Inclusion and diversity

We believe that all forms of discrimination are unacceptable, and can negatively impact the health and wellbeing of our trainees, fellows, staff, and the wider community.

Discrimination against individuals or a group including trainees, staff and fellows of the college, causes a negative impact on their mental and physical well-being. We recognise that anyone may have experienced this themselves or may have experienced this within their community.

As the membership organisation for more than 7000 specialist doctors and 1500 specialists-in-training supported by more than 100 staff, we have a responsibility to support those affected through those challenges so they can meet their responsibilities to their patients and the community.

Find out what we're doing to advocate for - and improve - inclusion and diversity in all areas of anaesthesia and pain medicine practice.

In short, diversity is the representation of different people and inclusion is ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities.

In recognition of our diverse workforce we continue to support work throughout the college in areas of Indigenous health, gender equity, reconciliation, cultural safety, population health and much more. Our goal is for our fellowship to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Our workforce consists of trainees, fellows and specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) and we recognise that within these cohorts, are a wide range of people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

The college has a number of initiatives supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion such as;

Conferences, meeting and events

  • A code of conduct for all ANZCA meetings
  • Promotion of gender equity in speaker and panellist numbers 
  • Provision of culturally diverse catering options 
  • Childcare and feeding facilities are available at the Annual Scientific Meeting
  • Feeding facilities at ANZCA House and at the regional offices upon request

Board representation

  • A diversity assessment matrix to ensure there is a broad and diverse representation on committees

Recognition of changing life circumstances

  Support for Indigenous trainees and fellows

  • Financial support is provided to Indigenous anaesthesia and pain medicine trainees wishing to participate in the ANZCA primary and final exam preparation courses
  • Two new Indigneous fellows are nominated to attend the Emerging Leaders Conference each year
  • Indigenous medical students and pre-vocational doctors with an interest in anaesthesia or pain medicine are invited to apply for a number of financially supported places at the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting

  Education

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Supporting marriage equality

In 2017, ANZCA joined other medical colleges to support marriage equality in Australia by releasing the following statement:

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) considers all forms of discrimination unacceptable, with the potential to negatively impact on the health and well-being of our trainees, fellows, staff, and the wider community. To this end, the ANZCA Council collectively supports marriage equality and urges our members, trainees and staff to give serious consideration to the health impact of ongoing discrimination.

Background to this decision

ANZCA Council recognises and acknowledges the diversity of views and beliefs within our community. We oppose discrimination in any form; and support diversity, and the health and well-being of our trainees, members, and staff. Doctors who are suffering stress or depression are less effective in delivering care for their patients.

In the ANZCA Constitution, the objectives of the college include to "advocate on any issue that affects the ability of Members to meet their responsibilities to patients and to the community" (1.1.4), and "provide advice and support to Members to assist them in establishing and maintaining an appropriate work/life balance and to meet effectively the challenges of professional life" (1.1.18).

In 2017, our ANZCA Bullying Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (BDSH) Working Group published Prevent, Protect, Respond, a report on BDSH in healthcare environments. The first line of this report states that “ANZCA considers bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment (BDSH) to be unacceptable behaviours and is committed to ensuring that it is appropriately addressed into the future.”

Our BDSH policy also states: “The college considers bullying, discrimination and harassment unacceptable behaviour that will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Beyond discrimination in the workplace, the ANZCA document, Supporting Anaesthetists’ Professionalism and Performance states: “ANZCA considers all forms of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment to be unacceptable.”

Therefore, after careful consideration, ANZCA Council members, in their positions as leaders of our college, strongly supported the need to represent these values to support marriage equality.

As of 9 December 2017, marriage equality is protected in law in both Australia and New Zealand.


 

Gender equity

Gender equity has ethical, social, and economic benefits to our fellows, trainees, specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs), and the broader community. Find out what we're doing...

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Upcoming events

16 September 2023 - 17 September 2023 | National Convention Centre Canberra

Join us for the 2023 Art of Anaesthesia meeting at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.

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5 May 2023 - 1 July 2023 | ICC Sydney

Missed the meeting? You can still sign up as a virtual delegate!

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23 June 2023 - 25 June 2023 | Surfers Paradise

Join the Medical Education, Communication, Leadership & Management and Wellbeing Special...

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6 October 2023 - 8 October 2023 | Pullman Adelaide

Join us in Adelaide this October for the 2023 FPM Spring Meeting. We've got a lot to celebrate...

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5 May 2023 - 1 July 2023 | ICC Sydney

Missed the meeting? You can still sign up as a virtual delegate!

