The year has started well and the new first year students in the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) are settling in. Thank you to all involved in the health professional education pathways in the NT.

Clinical supervision is a critical part of the MD program and is a central focus for the NTMP. There are a number of ways to seek feedback and further training in clinical teaching and learning;

1. Observation of, and participation in, facilitation of skills learning – Our MD3 academic team in Darwin  welcomes clinician observers to Progressive Clinical Skills, the small-group, role play based, teaching program. This  teaches consultation skills through role play scenarios, written to focus students on the challenges of the clinical consultation. The year long program increases in complexity as the student experience progresses. The students practice, and observe their colleagues’ history-taking and examination skills, with discussion on diagnosis and management. This is offered as an ‘open classroom’ with the CMPH Learning and Teaching Academy.
2. Clinical supervision workshops – the NT Flinders team are delivering workshops regularly to assist supervisors to stretch their skills and competence in clinical teaching. Look out for the next workshop in June 2023.
3. Mentoring – we are continuing our discussion regarding the potential of mentoring to provide a mechanism for peer support and development, with Darwin and Palmerston based clinicians. Keep an eye on the developments at our website https://www.flinders.edu.au/flinders-nt/postgraduates/medical

I also highly recommend the online NT medical career pathways resource. The Regional Training Hub actively ensures that this is an up to date and helpful resource for doctors in training in the NT.

A/Prof Emma Kennedy, FRACGP, DRANZCOG, MFM, GAICD
Associate Professor in Medical Education and Training
Flinders NT Medical Program