Providing constructive feedback is an essential part of ensuring we receive the best medical education possible. The following gives a brief overview of the pathways students have open to them when they have an academic or personal problem and gives basic advice on the optimal way of addressing these issues.

1. The Importance of Feedback

Don’t be afraid to provide feedback. Both negative and positive feedback is necessary to ensure that the course retains the quality that is required to make us all good, competent doctors. Constructive feedback does lead to change, which results in an improved course.

2. When To Give Feedback

There are several issues that should be considered:

a.       What is the problem?

b.      How it is affecting you?

c.       What are the possible causes of the problem?

d.      Is any other student experiencing similar problems?

e.       What possible solutions exist? Are these practical?

f.        Would providing feedback on this issue lead to a change that would benefit the course?

3. Who to Give Feedback To

The general hierarchy of who to address problems to is shown in the attached document (Feedback Pathways). This shows 2 academic pathways – one through WAMSS and one directly through the Faculty. A few points to consider:

a.       Peers are a good starting point – are other people having the same problems?

b.      Lecturer/Unit Coordinator – a good first contact if you are the only one experiencing the problem

c.       Year Representatives – a good point of contact if the problem affects more than one person. Year reps sit on the Year Committees which include all unit coordinators and are often called upon to provide a consensus view to academic staff on educational issues at this meeting. They also directly represent the year to the Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) and can provide feedback to the WAMSS Education Officer or Executive, who can then take issues to the Medical Curriculum Committee (MCC) or directly to the Dean.

d.      The WAMSS Education Officer and the WAMSS Executive sit on numerous Faculty and School Committees and can provide feedback if action is not taken at the Year Committee level.

Personal issues should be directed through the Personal pathway. There is currently a pre-clinical Sub-Dean and Sub-Deans for each clinical year. Students are also encouraged to contact Student Affairs directly if there are problems that are directly impacting on their academic performance.

4.  How To Provide Feedback

Feedback needs to be constructive if adequate changes are going to be made. Are good system for providing feedback in any context involves:

a.       Provide some background on the problem. This may include discussing the cu rrent unit structure, assessment etc.

b.      Discuss the current positives associated with the current structure

c.       Identify and explain what problems exist and the impact they have on either yourself or the student body

d.      Provide some possible solutions for the problem for discussion

It is important not to provide a ‘consensus view’ when a consensus view has not been sought from the whole year.

5.  If a Problem Persists

Continue down the Feedback Pathway. To contact people from the Feedback Pathway check the WAMSS website for WAMSS representatives, Faculty Guidebook or website for Faculty staff and Unit Guidebooks for Unit Coordinators.