9.2 The Medical Training Survey uncovering trends in rural clinical settings
Tracks
Crown Ballroom 3A
| Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Crown Ballroom 3A |
Details
Format: Non-academic verbal presentation (30-minute)
Speaker
Ms Brie Woods
Project Manager
Medical Board of Australia
The Medical Training Survey uncovering trends in rural clinical settings
4:30 PM - 5:00 PMAbstract Overview
The Medical Training Survey (MTS) aims to:
1) better understand the quality of medical training in Australia,
2) identify how best to improve medical training in Australia, and
3) recognise and deal with potential issues in medical training that could impact patient safety.
This presentation will demonstrate how the MTS has built a longitudinal picture of the quality of medical and the workplace culture in which doctors are being trained, across the nation and by rurality. Averaging a >50% response rate (n=>23,000) over the last five years, the survey has found that while medical training in Australia is generally in good shape, serious cultural problems, including bullying, harassment, racism and discrimination in the workplace and training have disappointingly remained unchanged over the years. However, the data shows that this is not the case for trainees working in rural clinical settings.
The MTS results show there are lessons learned from rural settings that could be used to improve the national culture.
The better the quality training the higher the retention rates and quality healthcare provided to patients. Using the MTS data is important to identifying positive trends, areas for improvement and tracking initiatives implemented to enhancing the quality of medical training.
1) better understand the quality of medical training in Australia,
2) identify how best to improve medical training in Australia, and
3) recognise and deal with potential issues in medical training that could impact patient safety.
This presentation will demonstrate how the MTS has built a longitudinal picture of the quality of medical and the workplace culture in which doctors are being trained, across the nation and by rurality. Averaging a >50% response rate (n=>23,000) over the last five years, the survey has found that while medical training in Australia is generally in good shape, serious cultural problems, including bullying, harassment, racism and discrimination in the workplace and training have disappointingly remained unchanged over the years. However, the data shows that this is not the case for trainees working in rural clinical settings.
The MTS results show there are lessons learned from rural settings that could be used to improve the national culture.
The better the quality training the higher the retention rates and quality healthcare provided to patients. Using the MTS data is important to identifying positive trends, areas for improvement and tracking initiatives implemented to enhancing the quality of medical training.
Biography
Having studied medicine at the University of Western Australia and attained fellowship with the RACGP, Brooke worked in urban and regional WA, Victoria, and Tasmania as a General Practitioner with a particular interest in women’s health. Working with clinical students at the University of Tasmania’s School of Medicine fostered an interest in leadership, medical culture, regulation, and clinical governance. This was furthered through roles as the Director of Clinical Training at Launceston General Hospital and Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services.
Brooke is chair of the Tasmanian Board of the Medical Board of Australia and chair of the Medical Training Survey Committee. She is also on the Board of the Postgraduate Medical Education Council of Tasmania and maintains engagement in prevocational accreditation in Tasmania and interstate. Brooke is currently the Medical Director of Primary Health North in Tasmania.
Brooke is Chair of the Medical Board of Australia's Medical Training Survey.
