Committee news
Tasmania Regional Committee
The 2026-28 Tasmania Regional Committee met for the first time on Thursday 28 May at the ANZCA Tasmania Office and via zoom. ANZCA CEO Dr Lance Emerson and ANZCA President Dr Tanya Selak attended the first meeting and updated the committee on current matters impacting the college, our fellows and trainees.
The 2026-28 committee has been confirmed as follows:
- Dr Bruce Newman – Chair (elected)
- Dr Jana Vitesnikova – Deputy Chair (elected)
- Assoc Professor Deb Wilson – Council representative – (ex-officio)
- Dr Justine Heard – Simulation Education Representative (elected)
- Dr Pravin Dahal – Safety and Quality Representative (elected)
- Dr Jeremy Sutton – TAC Representative (co-opted)
- Dr Joanne Samuel – Education Officer (co-opted)
- Dr Angela Ralph – Deputy Education Officer (co-opted)
- Dr Dane Blackford - Sustainability Representative (co-opted)
- Dr Nina Loughman – FPM Representative (co-opted)
- Dr Alice Walker - Co Chair Tasmania Trainee Committee (co-opted)
- Dr Cassandra Brown – Co Chair Tasmania Trainee Committee (co-opted)
- Dr Alice Mulcahy – Tasmania ASA Committee Chair (co-opted)
- Assoc Professor Lia Freestone – TATP/TASETN Representative (co-opted)
- Dr Ranjita Sharma – Royal Hobart Hospital Representative (co-opted)
- Dr Jose Cardoso – North West Hospital Representative (co-opted)
- CME Officer – Vacant
- New Fellow Representative – Vacant
The next Tasmania Regional Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday 4 September 2026 and will be held in the North West region of the State in Burnie. Committee members are encouraged to attend this meeting personally if possible. It will also be available via zoom. The meeting commences at 6pm and will be held at the UTAS Cradle to Coast campus at West Park.
Tasmania Trainee Committee
The Trainee Committee met on Thursday 7 July at the ANZCA Tasmania Office and via zoom. The committee will meet again for their final meeting of 2026 on Thursday 29 October via zoom.
Supervisor of training meeting and workshop
The Tasmania Supervisors of Training Committee held a meeting and workshop on Wednesday 29 July in Launceston. SOT’s from the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional Hospital were in attendance for this full day program.
Upcoming events
2026 Perioperative Medicine SIG meeting
Registrations are now open for the 2026 Perioperative Medicine SIG meeting, "From Foundations to Frontiers", to be held 26–28 November at Crowne Plaza.
2027 Tasmania Introduction to Anaesthesia - Saturday 13 February 2027.
This event is planned to the held at the UTAS Cradle to Coast - West Park venue in Burnie for the second year. Save the date: registration information will be advised later in the year.
2027 Tasmania Trainee Day
This event has been confirmed for Friday 12 March 2027 and will be held at Peppers Silos function centre in Launceston for our full program event with a paediatrics theme.
A social event has also been arranged at Saint John in Launceston from 6pm. Registrations will be opening later this year, so save the date now for this popular training day.
Deferment of 2027 Tasmania Summer CME Weekend
Due to a clash in dates with the upcoming SPANZA meeting in Launceston in March 2027, the Tasmania Regional Committee have decided to not hold our CME meeting for 2027. This will be deferred until the 2028 meeting. Dates for this meeting will be allocated early next year and advised via the Regional wrap and ANZCA/ASA/ACE advertising platforms.
The Tasmanian Anaesthetic Education and Training Network (TASETN) project
A FATES funded initiative driving excellence in simulation education in the state of Tasmania
It’s a wrap! TASETN reaches a milestone as Commonwealth funding concludes.
The Tasmanian Anaesthetic Simulation Education and Training Network (TASETN) has reshaped the landscape of clinical education in Tasmania, creating a connected statewide simulation network that is strengthening workforce capability and improving patient care. Since its inception in 2023, the program has delivered more than 100 simulation-based training sessions to over 1,100 healthcare professionals across the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, North West Regional Hospital and Mersey Community Hospital, with flow-on effects seen at the Mersey Community Hospital.
By bringing high-quality simulation training closer to where clinicians work, the TASETN has dramatically expanded access to simulation education across the state. The impact has been remarkable: simulation activity at the Royal Hobart Hospital increased by more than 450 per cent, while participation at Launceston General Hospital grew by 306 per cent. The value of the program is reflected in participant feedback, with more than 95 per cent of attendees reporting that the training was worthwhile and directly relevant to their practice.
At the heart of TASETN’s success has been the introduction of dedicated clinical nurse educator (CNE) positions at each participating site. Recognised by stakeholders as the project’s most transformative achievement, these educators became the driving force behind the design, coordination and delivery of multidisciplinary simulation programs. Their work not only supported simulation leads to deliver training activities, but also expanded training opportunities, embedded simulation into everyday clinical practice, supported quality improvement initiatives and fostered a culture of continuous learning.
More than $250,000 worth of simulation equipment was distributed across the network, while 74 staff completed faculty development programs, creating a skilled statewide cohort of simulation educators. This investment has ensured that healthcare professionals, regardless of location, have equitable access to high-quality training resources and expertise.
Importantly, TASETN’s impact has extended well beyond education. Simulation activities became a catalyst for identifying and addressing system-wide challenges, driving practical improvements in patient safety and clinical readiness. Outcomes included the standardisation of emergency equipment, the development of updated clinical resources, enhancements to emergency response processes, and stronger multidisciplinary teamwork. These improvements have helped clinicians respond more effectively in high-pressure situations while supporting safer, more consistent patient care.
By achieving all FATES and project objectives, the TASETN has demonstrated the powerful role that simulation can play in strengthening healthcare systems. Just as significantly, the program has fostered a positive learning culture that has boosted staff confidence, improved morale, and contributed to workforce recruitment and retention.
While the Commonwealth-funded component of the project concluded on 30 April, with final reporting due on 30 June, the Tasmanian Health Service will continue to support TASETN. Evaluation findings confirm that the network has established a sustainable foundation for simulation-based education across Tasmania, ensuring its positive impact on healthcare workforce capability, patient outcomes and community wellbeing will continue for years to come.
Note: The Evaluation Report and project videos will be available for viewing on the ANZCA website following approval by the Commonwealth.
Rebecca Harding, TASETN FATES Project Officer
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Elected annually by Tasmanian trainees, the Tasmania Trainee Committee acts as a conduit between trainees and fellows in the region, and the ANZCA Council to which they report.
The Tasmanian Regional Committee is an elected body that act as a conduit between fellows and trainees in the Tasmanian region and the ANZCA council to which they report.