Governance of Paediatric Physician Training Networks in NSW

The training program in each network is overseen by the NSW Paediatric Physician Training Council (PPTC) and an individual Network Governance Committee (NGC).

NSW Paediatric Physician Training Council (PPTC) 

The purpose of the Paediatric Physician Training Council (PPTC) is to promote high quality paediatric physician training and to encourage integration between basic and advanced training by ensuring the effective functioning of the Network Governance Committees (NGCs) for the paediatric physician training networks in NSW. The PPTC has been functioning since December 2006.

To read the NSW Paediatric Physician Training Council Terms of Reference, click here.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the PPTC?

The PPTC is responsible for:

• Approving all paediatric physician training networks
• Evaluating the composition and numbers of trainees within all Networks
• Overseeing the distribution of funds
• Approving additional training sites

The PPTC also provides an opportunity for paediatric physician training stakeholders to be involved in the decision making processes relevant to the delivery of paediatric physician training in NSW. Issues are referred to the PPTC by members of the committee, the NGCs, the Trainees’ Committee or individual trainees.

For more information, or to make an application to the PPTC click on one of the following links:

Process for approval of requests by hospitals to be included in a networked training program
Process for local issues submitted directly to NSW Specialty Training Councils

Trainees Appeals Process

Ifa trainee feels disadvantaged by the arrangements within a network, and this cannot be resolved by the NGC, the matter can be forwarded to the NSW PPTC for review. To read the Trainees Appeals Process, click here.

Meeting and Dates 2009

Meeting Dates 2009 (Thursday 4.00pm - 6.00pm)	Agenda items and papers due:
26 February 2009	12 February 2009
28 May 2009	14 May 2009
10 September 2009	27 August 2009
26 November 2009	12 November 2009

Paediatric Physician Training Council Membership

Members	Names
PPTC Chair (IMET)	Dr Emma McCahon
RACP & Hospital Administration	Dr Jonny Taitz
Network Director of Paediatric Physician Training, Northern	Dr Frank Alvaro
Network Director of Paediatric Physician Training, Greater Eastern	Dr Edwin Kirk
Network Director of Paediatric Physician Training, Western	Dr Davinder Singh-Grewal
Basic Paediatric Physician Trainee Representatives	Dr Jim Newcombe Dr Hong Du Dr Biarta Rhys-Jones
Advanced Paediatric Physician Trainee Representatives	Dr Angela McGillvray Dr Asha Bowen Dr Bryony Ross Dr Alys Swindlehurst
Neonatal Emergency Transfer Service (NETS)	Dr Tom Grattan-Smith
IMET	Ms Ellen Rawstron
NSW Department of Health (WDLB)	Mr Michael Hannon
Area Director of Workforce	Mr Frank Horn
Rural Representative	Dr Dominic Fitzgerald
Independent Clinician	Dr Adam Buckmaster
Independent Clinician	Dr Susan Woolfenden
Independent Clinician	Dr Patrick Moore
Stream Coordinator, General and Community Training	Dr Hala Katf
Stream Coordinator, Subspecialty Training	Dr Debbie Lewis
Stream Coordinator, Neonatal Training	Dr Paul Craven
Stream Coordinator, Critical Care Training	Dr Jason Hort

Network Governance Committees

Each of these networks is governed by a Network Governance Committee (NGC). It is the joint responsibility of the NGC, Stream Coordinators and the relevant health services to maintain and improve the quality of paediatric physician training within the network, in accordance with standards and criteria set by the RACP.

The purpose of the Network Governance Committee (NGC) is to ensure safe, high quality training for paediatric physician trainees through good governance and management of the Network and its training program. Ultimately, through its work, the Network Governance Committee is responsible for the attraction, recruitment, and retention of trainees within its network.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the NGC?

The role of the NGC is to provide:

• An opportunity for network stakeholders (trainees, clinical trainers and hospital administrators) to participate actively in the governance of the training Network
• A forum for discussion of ideas and strategies to improve training within the Network or remedy identified deficiencies at a local level
• A locus of accountability for paediatric physician training within the Network
• Support for the Network Director of Paediatric Physician Training
• Transparent and equitable network governance and management; to include reporting on its operations and expenditure to NSW Health through the NSW PPTC

To read the Generic Network Governance Committee Terms of Reference, click here.

Meeting Frequency

The Network Governance Committee will meet at least once per training term (i.e. minimum four meetings per year). All meetings must have their minutes recorded. Minutes will be submitted to the NSW PPTC every quarter.

The NSW Paediatric Physician Training Council will attend at least one of the Networks’ scheduled meetings. The purpose of visiting the Networks is to develop the relationship between the PPTC and the Networks and enhance communication. It also provides an opportunity for the PPTC representatives to listen to specific trainee and training issues within the Network and allows the NGC and its members to seek more information on issues from the PPTC.

Trainee Representation

Trainees play a fundamental role in the management of their training. The Terms of Reference for both the NGCs and the PPTC require that there is trainee representation on these committees.  Trainees are represented on each NGC and the PPTC has two basic trainee representatives and two advanced trainee representatives.

NSW Trainees’ Committee

The Trainees’ Committee is run as part of the RACP and has two key functions: to run high quality events that improve the training experience of trainees and advocate on behalf of trainees. The Trainees’ Committee is also responsible for appointing its members as representatives to the PPTC.

For more information on the NSW Trainees’ Committee, please contact nsw.statecommittee@racp.edu.au