Your College update: March 2026
The College Meritorious Awards recognise trainees and Fellows whose work is advancing medicine, strengthening education and improving the health of communities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are proud to celebrate this year’s recipients, whose leadership, dedication and innovation continue to shape the future of medicine. Please join us in congratulating them. Find out more about each recipient and these prestigious awards by exploring the profiles below.
Eric Susman Prize 2025
Professor Asha Bowen (Western Australia)
The Eric Susman Prize is awarded for the best contribution to the knowledge of internal medicine. This year’s recipient, Professor Asha Bowen OAM is a paediatric infectious diseases specialist at Perth Children’s Hospital and Head of the Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Team at The Kids Research Institute Australia. She has dedicated her career to reducing the burden of skin infections among Aboriginal children and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading clinician-scientists. Read more
The College Medal 2026
Professor Wayne Cutfield (Aotearoa New Zealand)
The College Medal recognises a Fellow who has made a significant contribution to medical specialist practice, healthcare and/or community health through physician activities. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Professor Wayne Cutfield. Professor Cutfield established the paediatric endocrinology service in Aotearoa New Zealand, transformed early care for paediatric diabetes, and trained many of the paediatric endocrinologists and paediatricians now caring for endocrine patients across the country. Read more
RACP Medal for Clinical Service in Rural and Remote Areas 2026
Dr Shermila Jayasinghe (Victoria)
This medal recognises a Fellow who has provided outstanding clinical service in rural and remote areas of Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. This prestigious Medal recognises the significant contribution Dr Shermila Jayasinghe has made in providing adult physician services to the rural East Gippsland community since 2017. In particular, through her work as a consultant physician and the establishment of the region’s first specialist diabetes clinic, she has significantly improved access to care and helped address health inequities in rural Victoria. Read more
RACP Mentor of the Year Award 2026
Professor Ken Liu (New South Wales)
The RACP Mentor of the Year Award honours a Fellow who has made an outstanding contribution to mentoring and supporting trainees throughout their training. Congratulations to Professor Ken Liu, who is a transplant hepatologist and Research Lead for Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. His mentorship spans research, clinical teaching and career development. Professor Liu currently supervises seven PhD candidates and numerous College projects, chairs the department’s monthly research forum and coordinates a weekly state-wide teaching program for Advanced Trainees. Read more
RACP Trainee of the Year 2026
Dr Anosh Sivashanmugarajah (New South Wales)
The Trainee of the Year Award recognises a trainee who has made an outstanding contribution to the College, community and trainee activities. Congratulations to this year's recipient, Dr Anosh Sivashanmugarajah, who is a dual-trained cardiologist and general physician who demonstrates a strong commitment to the College’s values, including equity, education and service. He has chosen to complete large portions of his fellowships in diverse and often rural locations, including Alice Springs and Dubbo Base Hospitals. Read more
We’re excited to launch our new tailored event series, RACP LIFT 2026. It is designed to satisfy your appetite for a richer blend of clinical insights, topical discussions and short form, highly digestible sessions that fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.
This year-long program brings together a dynamic lineup of events that mirror the fast moving and ever evolving medical landscape in which you work. Designed with a focus on learning, innovation and forward thinking, the series of events will be delivered in three distinct event formats; Rapid-fire Clinical Updates, In Conversation interviews and a two-day conference tailored to trainees and early career Fellows.
Running from March to November across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, the program will feature industry leaders, influential voices and thought leaders – spotlighting the strength and diversity of our multidisciplinary community.
Explore now
In collaboration with the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) and other specialist medical colleges, we helped develop the Medical Specialist Professionalism Framework on Ethical Billing and Fee Transparency.
The framework reinforces the profession’s shared commitment to fair fees, clear communication and informed financial consent, ensuring patients understand the costs of their care before treatment proceeds.
As we've mentioned in a previous eBulletin, we are working closely with the CPMC and recognise that the vast majority of specialists set their fees fairly and responsibly. While we do not set or recommend fees, we support responsible billing practices grounded in ethical obligations, professional standards and informed financial consent for patients.
By bringing together all 16 specialist medical colleges, this national framework strengthens expectations for ethical, transparent and compassionate billing practices, while supporting access to high-quality specialist care for all Australians.
