Program

Chair

Dr E Robyn Mason, Executive Director of the Australian Medical Association (Victoria) Limited

Opening

Dr Kerryn Phelps, President of the Australian Medical Association

Keynote Address

Ms Kerry Fallon Horgan

Kerry is a consultant, trainer, author and Principal of Flexibility at Work, a change and diversity management consultancy.  Kerry set the social and economic context in which the medical and hospital sector must deal with the work/life flexibility issue.

New Medical Workforce - Attitudes Research

Dr Linda Sheahan

Linda is a resident medical officer at Royal North Shore Hospital and a member of the AMA Council of Doctors in Training.  Linda provided an overview on the results of focus group research of junior doctors and medical students conducted on behalf of the AMA which explored attitudes to current medical training and work practices.

Morning Tea

Perspectives on Flexibility

Speakers representing key stakeholders in the medical and hospital sector discussed how the flexibility debate has impacted on their organisation.  Speakers included:

• Mr Tony Farley, Associate Director, Industrial Relations & Ms Margaret Banks, Manager, Medical Education Training and Workforce Unit, NSW Health
• Ms Jennifer Willett, Manager, Prevocational Medical Education, Postgraduate Medical Education Foundation Queensland
• Ms Elaine Golding, Director Human Resources, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia
• Professor Clifford Hughes, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Lunch

Opportunities and Impediments to Flexibility

Mr Erich Janssen

Erich is Director of Workplace Policy at the Australian Medical Association.  He reported on the outcome of consultations with key stakeholders across the medical and hospital sector on the opportunities and impediments to greater flexibility in medical training and work practices.

Policy Discussion Groups

During this session recommendations to progress flexibility and work/life balance in the medical profession were considered and debated in small group.

Key themes for discussion included:

• Resources
• Education and Training
• Culture
• Workplace Organisation

Afternoon Tea

Plenary Session

Report back from Policy Discussion Groups

Close