AFRM News – May 2025

A message from your President

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. 

Dr Jennifer Mann
AFRM President

AFRM insights 

Thank you, Dr Jennifer Mann – outgoing AFRM President
On Friday, 30 May 2025 Dr Jennifer Mann will conclude her outstanding three-year term as President of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM). On behalf of everyone at the RACP, we extend our sincere thanks to Dr Mann for her dedicated leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the Faculty and the broader field of rehabilitation medicine. Thank you, Dr Mann, for your invaluable contribution. We wish you all the very best for what’s ahead.

Bi-National Rehabilitation Position Statement Update
The Working Group met in March 2025 to review the draft policy scaffold and continue discussions and planning. Progress is being made on the development of case studies that demonstrate the value of rehabilitation medicine and members are contributing evidence and resources to support the policy's creation. Key themes under focus include the role of rehabilitation medicine, equity of access, and innovative models of care.

Register for RMSANZ NZRA 2025 – early bird rates close 3 June
Join RMSANZ in Ōtautahi Christchurch from 20 to 23 July 2025 for the 8th Annual Scientific Meeting , held in partnership with the New Zealand Rehabilitation Association. Hosted at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, this landmark event will showcase the full spectrum of rehabilitation medicine through dynamic keynote presentations – featuring leading international speakers – and foster vibrant cross-disciplinary collaboration.


        Awards, scholarships and prizes

        Trophy 2025The RACP Foundation offers Fellowships, scholarships, grants, and prizes to members dedicated to advancing healthcare. There are also various other Medals and Prizes that recognise the exceptional contributions and achievements of our Fellows and trainees.

        Now Open
        Applications for RACP Foundation Research Awards are now open.

        These include the following Faculty Awards:

        • AFRM Research Entry Scholarship $45,000
        • AFRM Research Development Fellowship $10,000
        • AFRM Bruce Ford Travelling Fellowship $10,000

        Don’t miss your chance to apply for funding for 2026 under the following award categories:

        The RACP MAIC Research Awards, funded by the Queensland Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), are available across all three categories to support research focused on medical conditions and rehabilitation related to motor vehicle accidents.

        Applications for Research Development Grants and Travel Grants will open on Tuesday, 17 June 2025. Please refer to the RACP Foundation webpage for information on specific eligibility requirements for each award.

        Call for Nominations: Eric Susman Prize
        This prestigious award honours the most outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge in any branch of internal medicine. Presented at the RACP College Ceremony, the Medal celebrates excellence in medical research and innovation. Nominations for the 2025 award are now open and will close on Friday, 15 August 2025.

        Nominate a Colleague for a College Award: don’t miss the chance to celebrate excellence. Nominate your colleagues for one of the following awards and help shine a spotlight on their remarkable contributions.

        More details are available on the RACP Foundation webpage or for more information, email foundation@racp.edu.au

        Call for Judges: Dr Boris Mak Rehabilitation Medicine Trainee Award
        We are seeking three AFRM Fellows to serve as judges for the Dr Boris Mak Award for Best Presentation at the Aotearoa NZ AFRM Symposium. The event will take place on Saturday, 19 July 2025, at the Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch. If you are interested, please submit your expression of interest to nz_afrm@racp.org.nz by Friday, 20 June 2025.


              Make an impact

              Volunteer 3
              Discover how you can get involved and make a difference by volunteering for an exciting opportunity within your Faculty. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, gain experience, or simply give back, there are plenty of rewarding opportunities waiting for you.

              NSW/ACT AFRM Regional Committee
              NSW/ACT Regional Training Coordinator
              NSW/ACT Fellows x 2

              SA/NT AFRM Regional Committee
              SA/NT Fellows x 2

              QLD AFRM Regional Committee
              QLD Fellow x 1

              WA AFRM Regional Committee
              WA Fellows x 5
              WA Training Coordinator

              Aotearoa NZ AFRM Committee
              AoNZ Aotearoa NZ Chair
              AFRM AoNZ Aotearoa NZ FPAC Representative position
              Aotearoa NZ AFRM Committee Member 

              Faculty Assessment Committee
              MCQ Coordinator Role

              View more expressions of interest.


                    Upcoming events

                    Upcoming events 2025Explore our updated events list for a chance to gain valuable insights, grow your expertise, and connect with your colleagues. Each event is designed to inspire, inform, and elevate your professional journey.

                        Trainees' corner

                        linkedin computerStay up to date with the latest news from the trainee community and discover ways to enhance your training. From new resources to upcoming events, there's always something to support your growth and development.
                         

                        The March BNTP Lecture Series – Falls, Frailty, and Sarcopenia – is now live
                        If you missed the March BNTP webinar, the recording is now available to stream on Mediflix. Catch up anytime and stay up to date.

                        The AFRM Trainee Committee Needs You
                        The AFRM Trainee Committee welcomes input from fellow trainees interested in shaping the content for the AFRM Annual Trainees' Meeting (ATM) in October. This online, single-day event is a fantastic opportunity for rehabilitation trainees to learn from experts across various fields. Get involved and reach out to afrm@racp.edu.au

                        RACP Trainee Research Awards
                        The RACP Trainee Research Awards (TRAs) offer a unique opportunity for trainees to present their research at regional events across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Outstanding presenters from each local event will be selected to share their work alongside leading researchers at a prestigious RACP event in 2026. Applications open 1 July to 31 August 2025.

                        Save the Date – 2025 RACP Trainee Research Award Symposium
                        The 2024 Trainee Research Award recipients will present their research at the RACP Office in Sydney on Friday, 8 August 2025. Interested Fellows and trainees can attend the event in person or online. More details to follow.

                        For general training enquires, email: occenvmed@racp.edu.au


                            College updates


                                In other news

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                                      AFRM contact details

                                      Member enquiries
                                      Phone: (AUS) 1300 69 7227
                                      Phone: (NZ) 0508 69 7227
                                      Email: memberservices@racp.edu.au

                                      AFRM Faculty enquiries (including Council and Committees)
                                      Ruby Nelson, Executive Officer
                                      Email: afrm@racp.edu.au

                                      Aotearoa NZ AFRM Committee
                                      Executive Officer, DFACs AoNZ
                                      Phone: +64 4 460 8142
                                      Email: nz_afrm@racp.org.nz

                                      Aotearoa NZ office
                                      Executive Officer, DFACs AoNZ
                                      Phone: +64 4 460 8142
                                      Email: nz_afrm@racp.org.nz

                                      AFRM education and training enquiries
                                      Education Officer
                                      Phone: +61 2 8247 6237
                                      Email: rehab@racp.edu.au

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