Photos from the recent Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges meeting
Our Education Development Grants provide support to Fellows and trainees to undertake further educational training or to develop educational initiatives in the year of the award. Applications for 2026 funding open from Tuesday, 3 March to Tuesday, 7 April 2026. The following grants are available for funding in 2026.
Fossil fuels harm health, drive climate change, worsen inequities, and impact Indigenous lands and wellbeing.
Join us for the launch of our new position statement on health and fossil fuels at our webinar held on Tuesday, 21 April from 5.30pm to 7.30pm AEST. Hear from experts as they discuss the health impacts of fossil fuels and how we can transition beyond them in ways that prioritise health equity, Indigenous justice and planetary health.
Register now
The February 2026 Divisional Written Examination (DWE) was held on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, with 1,170 candidates sitting the examination across 19 locations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
We commend all candidates for their dedication and perseverance in reaching this significant milestone in their training. Preparing for and undertaking this examination requires substantial commitment, and we acknowledge the effort invested by each candidate.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Directors of Physician/Paediatric Education (DPEs) 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.
Furthermore, we acknowledge and thank the RACP team members involved in delivering the examination for their professionalism and commitment.
Examination results will be released after 3pm on Thursday, 12 March 2026. If you have any questions about the DWE or the release of results, please contact our Member Support Centre.
Since the release of the Review of the Paediatric Clinical Examination in January 2025, the College has been actively implementing reforms to strengthen the quality, fairness and transparency of our clinical examinations. The RACP Board has approved the 12-Month Implementation Report, which outlines progress against all 18 recommendations and is now available on our website.
In 2025, phase one of the Implementation Plan focused on the Divisional Clinical Examination, delivering improvements in examination delivery and candidate information and support, quality assurance, governance, examiner training and calibration. These reforms were informed by extensive engagement with trainees, Fellows, examiners and College committees.
In 2026, we move into phase two, expanding this work across all RACP Divisions, Faculties and Chapters. Priorities include embedding 2025 reforms into business-as-usual practice, continuing enhanced candidate support and quality assurance roles, expanding examiner training and governance improvements, and further strengthening transparency, equity and trust across all RACP examinations.
We would like to sincerely thank our trainees, examiners and committees who contributed to examinations and provided feedback on the Review, Implementation Plan and new initiatives in 2025. Your feedback has been invaluable and has directly informed our actions and 2026 priorities.
Join the Regional, Rural, and Remote Physician Special Interest Group. It's open to all members and is flexible, interest-based involvement. It is not a committee and there are no fixed meetings. It's a new way to contribute to regional, rural, and remote healthcare, when and how it suits you.
Please refer to the Terms of Reference [PDF] and apply by emailing your completed application form [DOC] to council@racp.edu.au
Find out more
Rural health depends on rural specialists
Support for Rural Specialists in Australia (SRSA) helps rural specialists remain skilled and engaged so they can continue providing the best care to their communities.
Eligible applicants are invited to apply for a grant of up to AUD $12,000 to attend a CPD activity like a conference, workshop, clinical attachment, or peer review. Applications are open until Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
Eligibility
To apply for an SRSA grant, you must work rurally (Modified Monash Model categories two to seven) 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 SRSA’s previous funding round (funding round 11), you are not eligible to apply in this round. If you were unsuccessful in the past, you are encouraged to apply again.
Important dates
- Apply now until 15 Apr 2026
- Outcomes sent by: 1 June 2026
- Grantees complete CPD activities: 1 July - 30 November 2026
SRSA is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and managed by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges.
Find out more l Poster [PDF]
We’re pleased to announce that results from the 2025 Medical Training Survey (MTS) Australia are now available on the MTS interactive dashboard.
The MTS, conducted between August and October 2025, captured the voices of thousands of doctors in training across Australia. The dashboard allows members to explore results by training setting, region and training type, offering valuable insights into supervision, wellbeing, workplace culture, and more.
We use these results to:
- strengthen training programs and activities
- support training settings where results suggest opportunities for improvement
- recognise excellence in supervision, wellbeing and trainee satisfaction
- inform strategic change across physician education and member services.
We thank all trainees and Overseas Trained Physicians who participated in the 2025 survey. Your feedback is helping shape the future of medical training. For more details, visit the Medical Training Survey website.
