Faculty of Radiation Oncology (FRO) Chief of Professional Practice

Greetings. In February, the FRO Professional Practice Committee (PPC) held its first meeting for the year and 2023 looks to be a busy year ahead. The Committee submitted its workplan to Council earlier this month so I’ll take this opportunity to share some goals we are prioritising.

We are engaged in the continued oversight of the CPD program for 2023 onwards. This requires us to make sure the College meets the criteria set by the AMC, by September 2023, for accreditation for ‘CPD Homes’. In addition, we will be asking for feedback from you, the users, as to your experience of the CPD ePortfolio so we can continually make improvements and improve resources to assist you. Let me take the opportunity to remind you CPD entries are now required on an annual basis. I cannot stress enough how entering your CPD into the ePortfolio on a regular basis will ensure that by the end of the calendar year all your requirements will have been met, and you are ready to start your next annual cycle from January the following year. You cannot enter details after the cut-off date without staff assistance—and that is poor use of a limited resource!

2023 is different from 2022. Please note that from this year onwards, members will be required to meet a minimum number of hours in each of the three CPD categories (in 2022, hours could be accrued in any category):

• 12.5 hours (25 per cent) of hours recorded under Educational Activities

• 25 hours (50 per cent) of hours recorded across Reviewing Performance and Reflecting on Practice and Measuring and Improving Outcomes (with a minimum of five hours for each category)

• The remaining 25 per cent (12.5 hours) distributed across any of the three types of CPD.

Please refer to the 2023 CPD Handbook for Radiation Oncology for full details about what CPD activity types are in each of the above categories, this will assist in ensuring you are meeting requirements. If you have any questions or require support regarding the CPD Program or ePortfolio, please contact the College team at: CPD@ranzcr.edu.au

RANZCR Code of Ethics

The PPC proposes reviewing the College Code of Ethics in partnership with the FCR PPC. After a thorough initial review, the PPC plans to determine the scope and scale of the project to fully modernise the Code. Considerations include requirements around being a doctor in society while there is a pandemic and limited resources and ethical principals in Artificial Intelligence. Ethics is a crucial part of our business; I anticipate improving the Code would be a key achievement for 2023.

Clinical Leadership

In my role as Chief of Professional Practice, I have received a number of queries about supporting new and developing clinical leaders. I have already had some preliminary discussions with the College staff as well as the wonderful radiation oncology convenors for the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, and I am looking forward to seeing this piece of work take shape in the coming months. I may be calling on you, my colleagues, for your expertise in this area—watch this space!

Engagement with Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

It remains a priority that discussions with the SIG Chairs continue to take place. A working group has been established to look at what needs to be done and what support from the College is required to better support our SIGs. This will include a review of the SIG Manual so that it provides clarity of purpose, processes and accountability for the College and the SIGs. The PPC will provide guidance on amendments to definitions, descriptions, and activity guidelines.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the work of the FRO Professional Practice Committee, please feel free to reach out by emailing the College team at: professionalpractice@ranzcr.edu.au

Best regards

Carol

Dr Carol Johnson Chief of Professional Practice Faculty of Radiation Oncology