This will be my final communication as President. My term ended at the completion of the RACP Annual General Meeting on Friday, 30 May. I’d like to take this last opportunity to be self-indulgent and reflect on my time as President.
When my term as President commenced I had thought that the main focus of my presidency would be outward looking, with our large project to be the collaborative development of a binational rehabilitation strategy (BNRS). I had envisaged that the strategy would be completed by the end of my presidency. But the reality has been different. Instead, the focus has been largely internal, dealing with Faculty and College relationship matters.
The commencement of the BRNS project was delayed considerably while various aspects of the working relationship between the collaborating bodies was sorted. Important work, but took much longer than anyone could imagine. But I’m pleased that eventually the paper work was sorted and the project is now finally proceeding. I am very much looking forward to seeing the end result. Even though it has been greatly delayed, developing a binational rehabilitation strategy and having it adopted by government bodies in our two countries remains a key plank in developing the place of rehabilitation medicine in public policy.
The other main focus has been related to education issues.
On the plus side, the new adult rehabilitation medicine curriculum has been developed and implemented. The new paediatric rehabilitation medicine curriculum is currently being finalised. Just to say these curricula have been developed does not adequately indicate the extraordinary time and effort that has gone into this work. They are impressive pieces of work and involved many hundreds of volunteer hours from members. All those involved in the process are to be congratulated and thanked.
Also on the plus side, it has been great to see over the last three years the reactivation of some of the Regional Committees. They play an important role in local education activities and developing the collegiate aspect of our Faculty. The importance of that collegiate aspect should never be underestimated.
At the same time, the College has embarked on a complete review and restructure of education governance. From AFRM perspective this has involved input from a large number of members from our various education related committees. Their expertise and ability to advocate for the needs of our Faculty has been of great value in this process and I thank them – again noting they are volunteers giving up their time. As I leave my position, the final form of the new governance structure is still being determined. AFRM is only a small part of the very large College structure. I remain concerned that in finding ways to streamline a complex College education governance system that ‘the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’. I remain concerned that the Faculty Council may lose direct oversight of our unique training program within the College. This is not something that members need to worry about on a day-to-day basis – it is a higher-level governance issue. It is an issue that I very much hope can be resolved in the final structure so that the ‘needs of the many can take into account the needs of the few’.
So while these reviews and changes were all underway, we still successfully got on with our AFRM exams and assessment processes. Amazing work again by amazing volunteer members.
I don’t think it can be stated enough how much value our members add to the work of the College by offering their time and expertise as volunteers and noting again that they participate in all these activities on top of their paid work.
And so, to my final thanks.
Thank you to all members who have volunteered your time to help make the work of the Faculty happen. This includes everyone – supervisors, examiners, exam question writers, members of the many committees especially those who take on chairing roles.
Thank you to the other executive members who really do all the hard yards of work on behalf of the President.
Thank you to our Faculty staff – there have been a number over three years but currently Eva as Manager of Faculties and Ruby as AFRM Executive Officer – you really make a President’s job much easier, even if the President doesn’t make it easy for you.
Finally, I now hand over to your new President, Richard Seemann. I know he will do a great job and AFRM is in good hands. The College is a binational organisation and it is a great thing that we now have our first President from Aotearoa New Zealand.