Key points:
• RANZCOG has opened a purpose-built specialist examination centre in Melbourne to deliver consistent examination and assessment experiences for its trainees.
• The venue has formally opened, and is available for use from December 2023
• ALEC has gathered significant interest, and RANZCOG has partnered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to deliver exams for overseas trained nurses and midwives.

16 November 2023

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) have opened their Assessment, Learning and Examination Centre (ALEC) in Melbourne. Located at 1 Bowen Crescent on levels 1 and 2 of RANZCOG’s Djeembana building, ALEC’s custom-designed premises are equipped with the latest technology and equipment to enable seamless and robust exam delivery. The venue offers a dedicated space for RANZCOG’s exams and has the capacity to host examinations across a range of medical disciplines.

The launch of ALEC on 16 November 2023 marked a significant milestone for RANZCOG, and was well attended by key industry stakeholders, partners, and members. The venue was formally opened by Professor Ian Symonds, RANZCOG’s Dean of Education.

Professor Symonds said “The opening of ALEC shows RANZCOG’s continued commitment to the importance of education and training for the future women’s healthcare workforce. This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to ensure that trainees in all our programs meet the highest standards of knowledge and skills, whilst also supporting their learning through the provision of specific feedback. We believe that ALEC will also establish Djeembana as one of the leading centres for assessment of postgraduate training in Australia and New Zealand for health care professionals.”

The event coincided with RANZCOG’s Presidential Inauguration of Auckland-based obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Gillian Gibson. As the current President and a longstanding Board Director, Dr Gibson has been a part of ALEC’s journey since the planning phase.

“RANZCOG’s new Assessment, Learning and Examination Centre (ALEC) is a state-of-the-art facility that will enable delivery of high standard assessments and an enhanced experience for our trainees as well as our partners. I’m looking forward to this exciting new venture”, Dr Gibson said.

The initial concept for ALEC arose from the lack of consistency in examination experiences, particularly ones held across multiple circuits. This was evident when examinations returned face-to-face after the COVID pandemic. ALEC will help address an unmet need for specialised examination centres in Australia. The venue has 24 examination rooms across two levels, with dedicated control rooms and the latest equipment to enable effective monitoring and delivery of examinations. The venue is conducive to the delivery of examinations with multiple circuits, with versatile rooms that can replicate birthing suites, hospital wards and a range of other clinical settings.

As the only operational specialised exam venue in Victoria, ALEC has already gathered significant interest from a range of organisations that require a dedicated and purpose-built examination space. RANZCOG is pleased to be partnering with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), who will use ALEC for the assessment of internationally qualified nurses and midwives. This partnership will play a significant role in reducing wait times for exams and exemplifies ALEC’s role in facilitating assessments across the broader healthcare spectrum.

NMBA Chair, Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM said identifying a second examination site was a significant step in safely expanding the national health workforce.

“Supporting the Australian health workforce with safe and capable internationally qualified nurses and midwives is one of the NMBA’s highest priorities and with the opening of RANZCOG’s facilities we will be able to deliver more OSCEs, more frequently, getting more internationally qualified nurses and midwives into the workforce sooner,” she said.

For media enquiries
Andre Khoury
Head of Communications and Public Affairs
0448 735 749
akhoury@ranzcog.edu.au