As a membership organisation for more than 7000 specialist doctors and 1500 specialists-in-training supported by more than 100 staff, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion by our fellows, trainees and specialist international medical graduates in all interactions with patients, colleagues and the community.
We strive to embrace diversity and develop an inclusive, respectful culture that encourages participation across all college activities.
Find out what we're doing to advocate for - and improve - in all areas of anaesthesia and pain medicine practice.
ANZCA statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion
The college’s development of a statement on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a significant step in our commitment to creating and supporting a culture of inclusiveness. The statement is as follows:
| ANZCA is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Embracing diverse perspectives and promoting fairness, respect, and equitable access to opportunities enhances our ability to provide high-quality care in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain medicine. We advocate for an environment that ensures everyone feels safe, valued and protected from bullying, discrimination and harassment. We celebrate the broader perspectives and enriched innovation that diversity brings. We are dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable culture for our workforce and the patients and communities we serve. |
This statement is supported by the ANZCA Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) background paper.
It brings together the broad range of policies, activities and initiatives already taking place at the college under one banner, thereby ensuring future activities are aligned with college strategic priorities and governance structures.
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.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives
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 atthe 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
- Concessions and special consideration on subscription fees are offered to fellows to account for changing circumstances
- Support is available to fellows returning to work after a period of absence
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
- Resources are available in the Gender Equity LibGuide and the Doctor’s Health and Wellbeing LibGuide
- The Unconscious bias and interview panels toolkit provides an introduction to unconscious bias and how this might impact decision making in the context of participation in an interview panel
- Continuing professional development opportunities for cultural safety and wellbeing education sessions
Gender equity has ethical, social, and economic benefits to our fellows, trainees, specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs), and the broader community.
In March 2019, through the work of the Gender Equity Working Group (now Gender Equiry Sub-Committee), we released the Gender Equity Position Statement which states our commitment to advocate for gender equity.
We are pleased to release our second task-oriented action plan to be delivered over the coming three years.
The action plan aligns with the five key focus areas identified in the position statement, and the ANZCA Strategic Plan (2023-2025). Want to find out more on what we're doing check out the dedicated gender equity webpage.
In 2019, the college produced a statement on the role of ANZCA in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all people in relation to the college mission statement are:
- Supports access to healthcare as a basic human right.
- Opposes all forms of discrimination, given the potential for this to negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of our trainees, fellows, staff, patients and the wider community.
- Endorses the principles that (a) health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; and (b) the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. (From the World Health Organization’s constitution preamble – www.who.int/about/who-weare/constitution).
For full details refer to the Statement on the role of ANZCA in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all people.
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.
This statement is supported by the ANZCA’s Marriage equality statement document.
As of 9 December 2017, marriage equality is protected in law in both Australia and New Zealand.