The President's Message – 7 March 2025
Across Australia, and in Aotearoa New Zealand, where many have loved ones or friends in Queensland, many of us are watching with concern as Cyclone Alfred approaches the coast.
It’s now due to make landfall early tomorrow and widespread evacuation warnings have been issued for northeast New South Wales and Queensland.
We’re thinking of our impacted Fellows, trainees, team members, and the broader community, and urge everyone to stay safe over the next 48 to 72 hours.
Dear members,
I recently spent several days in Aotearoa New Zealand, visiting hospitals in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington, meeting with Fellows and trainees and visiting our beautiful Wellington office.
I went to the Beehive to meet the Hon David Seymour, Associate Minister of Health, Finance, and Education. I talked with him and his policy experts about the RACP, its role and some of the current challenges in the healthcare system.
I also caught up with Dr Deborah Powell, the National Secretary of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (RDA), which is the medical union for registrars in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We worked closely with the RDA on the release of the Paediatric Divisional Clinical Examination Report at the beginning of the year. The Report has surfaced some strong feelings among our Aotearoa New Zealand Fellows, and specifically, our examiners.
I interviewed Dr Cheryl Johnson, a geriatrician, who is the Auckland Region Network Training Director and Deputy Chief Adult Medicine Division Examiner. The examination was one of the topics we discussed.
We’re continuing dialogue with our valued examiner community as we work through the implementation of recommendations from the Report.
Kind regards
Professor Jennifer Martin
President, RACP
Would you prefer to read the transcript of Professor Martin's interview? Please visit this website and simply copy and paste the following weblink of the YouTube video into the automatic YouTube transcript generator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXPENi-V2GI
The February 2025 Divisional Written Examination was held on Tuesday, 11 February 2025 with 1,078 candidates sitting the exam at 19 locations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
We commend all candidates for your dedication and perseverance in undertaking this significant milestone in your training. Preparing for and sitting this examination requires immense commitment and we acknowledge the effort you've invested.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Directors of Physician/Paediatric Education and supervisors for their unwavering support and guidance of trainees throughout this process. Their dedication plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of physicians.
Exam results will be released after 3pm on Thursday, 13 March 2025.
If you have any questions about the exam, or the release of the results, please contact our Member Support Centre.
The 2025 training year has now commenced – welcome to all our new trainees, whether you're enrolled in a Physician Ready for Expert Practice program or one of our eight New Curricula programs.
Those following the New Curricula standards and new work-based learning and assessment tools are being supported by the Training Management Platform. We thank our trainees and educators as they embrace these new ways of planning learning, recording feedback and assessing performance against new standards.
To discover more about how the new curriculum helps to plan and capture workplace learning, and the support resources available, watch this video. It features leading RACP educators, Dr Renee Eslick, Dr Siddharth Sharma, Dr Drago Bratkovic and Dr Alice O'Connell. They discuss how the new curriculum helps to plan and capture work-place learning, and the support resources available.
Find out more
We are pleased to announce that the Medical Training Survey 2024 interactive dashboard is live. This anonymous survey was open from August to October 2024 and was completed by 41 per cent of RACP trainees, including Overseas Trained Physicians who are currently undertaking supervised practice in Australia (n=3,069).
The reporting dashboard enables users to apply filters and create tailored reports based on their results of interest.
The RACP uses the results of the Medical Training Survey to:
- strengthen RACP training programs and activities
- drive improvements in training settings by identifying settings with results that indicate potential concerns, and work with local leaders to explore and leverage the data to advocate for support with training
- acknowledge high performing training settings by identifying those with results that point towards excellence in areas such as quality of clinical supervision, overall satisfaction or support for trainee wellbeing
- inform systemic change by using results in the development of strategic approaches to improve physician training, our service offerings and the overall culture of medicine.
Thank you to all RACP trainees who participated in this important survey. Further details about the survey can be found on the Medical Training Survey website.
From 4 February 2025, a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing Emergency Measure has been temporarily put in place to support people affected by the flooding disaster in Far North Queensland and Tropical Cyclone Alfred to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines. This PBS Continued Dispensing Emergency Measure provides access to a wider range of PBS medicines than under ongoing Continued Dispensing arrangements, covering most medicines on the General Schedule of the PBS. This measure will be in place until 31 March 2025 (inclusive).
If you have concerns or are affected by the Far North Queensland flooding disaster or Tropical Cyclone Alfred, please visit the PBS Continued Dispensing Arrangements webpage.
We’re excited to announce that our Melbourne office is relocating in May this year. The new location is Level 1, 500 Bourke Street, in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. It’s close to major transport hubs including Southern Cross and Flinders Street railway stations, with a tram stop on the doorstep.
The building has been fully redeveloped with a new lobby and lifts. There is a lobby espresso bar, café, and food retail offerings. It also incorporates a meetings and events space for events of up to 200 people. There will be two boardrooms and an outdoor terrace, with spaces for members and staff to meet and work.