We acknowledge the extraordinary leadership and contribution of Ms Pat Turner AM following her announcement that she will retire from her roles leading First Nations peak organisations.
An Arrernte and Gurdanji woman, Ms Turner has dedicated decades to advancing the rights, health, and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Her leadership across the public service and the community-controlled sector has shaped national policy and strengthened the systems that support the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities.
Read more
There’s still time to join the 2026 AChSHM ASM, which is taking place virtually on Saturday, 21 March 2026. This one-day event brings together sexual health medicine physicians from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to explore current issues in the field and connect with colleagues.
The program features sessions on syphilis, women’s health, AI in clinical practice, male dermatology and more, with expert speakers sharing practical insights for everyday practice:
Registrations close 17 March 2026, so secure your place and view the full program today.
Register now
Listen to ep143
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has projects in more than 70 countries that might be affected by natural disasters, armed conflict or disease outbreaks. Its clinics see over two million emergency room admissions a year and another 16 million outpatient consults.
Emergency paediatrics physician, Dr Josephine Goodyer, and infectious diseases physician, Dr Tasnim Hasan, are two of more than 100 Australians and Aotearoa New Zealanders who contributed to MSF’s missions last year. Between them they have covered practice settings as varied as Kiribati, South Sudan and Gaza. In this interview, they describe the experience shipping out with MSF on their first assignment and then the kinds of responsibilities one is given with more experience. We’ll also hear how gaps of six months or more affect career progression and financial stability back home.
Guests
- Dr Josephine Goodyer FRACP (Canberra Hospital; Australian National University)
- Dr Tasnim Hasan FRACP (Western Sydney LHD; University of Sydney)
- Dr Aidan Tan (Sydney Children’s Hospital Network)
Subscribe, claim CPD and get the transcript
To be among the first to find out about the latest Pomegranate Health podcasts, subscribe to new episode email alerts. All our podcasts are now available on YouTube. You can also search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or any podcasting app. Did you know you can record listening and reading as a prefilled learning activity by logging on to MyCPD? For a transcript and supporting references of our podcast, please visit the Pomegranate Health webpage.
Listen now
A 75-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis is deemed unsuitable for surgery on the basis of a porcelain aorta detected with cross-sectional imaging. One decade earlier, the patient had been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after presenting with cardiac arrhythmia. A dual chamber Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator was implanted at the time for secondary prevention and other comorbidities were managed.
The patient is now being considered for staged alcohol septal ablation for the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement for the aortic stenosis, however, additional complications force an experimental two-in-one procedure.
Guests
- Professor Ross Roberts-Thomson FRACP (Central Adelaide Local Health Network; University of Adelaide)
- Associate Professor Stephen Bacchi FRACP (Northern Adelaide Local Health Network; University of Adelaide)
- Dr Alistair Leslie (Central Adelaide Local Health Network)
The Australian Centre for Disease Control released the Sixth Australian report on antimicrobial use and resistance in human health. The report shows Australia supplied 23.2 million antibiotic prescriptions under the PBS in 2024 (a 4.8 per cent increase on the previous year) while reports of critical antibiotic resistance rose by 25.2 per cent over the same period.
It highlights several concerning trends:
- Fewer than half of antibiotics given after surgery (2022-24) were appropriate
- Antibiotic prescriptions for aged care residents increased between 2023 and 2024
- Prolonged antibiotic use remains common in residential aged care.
Antibiotics save lives, but only when they are used appropriately. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship across healthcare settings is critical to slow the rise of resistance and protect the effectiveness of these vital medicines for the future.
The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Evolve recommendations on antimicrobial resistance align with the report's efforts to contain resistance and make effective antimicrobials available.
Read the report
Join us at the Australian Association for Adolescent Health Youth Health Conference on 22 to 24 April in the Novotel Sydney Parramatta. This year’s conference brings together leaders, clinicians and advocates to put young people at the centre of global change.
We’re proud to be launching our Youth Appropriate Healthcare Position Statement, presented by Professor Simon Denny and Ms Dominique Rose.
Other program highlights include:
- The forgotten girls: investing in improving outcomes for pregnant adolescents
- Australia's new social media minimum age legislation: the world is watching
- Beyond the hospital walls: a patient perspective on supporting chronically ill adolescents past the acute setting
- Adolescent vaccines and misinformation
Find out more
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.