Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• use telehealth effectively
• develop rapport
• tailor communication content and style to meet patients’ needs
• include significant others in conversations, and facilitate family meetings when appropriate
• respond to verbal and nonverbal cues and emotions
• document and share information about key conversations with patients to optimise patient care and safety
• assess patients’ understanding prior to giving any information
• model shared decision making by exploring patients’ concerns, informing them, prioritising their wishes, and respecting their beliefs

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
• convey information considerately and sensitively to patients, seeking clarification if unsure of how best to proceed
• treat children and young people respectfully, and listen to their views

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• discuss potential benefits and risks of management strategies
• assess patient capacity for decision making and informed consent if concerns are expressed by the patients’ family or carer
• recognise and respond appropriately where patients may be vulnerable, such as issues of elder abuse, family violence, or self-harm
• participate in processes to manage patient complaints
• ensure timely, purpose-driven, and effective communication and documentation that supports continuous, coordinated, and safe care for patients

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• treat information about patients as confidential

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• address gaps in knowledge and skills through self-reflection, seeking feedback and self-directed learning and continuing professional development
• supervise junior colleagues in managing communication with patients

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• provide information to patients that is based on best available evidence
• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in research
• write articles / reports and other scientific writing
• display oral communication skills, including those for both planned presentations and spontaneous speech
• communicate scientific information to others in journal clubs and conference presentations

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• demonstrate effective and culturally competent communication with Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• effectively communicate with members of other cultural groups by meeting patients’ specific communication, cultural, and language needs
• use qualified language interpreters or cultural interpreters effectively to help meet patients’ communication needs
• provide plain-language and culturally appropriate written materials to patients when possible

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• identify when to use interpreters
• allow enough time for communication across linguistic and cultural barriers

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• demonstrate respectful professional relationships with patients
• prioritise honesty, patients’ welfare, and community benefit above self-interest
• use appropriate consent processes for the release and sharing of patients’ information
• respect patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality
• support patients’ decision making preferences
• support patients’ rights to seek second opinions
• avoid sexual, intimate, and financial relationships with patients
• behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual preferences, beliefs, contribution to society, illnessrelated behaviours, or the illness itself
• use social media ethically and according to legal obligations

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• communicate effectively with team members involved in patients’ care, and with patients
• facilitate an environment where all team members feel they can contribute and their opinion is valued

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• keep health care team members focused on patient outcomes

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• collaborate with other health professionals and services, such as community health centres and consumer organisations, to help patients navigate the healthcare system