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Anaesthesia
Each day more than 17,000 Australians and New Zealanders will have an anaesthetic. Throughout their lives, most people will be anaesthetised – during the birth of a baby or for a surgical procedure; from a routine day case through to major cases requiring complex, split-second decisions that keep them alive.
Many of today’s operations are possible because of developments in anaesthesia. Many procedures for the very young, the very old and the very ill have been made possible by advanced and safer anaesthesia techniques.
When people have an anaesthetic, an anaesthetist is with the patient all the way, from planning overall care, watching over a patient’s health and wellbeing throughout a procedure, to ensuring a smooth and comfortable recovery. Relief from pain and suffering is at the centre of practice for anaesthesia.
Anaesthetists spend at least seven years in post-graduate training. This includes two years of pre-vocational experience and five years in specialist anaesthesia training after graduating from medical school.
Specialist anaesthetists work across the full scope of practice including anaesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures (including sedation and all forms of anaesthesia, for example topical, local, regional and general); perioperative/periprocedural care and management; assessment and management of patients requiring analgesia, critical/intensive care, and patients in emergency and trauma situations (including resuscitation and life support).
The specialist qualification for Australia and New Zealand is fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA). Australia and New Zealand are among the safest nations in the world in which to have an anaesthetic, thanks largely to the work of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) in setting standards, training and accreditation of specialist anaesthetists.
Who we are
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) is the professional organisation for around 5000 specialist anaesthetists (Fellows) and 2000 anaesthetists in training (trainees).
Formed in February 1992 after 40 years operating as a Faculty of Anaesthetists within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, ANZCA, which includes a Faculty of Pain Medicine, is one of Australasia’s largest medical specialist colleges.
ANZCA is directly responsible for the training, examination and specialist accreditation of anaesthetists and pain medicine specialists and for the standards of clinical practice in Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, the College has a significant role in the advancement of anaesthesia in south-east Asia and South Pacific island countries. In particular, it offers its training program in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Statistical snapshot
- ANZCA was formed 1992 (FPM in 1998)
- 5000 Fellows.
- 2000 trainees.
- One anaesthetist per 7000 people in Australia and New Zealand.
- 300 Fellows in the Faculty of Pain Medicine (about 60 per cent are also anaesthetists).
- Through the Foundation provides more than $800,000 for research projects annually.
- Conducts 80 medical education events annually.
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Pass rate for final examination – 80 per cent.
Code of Professional Conduct
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and its Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) is a fellowship-based organisation that promotes the highest standard of safety and quality in comprehensive anaesthesia care to the community through excellence in the education, training, professional development and support of anaesthetists and through research. For more information about ANZCA, click here.
Download Code of Professional Conduct
About ANZCA
