Bachelor of Medicine - JMP Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Selection Procedure

Document Number	000843
Date Approved	3 October 2007
Date Last Amended	26 July 2012

     

1.      Context

This procedure supports the commitment of the University to creating additional pathways for Indigenous people to enter the University (Strategic Plan 2011-2015) and continues the University’s long tradition of supporting the education of Indigenous doctors. The Bachelor of Medicine - JMP is offered jointly by the University of Newcastle and the University of New England.  Admission is managed through a common selection process.

2.      Applications

2.1       Applicants will be required to lodge an application to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by UAC’s October closing date including Bachelor of Medicine – JMP (UAC Code 780000) among their preferences.

2.2.     The University of Newcastle’s Admissions Office will provide a list to the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and to the Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle as soon as possible after the October closing date, of those Indigenous students who have included Bachelor of Medicine - JMP by the October closing date, as a preference.

2.3.     The University of Newcastle’s Admissions Office will provide the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle with a UAC Full Applicant Report (FAR) for each Indigenous applicant.

3.      Assessment of Academic Eligibility

3.1.     The School of Medicine and Public Health will check each applicant’s academic eligibility based on the FAR.  Applicants must satisfy a minimum academic requirement to be eligible for consideration, that is, an ATAR or notional ATAR of 72.55, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalent to a 'pass average'. Only those applicants who provisionally satisfy or satisfy the minimum academic requirement will be considered for interview.

3.2.     Applicants who are currently studying will be deemed as provisionally satisfying the academic requirement.  Applicants sitting the HSC, or equivalent, in the current year will be treated as if they provisionally satisfy the academic requirement.  Only those applicants who are not currently studying and who are found not to satisfy the minimum academic requirement will be eliminated at this stage.

3.3.     The academic eligibility of all applicants recommended for final selection will be checked (following the interview process) before firm UAC offers are made.

4.      Interviews

4.1.     Applicants who satisfy, or provisionally satisfy, the minimum academic criteria and who have Bachelor of Medicine - JMP listed as a preference at UAC will be invited by letter to attend the following interviews:

1.         Confirmation of Aboriginality Interview;

2.         Assessment of Personal Qualities.

4.2.     Interviews for eligible applicants will be conducted in November / December at the University of Newcastle.  Interviews will not be conducted outside of the standard Bachelor of Medicine - JMP interview period

4.3.     Confirmation of Aboriginality - Confirmation of Aboriginality interviews will be conducted by The Wollotuka Institute.  An applicant's Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander status will be assessed on the basis of Self-Identity and Community Support.  Results will be forwarded to the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle.

4.4.     Assessment of Personal Qualities - comprises an interview and online psychometric test as determined by the Joint Medical Program Committee and approved by the relevant Faculty Board at each University.  Some of the interview panels will include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representatives, who can be either an academic representative (from the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle or School of Rural Medicine, University of New England) or a community representative. The personal qualities assessment will take the same format as that used for non-Indigenous applicants.  Eligible applicants will be ranked for selection based on overall assessment score.

5.      Preferred Enrolment Location

Applicants eligible for interview will be requested to indicate their preferred enrolment location: University of Newcastle; University of New England; or either.  Information concerning enrolment location options will be provided with the letter of invitation to attend the interview.

6.      Notification of Results to Applicant

6.1.     The School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle will inform Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants of the outcome of their application as soon as possible after the conclusion of the interview period.

6.2.     Applicants who have been provisionally identified for admission based on the interview result will be sent a letter by the Assistant Academic Registrar, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle stating that, provided they satisfy the minimum academic requirement, they are eligible to receive an offer of admission to the Bachelor of Medicine - JMP at the relevant enrolment location. The letter will clearly state that the official offer will be made through the Universities Admission Centre.

6.3.     Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via letter that they have been unsuccessful in the selection process.

7.      Offers

7.1.     In late December the School of Medicine and Public Health will provide the University of Newcastle Admissions Manager a list of applicants who are eligible to receive offers to the Bachelor of Medicine – JMP (including enrolment location).  Prior to offers being made the academic eligibility of each applicant will be rechecked through UAC.  Only applicants who satisfy the academic requirement will be included on the offer list. Offers will be forced in the UAC main round.

7.2.     Offers will be made to eligible candidates down the ranked interview list until the available positions within the program at each enrolment location are filled.

 

This procedure should be read in conjunction with Bachelor of Medicine - JMP Admission and Selection Policy 000871.

 

 

 

Approval Authority	Academic Senate
Date Approved	3 October 2007
Date Last Amended	26 July 2012
Date for Review	3 October 2010
Policy Sponsor	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Global Relations)
Policy Owner	Academic Registrar
Policy Contact	Assistant Academic Registrar, Faculty of Health
Amendment History	Updated to include the Personal Qualities Assessment as approved by the President of Academic Senate under delegated authority on 26 July 2012 Changed UAI to ATAR and relevant cut-off August 2009 Approved Academic Senate 3 October 2007