We are looking forward to supporting our committee meetings and events in an A-grade, beautifully renovated building that meets the highest standards. Stay tuned for further updates. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new Melbourne home.
Dr Matt Wheeler, Chair of the RACP’s Māori Health Committee, recently laid out the stark reality of health inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand, while addressing the Justice Select Committee on Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill.
Dr Wheeler spoke about the equity gap for average life expectancy. He shared that Māori women live on average seven years less than non-Māori women, and Māori men live an average of eight years less than non-Māori men.
The RACP strongly opposes this Bill, highlighting its flawed interpretation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its wider constitutional implications.
You can watch Dr Wheeler's powerful statement (26:53 – 37:26).
Article l RACP submission
The RACP Foundation research awards and grants program is one of the largest member benefits offered by the College for Fellows and trainees. It provides key support to emerging and established researchers, those embarking on a research career, and others with significant potential looking to further develop their skills.
Educational Development (Study) Grants
Applications are now open for Educational Development (Study) Grants for 2025. The Grants provide funding to further educational training or for the development of educational initiatives. Applications are open until Monday, 7 April 2025.
Research Awards
Applications for the major Research Award categories open Wednesday, 1 May 2025. The Research Award categories are for funding in 2026. Most awards are available to Fellows and trainees across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Please refer to the RACP Foundation webpages for information on specific eligibility requirements for each award.
Further tomorrow's medicine today
Thank you to those who have contributed to the RACP Foundation to make many of the unrestricted awards possible. Your donation not only helps us fund the best and brightest medical minds across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, it inspires the beginning of major medical breakthroughs. Find out more if you would like to make a donation to RACP Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible.
Ahead of the 2025 Australian Federal Budget, the College has delivered its Pre-Budget submission, The Healthcare Australia Needs. Our recommendations focus on improving patient outcomes, distribution and resilience of specialist workforce, access to care, and reducing the carbon footprint of the health system. Wide-ranging member feedback based on the Your Workforce, Your Say Survey has laid ground for ongoing advocacy for your workforce priorities across jurisdictions.
Our media release amplifies your voice ahead of the Budget. The College is also currently finalising its Federal Election Statement.
The College has been invited by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Medicines Regulation Division to advise the TGA’s newly formed Medicines Supply Action Group. This group will inform policy considerations related to the TGA Medicine Shortages Reform Program and advise on current and emerging medicines shortages and discontinuations.
Our participation will echo member concerns and the voices of your patients. This significant opportunity follows our extensive advocacy on medicines shortages to the TGA in 2024 through our consultation, our submission from January, and our increased media presence in this space.
The NSW Parliament has launched an inquiry into foundational and disability supports for children and young people. This provides an opportunity to influence critical improvements in early intervention, diagnostics, workforce capacity, and cross-sector collaboration.
The Inquiry focuses on closing service gaps in NSW, embedding cultural safety and best practices, and implementing NDIS Review and Disability Royal Commission recommendations.
Supporting children with disabilities is an RACP priority. We've already provided detailed recommendations to the Department of Social Services on foundational supports for people with disability including children and their families and now need your insights to advocate for meaningful change at the state level.
Your voice matters. Share your feedback by Sunday, 9 March 2025 and help build a fairer, more inclusive system for NSW families.
Share feedback l Member consultations
The Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine Committee has developed a draft statement on Vapourised Nicotine Products. It aims to provide a balanced perspective on the complexities surrounding vaping in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. All input will be de-identified and must be submitted by Monday, 7 April 2025.
The statement explores key issues, including:
- regulatory approaches in both countries
- the role of vapourised nicotine in tobacco cessation
- concerns around nicotine dependence
- public health implications of vaping availability.
Submit your feedback I Explore more consultations
The RACP and the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) recently launched the renewed Evolve Top-5 Recommendations. They ask clinicians to rethink their prescribing decisions to ensure quality patient care.
Professor Jennifer Martin discussed the importance of the recommendations in an SBS news article, a AJAP article and on a range of radio channels earlier this year. Find out more in the media release.
The launch of the Evolve recommendations included promotion at the ASCEPT Asia Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists and Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association Joint Congress. We engaged with trainees and Fellows on the importance of reducing low-value care practices in pharmacology and toxicology and invited them to get involved by joining the Evolve Policy and Advocacy Interest Group.
Find out more
We responded to a Rural Health Commission proposal in December 2024, to extend specialist MBS items to rural generalists in certain geographical areas, starting with rural generalists with a focus on paediatrics. We raised concerns about scope of practice, training and quality and safety of patient care, stressing the importance of ongoing engagement with the College to ensure rural health resilience and training of rural healthcare practitioners. Our response supported further engagement with the Rural Health Commission, where we will advocate for member priorities in addressing rural healthcare needs.
The National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034, released in December, sets a strategic direction for dementia care in Australia. We thank our RACP members for their valuable contributions to the Plan.
