Welcome to the new year. I trust you all have had a well-deserved break and are feeling refreshed for the year ahead.

Some good news is that the Australian Medical Council (AMC) has reaccredited the RACP’s specialist medical programs and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs for a period of four-years, up to 31 March 2029.

The Member Support Centre (MSC) has now been launched and aims to deliver responsive, efficient, and timely support. This should be your central point of contact for all your enquiries. 

The AFOEM Find a Consultant list is now active, and may be searched by jurisdiction. There is a link to an online form on the webpage where you can request to be included or update your details.

Some of you may have received an email from the President regarding an independent review of the Paediatric Clinical Examination. I would encourage all members who are supervisors, examiners or on committees to read the short Executive Summary. This is salutary reading as we are all prone to subconscious bias.

Following a suggestion from Dr Ryan Hoy, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care will host a National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry webinar series. These 30-minute webinars will be held quarterly from March 2025 and a physician will present a case followed by a department update on the National Registry. We will advise members when further information is available.

Planning is well advanced for the Annual Training Meeting (ATM) in mid-year in Brisbane. When contracts for the venue are finalised, trainees will be contacted by Faculty staff and advised of details.

An email seeking AFOEM member feedback on the ‘Every Doctor Every Setting’ draft Action Plan was circulated last month. This was developed by the National Doctors Health and Wellbeing Leadership Alliance (NLA), a collaborative initiative by senior representatives in health and medical education, and supported by Drs4Drs, peak health bodies and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. The Plan uses the best available evidence and provides a strategic and integrated approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. 

I attended a meeting in Sydney on 20 February organised by the NLA to consider implementing an action plan. Around 180 health leaders were in attendance to address psychosocial risks in healthcare.  The NLA and action plan is very relevant to our specialty as our endorsed Scope of Practice lists one of our roles as: ‘Advocates for the protection and promotion of workers' physical and mental health and well-being’.

Council met on 24 February and endorsed a Scope of Practice for our specialty and updated the Terms of Reference for the Faculty Education Committee and the Faculty Training Committee.  These changes are expected to improve communication in our Faculty.

The AFOEM Foundation has funds available for educational projects, travelling scholarships, Indigenous scholarships and research projects. Full details are available for members at Division, Faculty and Chapter Awards & Prizes.

There are a number of EOIs available, including nominations for President-elect and for representatives for committees. I know members are busy but your participation in AFOEM committees is essential to maintain the viability of our Faculty. 

Finally, I remind all members that CPD returns for 2024 are now due. 

Dr Warren Harrex
AFOEM President

Nominations for the 2025 RACP elections are now open
There are a number of vacancies available in AFOEM. This is a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference.

Find a Consultant
Our new Find a Consultant webpage is now live. If you would like to be listed, please fill in the form to ensure your details are accurate.

Health Benefits of Good Work^® (HBGW^®) Update
Rob McDonald has been appointed to the role of Chair for the AFOEM/RACP Stakeholder HBGW® Executive Committee. We look forward to the positive changes his leadership will bring. Email: hbgw@racp.edu.au

Aotearoa New Zealand Silica Disease Information
The latest updates from Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora on accelerated silicosis and the assessment pathway.

Invoice the ACC under the Costs of Treatment Regulations
As an occupational physician, you can lodge a claim and invoice the ACC if you see a worker privately using the code CS02. A Registered Specialists’ Costs information sheet can be found on the ACC website. Email: AoNZ_AFOEM@racp.org.nz

It Pays to Care (IPTC) Policy
Following the Model of Collaboration between the RACP/AFOEM and ANZSOM, and thanks to the efforts of Dr Mary Wyatt and her team, the It Pays to Care (IPTC) Policy has become a cornerstone of industry discourse, with senior leaders across Australia's workers compensation landscape actively championing its principles.

From WorkCover WA's comprehensive adoption, RTWSA's pioneering implementation work, to NT and Tasmania using IPTC to develop material to influence senior leaders in the public sector, the policy is supporting industry wide improvements. Find out more or view the policy.

Member Spotlight
Read about Dr Brett Shannon’s PhD journey.