Aotearoa New Zealand latest updates
Training updates
Aotearoa NZ Advanced Training News
Advanced Training continues to grow and evolve. We currently have approximately 600 trainees undertaking Advanced Training across the program.
In 2025 we welcomed 130 new Fellows and so far 27 new Fellows have been admitted in 2026.
As part of ongoing improvements to strengthen training quality, assessment and governance, the following updates have or will take effect:
TMP testing
TMP testing is being introduced for Advanced Trainees, with implementation occurring alongside the PREP curriculum. This marks an important step in strengthening assessment and progression processes within Advanced Training focusing on competency-based learning.
IMSANZ Conference Presentation
The new TMP system and associated changes will be presented at the IMSANZ Conference, providing an opportunity for members to learn more about the approach, rationale, and practical implications.
New Due Dates for Advanced Training (from 2026)
From 2026 onwards, Advanced Training due dates will align with Australian timelines to ensure greater consistency across both jurisdictions. Further details regarding key dates have been communicated in advance to support transition planning.
Committee Structure Changes (2026)
From 2026, committee names will be updated, and staff delegations will be clarified to streamline governance and decision-making processes. Committee members have received detailed information on these changes.
Committee Involvement in TMP Decisions
Committees will now form part of the panel decision-making process for TMP trainees, strengthening oversight and ensuring appropriate specialty input into progression decisions.
Implementation Alongside PREP Curriculum
TMP will be implemented in conjunction with the PREP curriculum, ensuring alignment between assessment frameworks and training standards.
Staff Highlight: Meet the TMP Testing Team
Debbie Kowalczyk – Gastroenterology
Debbie has been closely involved in several rounds of TMP testing, thanks to Gastroenterology being included in Wave 1 of the new curriculum rollout. Her work has included extensive testing and training with the TMP system, allowing her to explore its functionality in depth, sometimes even finding solutions coming to her in her sleep. Debbie sees immense potential in TMP and is excited about the flexibility it will offer trainees once fully adopted.
Jared Woodroofe – Senior Executive Officer, Advanced Training
Jared supports governance, programme oversight, and operational delivery across Advanced Training, working closely with committees and internal teams to ensure programmes run smoothly and align with strategic priorities. He joined TMP testing as part of the new process rollout for Advanced Training, helping teams navigate the transition, identify issues, and resolve bugs ahead of implementation. Jared valued the opportunity to contribute to a system that will enhance functionality and improve the user experience for staff and stakeholders alike.
Tasha Simmons – Executive Officer, Basic Training
Tasha has been involved in TMP testing throughout the development of the new Basic Training curriculum. Her role has included participating in multiple testing and training sessions, examining TMP from both administrative and programme perspectives. This has often meant revisiting scenarios to ensure they align with real training processes—even sticking in her mind after hours. Tasha has enjoyed contributing to the refinement of TMP and appreciates the feedback from trainees and physicians that has helped shape a clearer, more supportive system for future users.
General updates
Bulk Billing of Trainee Fees
We're pleased to advise that the College has moved to a new billing model for RACP training fees. Trainees are no longer invoiced directly, as the College now bulk bills Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand for yourtraining fees.
You can still view and download your individual invoices, but no action or payment will be required from you. Please note that you still have to pay your exam fees and any other charges at this point.
To ensure the new invoicing process works smoothly, please check that your Medical Council New Zealand (MCNZ) number is up to date in MyRACP. If the number is missing or incorrect, the College may need to issue invoices directly to you.
If you have any questions, email member.services@racp.org.nz or call us at +644 472 6713 or 0508 697 227.
Policy and Advocacy updates
The Aotearoa NZ PAC continues to actively contribute to the work of the RACP. Below is a summary of policy and advocacy work that has been completed since the report for the last hui of the Aotearoa NZ Committee.
Submissions and other advocacy
In February 2026, the RACP submitted to the Medical Council of New Zealand on its consultation on the proposed approach to regulating Physician Associates. The RACP contended that there is no clear workforce gap they uniquely fill and warned of risks to patient safety, medical training, workforce sustainability, and Māori health equity.
The College called for a narrow scope of practice, strict in-person consultant supervision, strong cultural safety requirements, clear legal accountability, and removal of the term “physician” from the title to avoid public confusion. Read the full submission document here (PDF).
In November 2025, the RACP co-signed a letter, in collaboration with 18 medical colleges and public health organisations across Aotearoa, to convey disappointment and concern in the passage of the Regulatory Standards Bill (now Act) into law. The letter drew attention to evidence submitted by the organisations during the Bill’s consultation process and called for the Act to be repealed.
In November 2025, Aotearoa New Zealand President-Elect Associate Professor Janak de Zoysa and Māori Health Committee Chair Dr Matt Wheeler met with senior leaders at Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand. Major issues of protected training time, rural generalism, and accreditation were discussed. The need for a separate discussion on equity was identified. Following on from this meeting, the RACP has been gathering information from Fellows about protected training time and DPE workload, to support advocacy efforts.
In December 2025, Aotearoa New Zealand President-Elect Associate Professor Janak de Zoysa met with Health Minister Hon Simoen Brown, alongside RACP staff, to highlight the role of the RACP in the Health sector and emphasised the availability of our Fellows to support quality policy decisions. Discussions focused on the tension between service demands and training needs, retention of domestic and international medical graduates, and the need for a long-term, cross-party specialist workforce plan.
Grants and Scholarships news
RACP Paediatric Small Study Grants are available to Aotearoa NZ Paediatricians. They are valued up to AUD$10,000 and are designed to:
- encourage clinical paediatric research led by Advanced Trainees and Fellows
- provide funding to Advanced Trainees and Fellows not currently receiving other competitive funding grants
- allow completion of a research project
Dr Jin Russell received a Paediatric Small Study Grant (previously Short Term Study Grant Award) from the RACP Foundation in 2013. Read her story below.
Dr Jin Russell (MBChB DipPaed FRACP PhD) | 2013 recipient
Jin travelled to London for three months to gain research experience as a Visiting Research Associate with the UK Millenium Cohort Study, based at the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute of Education, London.
The time abroad was an integral first step prior to Jin commencing her PhD studies later that year. During her time in London, Jin gained vital experience in understanding the design and methods of longitudinal birth cohort studies and connecting to other child development researchers.
“While in London, I participated in many short courses and seminars. I learnt about population child health, epidemiology, biostatistics, and connected with child health researchers from other fields, including sociology, psychology, and economics. I returned to Aotearoa New Zealand with more research skills and felt ready to start my PhD.”
Jin completed her PhD with Growing Up in New Zealand at the University of Auckland. She went on to win over $400,000 of competitive research funding during her PhD studies and won awards for her research.
Jin currently works as the Chief Clinical Advisor for Child and Youth at New Zealand’s Ministry of Health. She also works two days a week as a Consultant Developmental Paediatrician at Starship Children’s Hospital.
“The RACP Study Grant award helped to fund my travel costs. It kickstarted my academic journey and gave me the confidence to go on in research. It was a terrific experience. I am grateful to the RACP Foundation for the opportunity.”
See other available grants and scholarships: