New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory - May 2022
A message from the NSW/ACT Committee Chair
In 2022, the NSW/ACT Regional Committee continues to advocate for the interests of Fellows, trainees, and critical health and policy issues surrounding our patients and the larger community. In particular, we have worked on climate change and its impact on health, Medicare compliance, and Fellow and trainee welfare, as well as monitoring of the recent Divisional Written Examinations issues.
The recent problems surrounding computer-based testing were undoubtedly regrettable, especially as they relate to a cohort of trainees who have already been placed under a lot of stress from COVID-19. We really do feel for all trainees affected, and wish those who are now eligible for clinical examinations all the very best in their preparations over the next few months.
The Medicare compliance webinar sessions were extremely well attended. These sessions have provided a springboard to allow the Committee to engage with Medicare on billing issues surrounding NSW Hospitals. This is a matter that affects multiple levels of healthcare service delivery and will require ongoing dialogue and engagement. My recent meeting with Medicare has given me confidence that Medicare understands the intricacies and historical agreements.
The recording for some of our past webinars can be found on the past presentations page of the College website. We look forward to providing further valuable and relevant education sessions for our members this year. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the College is here to support you. If you have any areas of concern or issues you would like addressed, please write to us at RACPNSW@racp.edu.au. Please take advantage of the assistance program Converge which is a free and confidential service.
As this is my last newsletter as Chair, I want to thank Rhiannon Moran and Kerrin Worthy for their tremendous support over the past four years. They have been very diligent and organised and made my job very easy! I want to thank Sam Dettman from Policy and Advocacy for his patience and support whenever I had questions, and to thank Fatima Ali and Lisa Penlington for their wise words and guidance. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as Chair of this Committee for the past four years, and I wish you all the very best.
Warm Regards,
Dr Adrian Lee
NSW/ACT Regional Committee Chair
The Trainees’ Committee successfully ran the Basic Training Basics event on Saturday, 5 March 2022. It was great to have so many trainees with us. Insightful questions were asked of our wonderful panellists and hopefully all who attended it found it beneficial.
I would like to once again thank our speakers for sharing their time in making the event such a success:
- Dr Elizabeth Clingan
- Dr Arupam Raman
- Dr Karl Pobre
- Dr Leila Sawaqed
If you missed the event and would like to watch the recording, you can find it here.
We are now in the process of organising further events for the year and look forward to bringing these to you. As always, if you have any queries, feedback or issues that you would like to bring to the attention of the NSW/ACT Trainees Committee, please reach out to us at NSWACT.Trainees@racp.edu.au.
Warm Regards,
Dr Vanessa Wong and Dr Rachel Debono
Co-Chairs, NSW/ACT Trainees' Committee
New NSW/ACT Trainees’ Committee members
On behalf of the NSW/ACT Trainees' Committee, we would like to warmly welcome two new members. We are welcoming Natasha Ung and Calvin Skews, both of whom have provided some insight into who they are and what has motivated them to join our fold.
Natasha Ung
I am currently a Rheumatology Advanced Trainee with background in General Medicine training. I am originally from Melbourne, obtained my degree in medicine in Adelaide, and I am currently working in Sydney.
Having had experience in a variety of hospital settings, and exposure to a wide range of patient populations, I have developed a heart for the underprivileged, particularly those with a lack of access to healthcare services. I hope to be able to contribute to the improvement in these communities through my position in the NSW/ACT Trainee Committee and as a specialist in the future. I also very much enjoy teaching, mentoring, and helping others grow to be the best they can be.
In my spare time, I enjoy bike riding, hiking, going to church church, photography, and travel (as much as COVID-19/lockdown permits!).
Calvin Skews
I am a basic trainee currently based in Newcastle, NSW. I am originally from Sydney but did most of my education and training across Queensland. I am passionate about medical education, having worked with Don't Forget the Bubbles for several years.
