Focus population groups include children and young people, people with disability, workers and workplaces, and people with rehabilitation, sexual health, addiction and/or palliative care needs.

Policy and advocacy in these areas are supported by the associated RACP Divisions, Faculties, and Chapters (DFACs).

Adult medicine

Adult medicine targets diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with a wide range of internal medicine conditions, encompassing over 33 medical specialty areas, including cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology, and focusing on a clinical, public health and research approach to treatment of adults.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Adult Medicine Division (AMD), including the ADM Council, as well as the Australasian Chapters of Addiction Medicine, Palliative Medicine and Sexual Health Medicine. Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated adult specialty societies.

Adult medicine works closely with the specialty societies as part of the RACP EVOLVE initiative, which is a physician-led process that supports the provision of high-value, contemporary clinical care through the identification and reduction of unnecessary interventions.

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Paediatrics and child health medicine

Paediatrics and child health medicine focusses on the health and wellbeing of neonates (birth to 4 weeks) to children of 17 years of age.  

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD), including the PCHD Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC), the PCHD Council, the Chapter of Community Child Health Committee (CCCHC) and the Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Committee (AYAMC). Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated paediatric specialty societies.

The Child Health Advocacy Strategy 2022-25 provides an overarching framework for advocacy on child health and wellbeing and takes a rights-based approach through four key areas:

1. Strengthening whole-of-government planning and accountability for child health outcomes
2. Promoting healthy relationships: parental, child and adolescent mental health
3. Enhancing access to quality early childhood education
4. Promoting healthy nutrition and oral health

The Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD) launched the Kids Catch Up campaign in 2022.  The campaign calls on leaders from across the political spectrum to commit to a package of policy measures to support children and young people’s health, wellbeing and education. 

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Addiction medicine

Addiction medicine involves the comprehensive care of people with substance use and addiction disorders, including drug and alcohol addiction, and pharmaceutical dependency.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine, as well as the Adult Medicine Division (AMD) more broadly. Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated adult specialty societies.

Addiction medicine plays an important role in shaping public policy in the areas of health protection, prevention and health promotion for improved public and population health outcomes, including:

• Development of a new position statement with the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine to influence Government drug policy.
• Advocating for better drug and alcohol treatment.
• Advocating for stronger alcohol regulation. 

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Adolescent and young adult medicine

Adolescent and young adult medicine focusses on the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young people aged 10 - 24 years, centering on the unique healthcare needs of adolescents, including:  

• Developing youth friendly healthcare services and spaces in healthcare facilities
• Improving the safety and quality of health care for young people
• Engaging with young people in the healthcare system

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Committee (AYAMC), which reports through to the Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD) and the Adult Medicine Division (AMD). Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated adolescent specialty societies.

A new position statement regarding youth appropriate health care in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is in development. The statement provides information regarding a key set of principles underlying youth appropriate health care and healthcare services. The statement will better equip RACP members to develop and advocate for healthcare services which meet the needs of young people.

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Occupational and environmental medicine

Occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) addresses the prevention and management of ill-health, injury and disability in workers, the promotion of safe and healthy workplaces, and reductions in the impact of environmental hazards on the community.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM), including the AFOEM Policy and Advocacy Committee and AFOEM Council. Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated OEM specialty society.

This is a complex area for implementing important reforms and improvement as the site of health care delivery is the workplace, and not traditional healthcare facilities like hospitals. Many stakeholders are involved in effecting positive change such as work health and safety personnel, employers, unions, insurers, rehabilitation providers and government regulatory authorities.

Key initiatives include Health Benefits of Good Work, It Pays to Care, and Silicosis.

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Palliative medicine

Palliative medicine plays an important role in optimising quality of life and supporting people with serious, complex, and often life-limiting/terminal illnesses/disease; advocating for equitable access to specialist care of people with life-limiting illness/disease and chronic health conditions, as well as shaping policy on end-of-life care.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, as well as the Adult Medicine Division (AMD) more broadly. Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated palliative medicine specialty society.

Key areas include the need to raise awareness of the need for early integration of palliative care into patient care and the need for increased specialist workforce in areas of need, particularly in rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

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Public health medicine

Public health medicine focusses on preventing illness, protecting and improving the health of whole populations, including supporting and addressing complex health problems and providing evidence-informed advice at a systems-level.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM), including the AFPHM Policy and Advocacy Committee and AFPHM Council, as well as more broadly across the Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD) and the Adult Medicine Division (AMD). Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated paediatric and adult specialty societies.

Public health policy and advocacy works towards the equitable attainment of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing for all people. Public health holds a duty of care for populations, rather than individuals.

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Rehabilitation medicine

Rehabilitation medicine provides specialist health care and healthcare services for people living with disability due to illness or injury. Rehabilitation medicine aims to deliver health care by multidisciplinary teams to maximise the functional potential of individuals, maintain long-term wellness of people with disability, improve opportunities for employment, and support involvement in society.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM), including the AFRM Policy and Advocacy Committee and AFRM Council. Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated rehabilitation medicine specialty society.

Rehabilitation medicine policy and advocacy covers a range of areas with particular focus on disability, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), integrated care and improving the capacity of the rehabilitation medicine workforce and healthcare services.

A new policy document regarding rehabilitation medicine in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is in development. The bi-national document will guide and influence the development of rehabilitation medicine services over the next decade and beyond, maximising the impact, value, and benefits that rehabilitation medicine has to offer patients, carers, the health care system, and society within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Disability is also a key focus area for rehabilitation medicine, in conjunction with the Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD) and the Adult Medicine Division, and activities also include partnerships with our RACP affiliated paediatric and adult specialty societies. Read more about our disability policy and advocacy.

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Sexual health medicine

Sexual health medicine works to improve the sexual health outcomes of individuals and the community by identifying and minimising sexual health issues through education, behaviour change, advocacy, screening, clinical service provision, surveillance and research.

This area encompasses policy and advocacy activities of the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, as well as the Adult Medicine Division (AMD), the Paediatric and Child Health Division (PCHD) and the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM). Activities also include partnerships with our RACP-affiliated specialty societies.

Sexual health medicine policy and advocacy provides impactful policy contributions and maintains cross sector partnerships to progress sexual health advocacy goals and respond to emerging issues.

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