Training post targets - Specialist Training Program
Dear Department of Health,
On page 10 of a report (linked below), the report makes a recommendation that 'training post targets be set for each college at the start of the funding agreement period'.
I am seeking to obtain the training post targets that have been set for each college, in the department of health's various agreements with medical specialist colleges across Australia. This might be stored at a central location within the department of health. Alternatively; releasing the agreements with the colleges participating in the Specialist Training Program under FOI would also suffice in fulfilling this request.
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main...
Given that this FOI request is of a public-interest nature, I request that the ordinarily applicable fee be waived in this instance.
Yours faithfully,
John Smith
Attention: John Smith
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT
I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) has
received your request (in your below email) for access to documents under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
The department will take all reasonable steps to notify you of a decision
no later than 30 calendar days after the date your request was received.
You will be contacted where a charge is applied for processing your
request or if we need to consult a third party.
Unless you advise otherwise, duplicate documents and Commonwealth employee
names and contact details below Senior Executive Service level and mobile
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
You can contact the FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or via email at
[1][email address], should you have any enquiries.
Regards
FOI Officer
FOI and Legislation Support Section
[2]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][Health request email]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
Dear Mr Smith
I refer to your request of 19 April 2020 to the Department of Health
(department) where you are seeking access under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:
“I am seeking to obtain the training post targets that have been set for
each college, in the department of health's various agreements with
medical specialist colleges across Australia. This might be stored at a
central location within the department of health. Alternatively; releasing
the agreements with the colleges participating in the Specialist Training
Program under FOI would also suffice in fulfilling this request.”
Publicly available information
Information regarding the training post targets that have been set for
each college is available in the [1]Review of the Specialist Training
Program and the Emergency Medicine Program Final Report March 2017 (the
Review). The targets set for medical specialist colleges in 2018 are
consistent with the targets proposed in the Review. The information you
are requesting can be found via the link above. Please see pages 44, 81
and 82, and Attachment C1 (page 88) and Attachment C2 (page 89) of the
Review.
During 2020, the department will work with the medical specialist colleges
to review the targets that will be applied under Specialist Training
Program grant agreements from 2022.
As referred in your request, the Review can be found following the link
above or via the URL below:
[2]https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main...
Next steps
On the basis that the department has provided the above information to
satisfy your request, can you please confirm if you would like to withdraw
your request, or if you would prefer the department to continue processing
your request to a formal decision?
If the department does not hear from you by COB 8 May 2020 indicating your
preferred way forward, we will consider your request withdrawn.
Please contact the FOI Unit on (02) 6298 1666 or [3][email address] if
you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Perri
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Section
[4]cid:image001.png@01D621F9.5199B710
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [5][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
Dear FOI,
Are the training post targets set for 2019, the same as those set in 2015, including on a state-by-state basis as in the 2015 table from page 88 & 89?
I would like to proceed with my FOI request, as I am hoping to find the training post targets set annually since 2015, on a state-by-state basis.
For example, the target for the # of Dermatologists to be trained in Western Australia was set at 0 in 2015. Was this also the target set in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019?
I seek documents that show the target number of specialists trained set in each of those years. This document is not enough unless I have your assurance that the state-by-state target numbers are identical every year from 2015 until the reviewed targets you reference will be set in 2022.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
Dear Mr Smith
Thank you for your email.
The Specialist Training Program does not set state-by-state targets for
medical specialist colleges and this has never been an element of the
program.
From the inception of the Specialist Training Program to 2015, posts were
determined through national funding rounds. The data that you have
referred to in the Review of the Specialist Training Program and the
Emergency Medicine Program Final Report March 2017 reflects the outcomes
of these funding rounds and are not targets.
It is important to note that state and territory government public
hospitals provide the bulk of vocational training. The Commonwealth
Government, through the Specialist Training Program (STP), supports up to
seven per cent of all non-general practice specialist training positions
nationally, with a focus on expanding training beyond traditional
metropolitan teaching hospitals (into rural and private settings).
We hope this information is of assistance and would be happy to answer any
further questions you may have regarding the Specialist Training Program.
You can email [1][email address] should you have any
further queries.
Next Steps
On the basis that the department has provided the above information
to satisfy your request, can you please confirm if you would like to
withdraw your request, or if you would prefer the department to continue
processing your request to a formal decision?
Request for extension of time
Should you wish to proceed to a formal decision, the department is
requesting an extension of time to process your request. The relevant line
area is actively working to process your request, however the department
is experiencing an increased workload due to the coronavirus pandemic,
with a significant number of resources being diverted to other, critical
functions. On that basis, the department is requesting an extension of 30
calendar days, with a decision to be provided to you no later than COB 18
June 2020.
Could you please advise the department by COB Thursday, 14 May 2020 as to
your preferred way forward, and if you agree to the request for extension
of time?
Kind regards
Perri
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
[2]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][Health request email]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
Dear Mr Smith
As the department does not hold the information to which you seek access,
the department considers your request withdrawn.
Please advise the department by COB 18 May 2020 if you do not agree.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
[1]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][Health request email]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
From: Hollis, Perri <[email address]> On Behalf Of FOI
Sent: Tuesday, 12 May 2020 1:15 PM
To: John Smith <[FOI #6294 email]>
Cc: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Your Freedom of Information Request 1652 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Mr Smith
Thank you for your email.
The Specialist Training Program does not set state-by-state targets for
medical specialist colleges and this has never been an element of the
program.
From the inception of the Specialist Training Program to 2015, posts were
determined through national funding rounds. The data that you have
referred to in the Review of the Specialist Training Program and the
Emergency Medicine Program Final Report March 2017 reflects the outcomes
of these funding rounds and are not targets.
It is important to note that state and territory government public
hospitals provide the bulk of vocational training. The Commonwealth
Government, through the Specialist Training Program (STP), supports up to
seven per cent of all non-general practice specialist training positions
nationally, with a focus on expanding training beyond traditional
metropolitan teaching hospitals (into rural and private settings).
We hope this information is of assistance and would be happy to answer any
further questions you may have regarding the Specialist Training Program.
You can email [3][email address] should you have any
further queries.
Next Steps
On the basis that the department has provided the above information
to satisfy your request, can you please confirm if you would like to
withdraw your request, or if you would prefer the department to continue
processing your request to a formal decision?
Request for extension of time
Should you wish to proceed to a formal decision, the department is
requesting an extension of time to process your request. The relevant line
area is actively working to process your request, however the department
is experiencing an increased workload due to the coronavirus pandemic,
with a significant number of resources being diverted to other, critical
functions. On that basis, the department is requesting an extension of 30
calendar days, with a decision to be provided to you no later than COB 18
June 2020.
Could you please advise the department by COB Thursday, 14 May 2020 as to
your preferred way forward, and if you agree to the request for extension
of time?
Kind regards
Perri
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
[4]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [5][Health request email]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.