Member consultation now open online regarding SafeWork NSW Improvement Notice to RACP
Date published:
10 Apr 2026
Sent to all members 10 April 2026
Dear members,
I write to invite your participation in an important consultation process in response to the Wellbeing, Health and Safety matter affecting the College.
On 20 March 2026, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians received a SafeWork NSW Improvement Notice issued under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The Notice states that SafeWork NSW reasonably believes the College is contravening its duties under section 19 of the Act and section 55D of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, relating to the management of risks to health and safety, including psychosocial risks arising from harmful behaviour.
Specifically, it says the current system does not adequately manage the risk of harmful behaviour from all workers and/or volunteers within the operations of the Board.
The Notice requires the College to consult with affected workers and volunteers and to review and revise aspects of its constitution and governance structure to eliminate or mitigate these risks.
As Chief Executive Officer, with legal responsibility for operational workplace health and safety, I am leading this initiative, in conjunction with the Board.
The initial areas of focus are highlighted below.
Initial areas of focus (not exhaustive) 1. Changes to Clause 8.11.1 of the Constitution referenced in the Notice. This would require a vote of the membership, and an explanatory note would be drafted ahead of the vote. 2. Development of a proposal for a member pathway for Director, President and President-elect roles. We want to hear your views on proposals which respect self-determination of members while providing them with more information on election candidates and their suitability for leading the College. 3. Updates to the RACP Code of Conduct and Wellbeing, Health and Safety Policy. These would reference psychological safety and updated health and safety laws. 4. Updates to the Board Charter to ensure Board members are aware of their commitments to adhere to behavioural expectations in keeping with the responsibilities of all Directors under the law and the consequences of not adhering to these commitments. |
No decisions have been made on any of these matters.
We welcome your feedback on these and any other points you feel are missing along with any further initiatives we should look at developing.
Initial consultation on Constitutional items will open on Friday, 10 April 2026.
Please provide your views through Slido. It should only take a few minutes.
We invite your views on:
- the initial areas of focus: is there anything missing or you think should be considered?
- any other potential improvements to governance arrangements or behavioural expectations
- any risks or issues you consider relevant in this context
- any other matters you consider appropriate for consideration.
Provide views
This process is designed to inform our thinking, invite your feedback and input, and shape the development and refinement of potential options. You can also indicate how you wish to be consulted on any changes.
We are also seeking contributions from College Committee Chairs to this process.
Any definitive proposals adopted following consultation would then need to be put into a Notice of Meeting for Board approval and, if requiring any constitutional change, issued to members to vote.
You are encouraged to review the materials and provide feedback at the earliest opportunity. All feedback will be carefully considered as part of the College’s ongoing review and planning.
We will be in touch in coming weeks with further consultation opportunities allowing you to work with us to ensure genuine change.
If you have any questions, please contact whs@racp.edu.au
Yours sincerely,
Steffen Faurby
Chief Executive Officer, RACP