It has been my honour to be the AFRM president for the last four months. Since taking office from Dr Jennifer Mann, I have been involved in learning about the workings of the College, its management team and the College board. I have completed media training and have attended my first convocation ceremony where I welcomed 11 New Fellows to the Faculty.

Managing an organisation like the College with a membership of 33,000 physicians across two countries, with annual income of $110 million, can never be easy. The College has struggled with member engagement, continuity of its senior management team (with multiple CEOs in the last few years) and even maintaining the role of president. You may be aware that Professor Jennifer Martin, the current RACP President, had to take over after the premature departure of Dr Jackie Small last year.

The RACP has been required to undertake a broad sweep of changes by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), in order for the College to keep its tax-free charitable status. These ACNC-mandated changes are about increasing the skill base and diversity of the RACP Board and reducing the complexity of the entire organisation. Did you know for instance that we had well over 100 committees addressing education related issues in the College? The AFRM has been busy advocating for its unique brand of training and examination during these changes to the education portfolio, but I acknowledge that significant changes to our training related committees are also occurring.

The RACP does not make changes readily and communication to members about why these changes are necessary does not always come through as clearly as intended. Suffice it to say, these proposals are the root of discord in the College.

The Faculty is, I feel, in a happier state than the College generally. We have good cohesion in our membership. I acknowledge however that we need to work on strengthening our state and Aotearoa New Zealand branches. Post Covid we have had challenges in maintaining our committees and communal activities. Please help if you can. Your willingness to take part in branch committees is so important to their function.

You will be aware that AFRM has recently completed revamps of the adult Faculty and the paediatric Faculty training curricula, with important changes to the examination process. I would like to sincerely thank everyone on the committees involved in those complex and lengthy processes. I would also like to take the opportunity to especially thank those that have volunteered to undertake the training, assessment and exams for our trainees.

I am also very pleased to report that the Faculty is well advanced on a major project known as the Binational Rehabilitation Position Statement. This document will highlight the value of what we do, and assist us all to advocate for improved services, innovation and funding in our specialty. I repeatedly hear concerns about workforce forecasting, and I hope to use this statement to advocate with government for that. It should be ready for launch next year.

We are working on the Binational Rehabilitation Position Statement with our sister organisation, the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (RMSANZ). I enjoyed the recent RMSANZ conference in Christchurch immensely. The range of speakers and posters was very stimulating. We kiwis were delighted to have over 400 attending the conference. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the next RMSANZ conference in Darwin in July 2026.

Explore 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.

AFRM WA Annual Members’ Meeting
The AFRM WA Regional Committee warmly invites all WA members to the AFRM WA Annual Members’ Meeting on Friday, 26 September 2025. AFRM President Dr Richard Seemann will join us online to share important updates from AFRM Council and other significant College initiative This is a hybrid event, so you can attend in person or join online. Register here.

RMSANZ Events
Parkinson’s Rehabilitation - a comprehensive treatment guide from freezing to falls
Join the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (RMSANZ) for this in-depth workshop on Parkinson’s rehabilitation. Register before Wednesday, 8 October to secure your early bird discount.
Date: Saturday, 22 to Sunday, 23 November 2025
Location: Southern Cross University, QLD
Register here.

AROC EVENTS
AROC Quality Improvement Workshops
The Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) is hosting Quality Improvement Workshops in New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. These sessions will showcase new AROC data visualisations and provide opportunities to explore strategies for using data to monitor and improve rehabilitation care over time. Both in-person and online attendance options are available.

NSW: Monday, 28 October 2025 at the Agency for Clinical Innovation, St Leonards, Sydney
QLD: Wednesday, 6 November 2025 at Clinical Excellence Queensland, 15 Butterfield St, Brisbane
Tasmania: Monday, 18 November 2025 at Launceston General Hospital, Launceston

To register or for enquiries, email aroc@uow.edu.au

AROC National In-reach Rehabilitation Forum
AROC is hosting a virtual In-reach Rehabilitation Forum for Australian rehabilitation providers on Thursday, 13 November 2025. This online event brings together multidisciplinary teams to share initiatives and approaches across the public and private sectors. The Forum is open to anyone involved in the delivery or resourcing of In-reach Rehabilitation. For more information, email aroc@uow.edu.au

Abstract submissions: submit a 15-minute virtual presentation (max 300 words, excluding title, authors, and affiliations) on any aspect of In-reach Rehabilitation by Friday, 3 October 2025 at 5pm. Email abstracts to: aroc@uow.edu.au

Visit the College website for our full list of events