Following our submission, the Plan now strengthens Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care, helping to Close the Gap in health disparities. It also has improved recognition of medical practitioners’ roles and the link with GPs, enhances dementia training, and supports both medical and psychosocial approaches to care.
Key commitments include a new clinical care standard for dementia, better data collection, expanded memory clinics, and a review of how the Medicare Benefits Schedule supports effective dementia diagnosis. There is also a greater focus on dementia prevention and better access to services for First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, and other communities. These are important steps towards better dementia care in Australia.
We are pleased to announce that abstract submissions and early bird registrations are now open for the International Medicine in Addiction Conference (IMiA 2025), the premier event jointly hosted by RACP, RACGP, and RANZCP. The conference will be held on Friday, 29 to Sunday, 31 August 2025 at the International Convention Centre Sydney.
Bringing together medical professionals, researchers, and thought leaders dedicated to addressing the challenges of addiction in all its forms, IMiA 2025 is not to be missed. Register before Wednesday, 30 April 2025 to take advantage of the early bird discount.
Register now
We’ve heard your feedback and partnered with an expert service and customer experience design agency to reimagine a new member service experience.
Over the next three to four months, we’ll be mapping a new vision into a series of visual concepts and journeys, exploring how we use digital touch points to make experiences more seamless and personalised, and creating an overall service blueprint that knits the entire experience together.
We need your help to shape this vision, to make sure we’re solving real problems in the right ways.
We understand you’re busy, so we’ve designed an approach with this in mind. Get involved by sharing as little as 30 minutes of your time for a single one-on-one interview in mid-to late-April. It can be conducted remotely, at a day and time of your choosing.
To participate, complete this short form or email to book your quick interview.
Listen now
In the previous episode we heard how some rationally designed therapies work on almost any cancer with the right molecular signature. Tumour-agnostic medications could be godsend for patients with rare cancers which have classically been overlooked by drug developers, and those with advanced cancers of unknown origin. Fifteen thousand such patients have undergone comprehensive genome profiling of their tumours through the organisation, Omico.
In this podcast, Omico’s Founder, Professor David Thomas, explains that while the majority have received recommendations about matched therapies, clinical trials are typically the only way to enable access. Professor Thomas discusses why Australia’s Health Technology Assessment process appears to be so conservative and how the market price of next generation oncotherapies might be brought down by changes across the local ecosystem.
Guest
- Professor David Thomas FRACP PhD – Director, Centre for Molecular Oncology UNSW; Founder and Chief of Science, Omico
Please visit the Pomegranate Health webpage for a transcript and supporting references. Log on to MyCPD to record listening and reading as a prefilled learning activity. Subscribe to new episode email alerts or search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox or any podcasting app.
Listen now
This case report describes a 42-year-old male from Arizona with a complex course characterised by fever following an orthotopic liver transplant. A general approach to fever in the post-transplant patient is discussed, along with specific considerations regarding travel in post-transplant patients or those on immunosuppressants for other indications. Associate Professor Camille Kotton and Dr Simran Gupta from the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital take listeners through the case and related issues in a step-by-step manner at a level targeted for trainees and generalists.
Credits
- Associate Professor Camille Kotton – Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, guest
- Dr Simran Gupta – Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University, guest
- Associate Professor Stephen Bacchi FRACP – Fulbright Fellow, Mass General Brigham; University of Adelaide, host
- Christina Gao – University of Adelaide, host
Please visit the Pomegranate Health webpage for a transcript and supporting references. Log on to MyCPD to record listening and reading as a prefilled learning activity. Subscribe to new episode email alerts or search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox or any podcasting app.
Support for Rural Specialists in Australia helps rural specialists stay skilled and engaged so they can provide the best care to their communities.
Eligible applicants are invited to apply for a grant of up to $12,000 to complete CPD activities like conferences, workshops, clinical attachments, and peer review. The application deadline is 15 April 2025. Visit the SRSA website for more information and to submit an application.
Eligibility
To apply for an SRSA grant, you must work rurally as either:
- a (non-GP) specialist
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander specialist trainee
- a specialist international medical graduate under assessment.
If you received a grant in Support for Rural Specialists in Australia' previous funding round (funding round nine), you are not eligible to apply in this round. If you were unsuccessful in the past, you are encouraged to apply again.
Support for Rural Specialists in Australia is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and managed by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges.
Find out more
More you may be interested in
As healthcare workers who dedicate our lives to helping others, it’s important to take the time to care for ourselves. We would like to remind everyone that it's okay to not be okay. If you need someone to talk to, you can reach out to the RACP Support Program. It's a free, 24/7 and completely confidential support service that is delivered externally through Converge International.
Whether you have something worrying on your mind, are finding getting out of bed to be a struggle, or just feel like talking to someone for helpful, judgement-free advice, this free support service may be just what you need.
Find out more
Did you know that RACP Benefits gives you exclusive access to a range of discounts and offers from leading brands and retailers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand? Simply log in to the portal to start shopping and saving today. These special deals are exclusive to the College and made possible by our benefits partner, Member Benefits Australia.