Specialist colleges launch unified advocacy agenda

Specialist medical colleges are dismantling old governance walls and building a united front to tackle the nation’s healthcare crisis head-on, in what’s being called the most significant structural shake-up in years.

Under reforms passed unanimously in mid-July, the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) has scrapped its legacy governance model, clearing the way for faster, sharper advocacy and decision-making.

The timing couldn’t be more urgent. As the healthcare system grapples with crippling workforce shortages, growing waitlists, and escalating out-of-pocket costs, the sector is demanding a response that cuts through bureaucracy.

“Our previous structure was a historical legacy. We are building a voice for specialist doctors, including GPs, that is responsive, accessible and can respond to challenges in real time,” said A/Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, radiologist and Chair of the Board and President of CPMC. “This unanimous decision shows we are united and ready to help shape urgent healthcare reform with a clear, strong voice.”

As Grattan Institute report recently revealed, specialist care is slipping out of reach for many Australians. Some specialists charge two to three times the Medicare schedule fee. Public waitlists stretch months beyond clinical guidelines. And each year, nearly 2 million Australians delay or avoid care altogether due to out-of-pocket costs- risking missed diagnoses and pushing more pressure onto public hospitals. Since 2010, real specialist fees have soared by 73%, with 10% of patients paying close to $600 annually to see a specialist.

Against this backdrop, CPMC’s internal overhaul is more than administrative – it’s strategic. The new model introduces a dual structure: a Representative College Council of Presidents to carry the voice of 16 medical colleges, and a separate Board of Directors to provide streamlined leadership and clearer lines of accountability.

Jodie Long, CEO of CPMC, said the reforms mark a turning point. “The changes will enable more agile decision-making and clearer communication with government, health departments, and other stakeholders, positioning the peak body as more transparent, responsive, and strategically focussed in its advocacy role.”

Top of the agenda for this year is aligning specialist colleges on its response to the KRUK Report on streamlining regulatory processes for internationally qualified health practitioners seeking to work in Australia, and closing the widening workforce gap in regional, rural and remote Australia.

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