I am also passionate about advocating for improved training conditions and access to medical education for junior doctors, having previously been a member of the Children's Health Queensland Medical Education Committee. I am looking forward to getting involved with the NSW/ACT Trainees' Committee and meeting my fellow members.
If you wish to reach out to the NSW/ACT Trainees Committee with any questions, please contact us at NSWACT.trainees@racp.edu.au. The Committee looks forward to representing you for the coming year!
NSW/ACT Member Support Officer Genevieve Prescott
Kia ora koutou katoa | Greetings to you all,
My name is Genevieve Prescott and I have stepped into the role of Member Support Officer (MSO) for NSW/ACT. Prior to this role, I was the MSO for Aotearoa New Zealand, and have recently made my way whakawhiti i te waitahenga | across the ditch.
I am a bit of a Kiwi/Aussie blend, having been born at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, growing up in Auckland and then completing my studies at the University of Sydney. I clearly can’t seem to choose which side of the ditch I prefer (I do support the All Blacks though, obviously)!
My background prior to the College has been within organisational psychology, having worked on projects such as the Federal Indigenous Apprenticeship Program and recruiting emergency communicators for the New Zealand Police.
I am a people-person with a strong passion for the world of diversity and inclusion, a lover of the arts, and big time into my food and wine.
Please don’t be shy in reaching out if there is any way in which I can support you. I look forward to working with you!
Ngā mihi nui| Kind regards,
Genevieve Prescott
RACP Online Community (ROC) and Mentor Match
Welcome to the RACP Online Community (ROC)!
You will have seen correspondence from the College around the launch of our online community; the ROC. The ROC which provides RACP members with the opportunity to discuss topical industry news, to catch up with colleagues, and to keep abreast of College news and events. It can also be used to post questions, share comments, and start debates and discussions with members in Western Australia, as well as with other members from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
We would encourage you to log into the ROC and take part in our online community.
Log into the ROC
Mentor Match at the ROC
Mentor Match is open to all members who would like to share their knowledge, expertise and advice with junior colleagues. You are invited to register as a mentor, and to watch this short video to see how easy it is to participate.
We will soon be inviting members to apply to be mentees. Please keep a look out for further information, and contact us if you have any questions.
Supervisor Professional Development Program Workshops
Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP) workshops provide supervisors with an opportunity to share their expertise with other supervisors and enhance and strengthen their supervisor skills.
Register for a virtual, face-to-face, or online Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP) workshop.
RACP Online Learning
The RACP offers an extensive collection of online learning resources designed to support members with their professional development and lifelong learning needs. Resources cover a range of clinical and professional topics, including:
And more! Don’t forget to claim CPD credits for time spent on RACP Online Learning.
Find online resources
RACP Support Program
The RACP Support Program is a fully confidential and independent helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is free for Fellows and trainees.
The RACP places the utmost importance on the wellbeing of its members. It can be difficult to balance the pressures of the workplace, interactions with colleagues and personal relationships. If you are having a hard time, we encourage you to contact Converge to organise a free session.
Get support
New Cultural Safety Curated Collection
The new Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Safety Curated Collection has been designed to support physicians in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to provide more impactful, meaningful, culturally safe care for Indigenous patients, their families, whānau and communities. The Collection presents a detailed library of resources that can help you understand and implement culturally safe practices in your workplace. Filter the library by theme, country, resource type and level of experience to find the resources most relevant to you.
We encourage you to revisit this curated collection as you develop your understanding of cultural safety over time and consider how this can shape your practice.
Don’t forget to claim CPD credits for time spent on RACP Online Learning.
Access the collection
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Member enquiries
Phone: (AUS) 1300 69 7227
Email: memberservices@racp.edu.au
NSW and ACT enquiries (including committees)
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Phone: +61 2 8076 6359
Email: racpnsw@racp.edu.au
Member Support Officer
Phone: +61 2 9256 9680
Email: racpnsw@racp.edu.au
NSW/ACT Trainees’ Committee enquiries
Email: nswact.trainees@racp.edu.au