Program overview

The Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) Program at Canterbury Hospital provides an approved pathway for eligible International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to demonstrate clinical competence within the Australian healthcare system through supervised clinical practice.

The program is conducted in accordance with Australian Medical Council (AMC) principles and evaluates performance in real clinical environments rather than simulated examination settings. Assessment occurs during routine clinical duties and examines performance across multiple professional domains to determine readiness for progression toward independent practice.

Assessment principles

The program is underpinned by:

• assessment over time rather than single encounters
• use of multiple assessors and assessment tools
• alignment with AMC graduate outcome statements
• transparency, fairness, and procedural integrity
• documented evidence supporting progression decisions

Eligibility and selection

Minimum employment requirement

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 months of prior employment within Sydney Local Health District at one or more of the following facilities:

• Canterbury Hospital
• Concord Hospital
• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following at the time of application:

• International Medical Graduate (IMG)
• Successful completion of the AMC CAT MCQ Examination (Part 1)
• AMC Part 1 Certificate of Completion
• Postgraduate Year 3 (PGY3) or above
• Current employment contract at Canterbury Hospital for at least 12 months
• Eligibility under AMC requirements for WBA
• Current AHPRA registration (minimum Level 2 supervision)

Applications that do not meet all criteria will be deemed ineligible.

Applicants who do not meet WBA eligibility but wish to seek employment at Canterbury Hospital should refer to the Annual Medical Recruitment Campaign or ad hoc vacancies advertised on the NSW Health Jobs website.

Selection process

Selection into the WBA Program is competitive and merit-based, conducted in accordance with AMC principles and Sydney Local Health District governance requirements. Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.

The selection process includes:

• Written application demonstrating eligibility and suitability
• Panel interview conducted by a Selection Committee including clinical leaders and WBA representatives
• Mandatory compliance checks, including:
  • Mandatory training and CPD
  • WRIG-30
  • Vaccination compliance
  • Working With Children Check
  • Police/Criminal Record History Check
  • Current AHPRA registration and valid work rights

Selection is confirmed only once all requirements are verified and the Selection Committee determines the applicant suitable for workplace-based assessment.

Assessment structure

The WBA Program consists of a structured series of assessments conducted during routine clinical practice. Decisions are based on aggregated evidence across multiple assessment events.

Assessment tools include:

• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises (Mini-CEX)
• Case-Based Discussions (CBDs)
• Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
• Multi-Source Feedback (MSF)
• Portfolio and reflective practice review

Assessment domains include:

• clinical assessment and management
• clinical reasoning and decision-making
• communication with patients and healthcare teams
• procedural and technical skills
• professionalism, ethics, and cultural safety

Supervision, orientation and governance

All candidates practice under supervision consistent with their AHPRA registration. Supervisors and assessors are credentialed, trained in WBA, and responsible for providing structured feedback.

Fees, payments and withdrawal

The WBA Program is a fee-paying program. Current candidate fee: AUD $15,000 (subject to annual review).

Payment schedule:

• $7,500 prior to commencement
• $7,500 midway through the program
• Optional upfront payment of $15,000

In addition, candidates must pay an AMC fee of AUD $1,070, payable directly to the AMC and separate from fees paid to Sydney Local Health District.

How to apply

Eligible applicants should submit a completed application with supporting documentation to: SLHD-Canterbury-WBA@health.nsw.gov.au

Applicants are encouraged to submit expressions of interest early in alignment with annual recruitment cycles. Incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be considered.

For more information, email SLHD-Canterbury-WBA@health.nsw.gov.au