The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) convened its quarterly Stakeholder Meetings on 3 and 4 June 2026. The meetings were held on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, bringing together over 50 participants from the 16 specialist medical colleges, the Health Workforce Taskforce, Aphra and the Medical Board of Australia, the Australian Medical Council, Medical Council of New Zealand, Council of Medical Colleges New Zealand, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Australian Medical Council, Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, Australian Medical Students’ Association and Doctors in Training.
A Stakeholder Forum on Professionalism and Culture was held as part of the Stakeholder Meeting and was facilitated by Mr Michael Gorton AM.
Australian Indigenous Medical Workforce Development
The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) highlighted the systemic barriers faced by First Nations specialist trainees and provided an update on efforts to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation across specialist medical training pathways. Discussion focused on opportunities for greater cross-college collaboration rather than isolated initiatives with a focus on embedding cultural capability across training standards, curricula, supervision and governance.
AIDA noted alignment with evolving accreditation expectations and outlined the value of working together for greater consistency, improved support systems, and stronger monitoring and reporting. This approach would strengthen training environments, reduce duplication of effort, and support more sustainable pathways into the specialist workforce for First Nations doctors.
Trans-Tasman Workforce, Regulation and Cultural Safety
The Medical Council New Zealand provided an update on regulatory and workforce developments, including proposed changes to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance legislation, which would introduce new governance and review arrangements and expand oversight of scopes of practice and training standards. The discussion noted the significant contribution of international medical graduates to the NZ workforce and the importance of strengthening retention to support continuity and service capacity. Updates were also provided on the introduction of a regulatory framework for physician associates under supervision. The Council of Medical Colleges described their ongoing approaches to cultural safety, including established tools, governance structures and cross-college collaboration to support continuous improvement of health outcomes for Māori peoples. Across the discussions, there was a strong emphasis on the value of continued trans-Tasman collaboration to support alignment in high standards in specialist training, regulation and patient safety.
Clinical Governance, Credentialling and Patient Safety
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care provided updates on recently released National Model for Clinical Governance, updated guidance for credentialling and defining scope of practice as well as the development of the third edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
Opportunities were identified for greater collaboration with regulators and specialist colleges to strengthen clinical governance and professional accountability, develop consistent clearer guidance and criteria for credentialing and defining scope of practice, as well as providing support for smaller and day hospitals.
Workforce Reform
The Health Workforce Task Force (HWT) provided an overview of current national workforce reforms, highlighting its role in advising ministers and overseeing implementation of key initiatives under the National Health Reform Agreement, including Schedule G on workforce. Priorities include system-wide workforce planning, supporting health Communiqué | CPMC Stakeholder Meetings | 3-4 June 2026 Page 2 of 3 professionals to work to full scope of practice while maintaining quality and safety, and strengthening system performance, integration and workforce sustainability. The HWT is progressing implementation of the Independent review of complexity in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (Dawson Review), with a focus on regulatory stewardship, streamlined pathways into the workforce, and national consistency in accreditation and standards. The discussion reinforced the central role of specialist colleges in training, accreditation and workforce supply, and emphasised the importance of ongoing collaboration, clear communication, and shared effort in working together to address workforce distribution challenges, including in regional and rural areas.
Regulation and Specialist Pathways
An update was provided on current regulatory reforms, operational priorities and emerging areas of focus for Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia. It was noted that the expedited Specialist International Medical Graduate pathway is progressing, with dermatology, emergency medicine, general surgery and otolaryngology (ENT) as the next specialties for inclusion on the pathway. The recent release of the supervisor resources was also highlighted. The Medical Board is undertaking extensive consultation, including with CPMC, colleges and stakeholder groups, to inform streamlining of the SIMG Standard Pathway, with public consultation on proposed changes scheduled for June–July 2026. College expertise was recognised as playing a critical role in this pathway. The discussion also highlighted the need for information-sharing mechanisms to ensure appropriate communication with colleges where notifications and restrictions of practice are placed on college members.
Accreditation and Training Standards
The AMC provided a broad update on its governance review process, highlighting a shift to a more contemporary governance model with a revised constitution, a skills-based board, and restructured advisory arrangements. It outlined progress on implementing national accreditation reforms, including widespread adoption of Model Standards and a streamlined approach to College Specific Requirements that avoids duplication for binational colleges. The consultation on the Standards for Assessment and Accreditation of Specialist Medical Programs was discussed with a focus on ways of sharing information on best practice and innovation.
The AMC is continuing to work on the NHPO Recommendation 13 Framework to provide guidance on how employers and colleges should respond when complaints regarding specialist medical training are raised, when and how to escalate issues and how to communicate with accredited training sites. The framework aims to provide further specificity on the extent of duties as well as how complaints are to be managed.
Stakeholder Forum: Professionalism and Culture
CPMC convened a stakeholder forum on professionalism and culture, facilitated by Michael Gorton. The forum explored the relationship between professionalism, workplace culture, leadership, clinical governance, workforce wellbeing and patient safety. Presentations from Safer Care Victoria, the AMA Council of Doctors in Training, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and ANZCA highlighted the growing recognition that professionalism is not solely a matter of individual conduct, but is shaped by the systems, cultures and environments in which healthcare is delivered.
Discussions reinforced that respectful workplace cultures, psychological safety, effective leadership and strong clinical governance are fundamental enablers of safe, high-quality patient care. There was strong recognition that creating safe, respectful healthcare environments requires more than policies and compliance. It requires cultures where people feel empowered to speak up, concerns are heard, learning is encouraged and continuous improvement is embraced. Participants acknowledged that to address these challenges we require collaboration between colleges, regulators, governments, employers and health services.
