Expert training programme 2012

The Commission offers two different training sessions for its expert advisors in 2012.

The basic training focuses on report writing and is based on the discussion of case studies. In addition, the Commission offers an advanced training that focuses on giving evidence before a disciplinary body.

Training sessions planned for 2012 are:

Basic training course

• Wednesday 8 February 2012, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Advanced training course

• Tuesday 20 March 2012, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
• Saturday 31 February 2012,  9.00am – 11.00 am and another session from 12.00pm - 2.00pm

If you are interested in registering for one of these training sessions, please contact Eiléan Hynes on (02) 9219 7455 or send an email to ehynes@hccc.nsw.gov.au.

Writing a report

When investigating complaints, the Health Care Complaints Commission may ask an expert to review the relevant evidence. The expert's role is to give an opinion on the conduct of a health practitioner, including whether there has been a significant departure from accepted professional standards. If the expert reviewer believes there has been such a departure, and is also strongly critical about the conduct of the provider complained about, this will be important evidence in assisting the Commission to determine whether or not to prosecute a complaint against a practitioner before a disciplinary body.

The following information will assist expert reviewers of the Commission to prepare an expert report.

• Expert reviewer guidelines for registered health practitioners
• Expert reviewer guidelines for unregistered health practitioners
• Frequently asked questions
• HCCC Code of Conduct 
• Related sites with links to government and health bodies that may provide further information assisting the preparation of an expert report

Being an expert witness

When a complaint is prosecuted before a Tribunal or Professional Standards Committee, the expert reviewer may be called as a witness at the hearing. Some advice on what is expected of an expert witness is given in the following guidelines.

• NSW District Court - Expert Witness Code of Conduct
• Guidelines for witnesses - NSW Medical Professional Standards Committee
• Guidelines for witnesses - NSW Nurses and Midwives Professional Standards Committee 

Experts on the Commission's panel who are interested in attending a Tribunal or Professional Standards Committee hearing to see how expert witnesses give their evidence, can contact us.