1. Preparing for Fellowship A recent candidate’s experience Dr Humsha Naidoo Acting Chief Medical Officer - Austin Health Melbourne Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators

2. Requirements for fellowship Masters in Health Services Management Case Study Oral examination

3. Case Study Choose topic that demonstrates management experience and relates theory to practical implementation DON’T LEAVE IT TOO LATE !!! New process from 2005 which will be discussed with you

4. Preparation for oral examination Read, Read and read more –the area of health services management is VAST!! Practice at work Join a study group Attend the College pre-exam workshop Practice using old exam questions

5. Reading material Journals –MJA, BMJ,AHR Websites – Department of Human Services, Commonwealth, Candidate’s corner on RACMA website Books – new version of Health and Law book, Public Health Policy, Australian Health Care System – issues and reform Regular newsletters from law firms, HR firms Newspapers – CJD incident, sentinel event

6. Formal presentations Scientific program in your state Teleconferencing with other centres eg Queensland program Organise learning sessions yourself – find a topic and an expert and facilitate it RACMA annual conference Other health services management conferences eg ACHSE

7. Discussions with supervisors/preceptors Talk to senior health executives in public service, private and rural services Talk to policy makers in health departments Supervisors/preceptors – wealth of knowledge Broaden your perspective on issues by discussion

8. Personal Strategies Remain focused on your vision/goals Prepare your family because they are the BEST support you will get Organise your time so that you can balance study time with family time Use every opportunity at work to learn from other senior staff Eat well (gourmet food) and exercise Take time off before the exam to consolidate knowledge away from work commitments

9. Study Group Excellent for comraderie – “we are in this together and we are all going to help each other to pass” Exploit each other’s strengths and knowledge Be organised – allocate topics and demand preparation and research on topic Organise your notes by topic Present to each other to gain confidence Don’t forget the gourmet food and the fun!!

10. Format for answers Develop format and practice Define main issues in first 10 minutes of answer Discuss management of each main issue Famous POMFUME which covers all the issues Develop a directory of definitions Develop set of principles on each topic –use grids Summarise at end

11. Presentation to examiner Be confident Be considered Don’t be dogmatic Be scholarly Be critical/analytical Be empathetic Be mature/reasonable Have an opinion – quote literature for what others think You are not expected to know everything !!!

12. Exam topics General Management Health/Law issues Financial management Workforce/HR Health policy/planning Recent advances Ethical issues Disaster management Clinical governance Indigenous Health Hospital Demand Management Australian Health Care System

13. Conclusion Exams are never easy – have to work hard to pass Enjoy the learning – its exciting and a challenge Examiners are “human” and actually want you to pass Think of the ultimate joy at the end and the celebration We were ecstatic when we all passed !!!

14. Questions???