMGs, particularly the tutorial program and supporting JMS with performance concerns.

  • The MEOs (Medical Education Officers) are senior nurse educators. They focus on Intern/HMO wellbeing, procedural skills and working with the DCTs to optimise training.