The forum reinforced the specialist medical colleges’ collective commitment to strengthening professionalism and culture across the profession. Participants expressed broad support for CPMC leading the development of a cross-college Professionalism Framework that will articulate shared expectations, values and behaviours, while supporting systemwide approaches to culture, leadership, clinical governance and patient safety.
Through this work, the colleges aim to strengthen public trust, support workforce wellbeing and help create healthcare environments where patients receive safe, high-quality care and health professionals feel supported to raise concerns, learn and contribute to continuous improvement.
Regional Specialist Training Pathways and Workforce Distribution
The National Regional Training Hubs (RTH) Committee outlined its work as locally based facilitators that support workforce planning, accreditation of training posts, supervisor development, and trainee engagement. They emphasised their role in linking medical school, pre-vocational years, and specialist training into coherent end-to-end rural pathways, with the aim of retaining doctors in regional communities. Discussion highlighted opportunities for a stronger partnership model with colleges, to identify potential training opportunities, support accreditation processes and improve visibility of regional training capacity. Participants noted the importance of developing sustainable end-to-end training pathways that support doctors to train, work and remain in regional communities.
Specialist Training, Workforce Reform and Access to Affordable care
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provided an update on national workforce policy priorities, including progress on the redesign of the Specialist Training Program (STP). The Government is continuing to consider options for STP redesign, supported by extensive co-design and evaluation, with the program to align with the broader reform on access and affordability to specialist care. The Department advised that consultation is imminent on a range of reforms relating to the affordability of care, including referral pathways, informed financial consent as well as addressing extreme fees. Consultations are in progress including with colleges, on the Medical Costs Finder website.
Broader system reform issues such as the progress on scope of practice reform and associated harmonisation of drugs and poisons was discussed along with the national workforce planning under the NHRA Schedule G, with the aim to improve the national coordination of specialist training and better target workforce supply to areas of unmet need.
National Projects and Cross-College Collaboration
Participants received updates on several national projects led by CPMC and partner organisations as well as areas of work across the specialist medical colleges.
Exploring Innovative Models to Streamline and Shorten Training Pathways
An update was provided on the project exploring innovative models to streamline and shorten specialist training pathways. The project has recently completed a series of national consultations involving more than 80 participants from specialist medical colleges, governments, health services and other stakeholders, complemented by dedicated discussions with trainees and supervisors. An overview of the consultations was provided highlighting flexibility within training pathways through approaches such as competency-based progression, recognition of prior learning and improved transitions between training stages.
Discussion highlighted a shared commitment to ensuring specialist training remains rigorous while identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary duplication, improve trainee experiences and better align training pathways with contemporary workforce needs. An initial report will be circulated in August.
National Accreditation Portal
An update was provided on a potential national digital accreditation portal to support the specialist training site accreditation processes. The work is still in phase 1a gathering requirements and developing a business case, including future state operating model design and assessment of implementation costs. Before the project can progress to the next phase of sourcing and procurement activities, the project team is seeking clarification from the government on future funding, governance and scope of the portal.
Pain Management Education and Cross-College Collaboration
Participants discussed the increasing national focus on pain management education, women’s health and pelvic pain, including recent government initiatives and the release of the Australian Standards for Health Practitioner Pain Management Education with ANZCA taking the lead on the discussion.
Discussion explored opportunities for greater collaboration across specialist medical colleges to support education, training and multidisciplinary models of care. Participants recognised the importance of ongoing engagement with government and stakeholders to support consistent, evidence-based approaches to pain management and improve patient outcomes.
Supervisor Development and Training Quality – Cross College Collaboration
Participants heard about the Standardised Supervisor Training System, a cross-college initiative supported through the Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program with the lead college being RANZCO. Discussion highlighted the critical role supervisors play in maintaining training quality, supporting trainee development and building workforce capacity, particularly in regional, rural and remote settings. The initiative was recognised as a practical example of collaboration across specialist medical colleges, with broader learnings that may inform supervision and training practices across the sector.
Shaping the Future of Specialist Medical Colleges
Specialist medical colleges participated in a strategic discussion examining emerging trends, reforms and opportunities that may shape the future of specialist training, professional practice and the role of medical colleges. Discussion explored the evolving relationship between specialist registration, Fellowship and college membership in a changing professional environment. Participants considered how colleges can continue to demonstrate value to specialists throughout their careers through professional recognition, lifelong learning, leadership opportunities, advocacy and professional community, while maintaining their role in setting standards, supporting professional development and upholding public confidence in the profession. Participants also discussed the evolving role of specialist medical colleges in supporting a diverse and sustainable specialist workforce, including how Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) are welcomed, supported and integrated into the profession. Examples highlighted how colleges are adapting membership and Fellowship pathways to meet changing workforce needs while strengthening connection to the specialist community. The discussion also considered the growing focus on scope of practice reform and multidisciplinary models of care across the health system. Participants explored the important role colleges can play in helping shape future models of care that improve access and affordability while maintaining quality, patient safety and professional standards. There was also discussion regarding the sustainability of professional contribution across the specialist training system, recognising the significant role Fellows play in supervision, assessment, accreditation, governance, curriculum development and professional leadership. Participants considered opportunities to support and recognise these contributions as workforce expectations continue to evolve. The discussion reinforced the value of specialist medical colleges working together.
Thank you
The CPMC warmly thanks all stakeholders and meeting attendees for their active participation and valued contribution to these discussions.
