An important moment for our College

In the coming days, you will be asked to participate in an Extraordinary General Meeting. I know that many of you are approaching this vote with a mixture of concern and fatigue. That is entirely understandable.

This has been a difficult period for the College. For members, for staff, and for those serving in voluntary roles across the organisation, including on the Board.

I want to take a moment to step back from the immediate issues and focus on what matters most. The College exists to support you – to support physician training and standards. And to contribute to better health outcomes for the communities we serve across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

That work continues. Trainees are progressing through their programs. Fellows are maintaining standards through continuing professional development. Accreditation, education, and advocacy continue across the College. These are the foundations of the organisation. They remain strong.

As President, my responsibility has been to ensure that the College continues to meet its obligations under law, to act in the best interests of the organisation as a whole, and to provide stability during a challenging time. That responsibility does not change in the context of an EGM.

The outcome of this vote will be determined by you, the members. The Board will respect that outcome and will fulfil the constitutional steps that follow. That is our obligation, and it will be met.

I also want to speak briefly about the future. Regardless of the outcome of this vote, the College must continue to strengthen its governance. This is not optional.

We are a large, complex, bi-national organisation with significant responsibilities for training, standards, and public trust. That brings with it clear legal and regulatory expectations. If we do not continue to meet those expectations, there is a real risk that others will step in to do that for us. The ACNC has said it won’t intervene at this time – note their choice of words.

No College wants to lose control of its own future.

Members should expect their College to be well governed, stable, and capable of meeting these expectations. That is essential for our long-term strength and for maintaining the trust placed in us.

Strong organisations depend on more than any one individual. They depend on clear roles, respect for professional expertise, and a shared commitment to act in the interests of the whole. They depend on allowing management and staff to do their work, and on governance that provides direction, accountability, and stability.

The College has a highly capable CEO, management team, and staff who continue to deliver for members and for patients. That should give all members confidence in the organisation’s ongoing strength.

I also recognise that many members have wanted greater visibility of the issues that have led to this point. There are limits to what can be shared, particularly where legal processes and obligations of procedural fairness apply.

We have also made deliberate choices about not engaging publicly while processes are ongoing. That does not lessen the importance of continuing to improve how we communicate with you.

Whatever the outcome of this EGM, the priorities for the College remain the

same. To support members. To maintain standards in training and care. To provide stability and continuity. And to act, always, in the best interests of the College as a whole.