Regulation 16

The purpose of the Regional/National Trainee Committees is to consider issues relating to education and training.

16.1   Regional/National Trainee Committees shall:

16.1.1   Advise Council via the Education and Training Committee of any matters in their region that may concern the interests of the College and consider any matters that may be referred to them by the Council.

16.1.2   Conduct their affairs in accordance with the Constitution and with the Regulations of the College.

16.1.3   Submit any document affecting College policy to the Education and Training Committee

16.1.4   Hold a Regional/National Annual Trainee Meeting.

16.1.5   Advise the Education and Training Committee on matters affecting education and training, and other matters affecting trainees.

16.1.6   Submit an Annual Report on the proceedings of the Committee during the preceding 12 months. This should reach the CEO by 31 March each year.

16.1.7   As the College is a legally incorporated educational and scientific body, matters related to remuneration for professional services cannot be discussed.

16.2   Every year during October, nominations for membership of Regional/National Trainee Committees shall be sought from registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia in each region.

16.3   The consent of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia who wish to submit their names for membership of Regional/National Trainee Committees must be given in writing and must be nominated and seconded in writing by two registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia resident in that region.

16.4   All registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia who wish to submit their names for membership of Regional/National Trainee Committees must ensure that they have no conflict of interest in being a member of the Regional/National Trainee Committee.

16.5   If the number of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia nominated and seconded for membership of a Regional/National Trainee Committee does not exceed the number of positions on that Committee, the names of all nominees shall be forwarded to the College Council (or CEO) in accordance with Regulation 16.12.

16.6   If the number of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia nominated and seconded for membership of a Regional Committee exceeds the number of positions on that Committee, ballot lists shall be prepared with the names of nominees in alphabetical order.  In the case of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia seeking re-election, a record of attendance at Regional/National Trainee Committee meetings must accompany the ballot papers.

16.7   When an election is necessary as established in Regulation 16.6, there shall be a postal ballot held during November of all registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia in the Region.  Voting must be for the same number of nominees as there are vacancies to be filled.

16.8   When a ballot has been held, the Chairman of the Regional/National Trainee Committee shall appoint two scrutineers to count the votes.  The scrutineers may not be presenting for election. They shall notify the Chairman of the Regional/National Trainee Committee of the number of votes cast for each nominee.  Voting papers which do not comply with regulation 16.7 shall be declared invalid.

16.9   Where there is a tied vote for two or more nominees of whom only one can be elected, the Chairman of the Regional/National Trainee Committee shall exercise a casting vote following the procedure laid down in Article 8 of the Articles of Association.

16.10   Each rotation should be represented on the trainee Committee; if there are no registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia elected from a specific rotation, then one from that rotation should be co-opted to the Committee.

16.11   Each Regional/National Trainee Committee should have a trainee from a rural hospital; if there are no registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia elected from a rural hospital, then one from a rural hospital should be co-opted onto the Committee. 

16.12   The result of the ballot shall be forwarded to the CEO before the February meeting of the Council of the College.  The Council will appoint those duly elected as the Regional/National Trainee Committee for the next year.

16.13   Members of Regional/National Trainee Committees shall be appointed for one year but shall be eligible for re-appointment.  Except with the approval of the Council of the College, no registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia shall serve on a Regional/National Trainee Committee for longer than 5 years unless he or she is an ex-officio or a co-opted member. 

16.14   The Chair of the Regional/National Committee and the Regional/National Education Officer shall be ex-officio members of that Regional/National Trainee Committee.

16.15   Regional/National Trainee Committees may co-opt registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia of the College for a special purpose. Such co-opted members may attend Committee meetings at the discretion of the Chairman but shall have no voting rights.

16.16   Any vacancy occurring during the term of the Regional/National Trainee Committee may be filled at its discretion.

16.17   At their first meeting following the February meeting of the Council of the College, the Regional/National Trainee Committees shall elect from their members a Chairman, whose term of office shall not exceed three consecutive years and who shall be a member of the Regional Education Sub-Committee, the Regional/National Committee and the ANZCA Trainee Committee. The Chair of the Regional/National Trainee Committee shall have full voting rights at the Regional/National Committee meetings but shall not have voting rights for Office Bearers, and shall be excused during any discussion an individual trainee’s performance. The Chairman shall remain in office and shall exercise the powers and duties as set out in this regulation until his or her successor is appointed.

16.18   The Chair of the Regional/National Trainee Committee shall be elected by secret ballot. If no nominee secures a majority on the first ballot, there shall be an exhaustive ballot in accordance with Article 8 of the Articles of Association.  The Chairman may exercise both a deliberative and a casting vote.

16.19   Unless determined otherwise by the Council of the College, the elected membership of Regional/National Trainee Committees shall be determined by the number of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia in a region on the day on which nominations close, according to the formula:

Fewer than 50 trainees five members
51 to 75 trainees six members
76 to 100 trainees seven members
101 to 150 trainees eight members
151 to 200 trainees nine members
201 to 300 trainees ten members
301 to 400 trainees eleven members
More than 400 trainees twelve members

The census relating to the number of registered vocational trainees in anaesthesia in a region shall be taken as at the stated closing date for receipt of nominations.

16.20   The new Regional/National Trainee Committee shall take office at its first meeting after the February meeting of the Council of the College in the year after its election.

16.21   Every Regional/National Trainee Committee shall meet at least three times each year.

16.22   A quorum for Regional/National Trainee Committee members shall be decided at the first meeting of the new Committee and shall be not less than one third of elected together with ex-officio members.

16.23   Unconfirmed minutes must be forwarded to the CEO of the College within one month of each meeting of the Regional Committee.  Confirmed minutes should be sent immediately after such confirmation.

16.24   Attendance of elected members of Regional Committees at meetings shall be recorded in its Annual Report.

ANZCA TRAINEE COMMITTEE

Membership shall consist of all the Chairs of the Regional/National Trainee Committees, and the Chair of the Education and Training Committee. The Chair of ETC shall have full voting rights, but shall not have voting rights for Office Bearers.

The duties of the Committee shall include considering matters referred to it by Council and its Committees, providing input to Council via the Executive and the Education and Training Committee, and considering issues relating to education and training, and other matters affecting trainees.

The Committee shall meet at least three times a year, prior to the Education and Training Committee.

The Chair of the ANZCA Trainee Committee shall sit on the Education and Training Committee, with full voting rights, and other Committees as requested.

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