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29 July 2023 - 30 July 2023 | Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Join us for the 2023 Melbourne Winter Anaesthetic Meeting 29-30 July, 2023.

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25 November 2023 | University of Sydney

Please join us for the 2023 NSW ACE Anatomy Workshop to be held at the University of Sydney.

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11 November 2023 - 12 November 2023 | Pacific Bay Resort

Join us at the 2023 NSW ACE Spring Meeting to be held on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November 2023...

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17 June 2023 | Alice Springs Convention Centre

Join us for the 2023 NT ACE Conference "Towards zero" at the Alice Springs Convention Centre.

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3 May 2023 - 1 July 2023 | ICC Sydney

Missed the meeting? You can still sign up as a virtual delegate!

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15 July 2023 - 16 July 2023 | Shangri-la the Marina

Join us for the 2023 Queensland ACE meeting "Everyday topics from the tropics", to be held in...

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16 June 2023 - 18 June 2023 | Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach, Qld

The theme of this three-day meeting is ‘challenging the status quo’.

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9 June 2023 - 11 June 2023 | Cable Beach Resort, Broome

2023 WA ACE Country Conference held at the Cable Beach Resort in Broome.

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3 May 2024 - 7 May 2024 | Brisbane

Save the date for the 2024 ANZCA ASM which will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition...

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1 August 2024 - 3 August 2024 | Thredbo Alpine Hotel

Join us for the "Regional ultrasound scanning workshop for peripheral nerve blocks" from Thursday...

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24 August 2023 - 25 August 2023 | ANZCA Brisbane Office

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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21 June 2023 - 22 June 2023 | North Break Room, QT

This AEP event runs alongside the 2023 Combined SIG Meeting.

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14 September 2023 - 15 September 2023 | ANZCA House

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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19 October 2023 - 20 October 2023 | ANZCA Perth Office

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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27 July 2023 - 28 July 2023 | Crown Plaza

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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9 August 2023 - 10 August 2023 | Online

The ANZCA Educators Program (AEP) aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to...

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1 November 2023 - 2 November 2023 | Online

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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18 July 2023 - 15 August 2023 | Online

ANZCA Educators Program: Zoom Series (18 Jul-15 Aug)

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28 August 2023 | Virtual

Join us for the the FPM Queensland August evening meeting "Optimising evidence-based care for low...

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10 July 2023 | SA ANZCA Regional Office

"Pelvic and sexual pain"

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4 December 2023 - 8 December 2023 | Northside Conference Centre

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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28 October 2023 | ANZCA NSW office

This free one day course is aimed at new trainees about to commence anaesthetic training.

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26 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | Northside Conference Centre

A five-day course (formerly called the part 1) for ANZCA trainees preparing for the primary exams.

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27 November 2023 - 1 December 2023 | Northside Conference Centre

A week long interactive exam preparation course for NSW trainees sitting the primary written exam

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19 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | Auckland

This two week course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be included in the...

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9 August 2023 - 11 August 2023 | Wellington Hospital

This three day course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be included in the...

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17 July 2023 - 21 July 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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27 September 2023 - 17 October 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Two free mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final exam

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1 November 2023 | Virtual

Free mock viva session designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final viva examination.

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20 September 2023 | Virtual

A free evening course for Queensland trainees preparing for their final vivas.

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27 November 2023 - 1 December 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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18 February 2023 - 17 June 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Interactive long course held over five Saturdays covering core topics of the primary examination.

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8 July 2023 - 11 November 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Interactive long course held over five Saturdays covering core topics of the primary examination.

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13 September 2023 - 19 September 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

A series of two free mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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21 September 2023 - 3 October 2023 | Virtual

A series of evening mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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30 September 2023 - 1 October 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This intensive course consists of continuous practice vivas to help trainees prepare for the...

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26 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | The Lion Hotel

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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9 February 2023 - 29 November 2023 | SA ANZCA Regional Office

For SA/NT trainees preparing for the primary exam.

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4 February 2023 - 24 November 2023 | Online (Zoom)

For SA/NT trainees preparing for the final exam.

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24 July 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

A comprehensive one-day course covering the anatomy knowledge required to pass the ANZCA final...

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17 July 2023 - 21 July 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

This full-time, week-long intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could...

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20 November 2023 - 1 December 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

This full-time, ten day long intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that...

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10 November 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

All Victorian trainees are invited to be a part of this annual event.

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1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023 | Various Perth locations

This course for WA-based advanced trainees covers many of the core curriculum topics that could...

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1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023 | Various Perth locations

This five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be included...

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Last updated 16:54 23.05.2022