The RACP is looking for a non-clinical ethicist with expertise in ethics, professional development, education, and the healthcare systems of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand for its Ethics Committee

Only non-RACP members are eligible to apply.

Applicants should:

• Provide relevant skills and expertise to the Ethics Committee.
• Not represent any particular organisation.
• Be prepared to devote the time to prepare for and attend Ethics Committee meetings on a pro bono basis.

To ensure that governance and behavioural qualities in the Ethics Committee membership meet the scope and purpose of the Committee, the following attributes are highly desirable for this appointment:

• Qualification/s, training and experience in ethics.
• Commitment to working collaboratively to explore ethical issues related to the medical profession.
• Good understanding of the contemporary ethical dilemmas facing the medical profession.
• Experience in risk assessment and mitigation, plus application of good governance practices.
• Ability and willingness to challenge and probe, with experience in effective decision-making processes.

The Ethics Committee is a Committee of the RACP Board; it considers ethical issues that may impact members and advises the College. Ethical issues may relate to policy, advocacy, education, clinical practice, and health care delivery.

In all its work, the Ethics Committee acknowledges that Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori cultures, belief systems, and worldviews are foundational to understanding ethics in these lands.

The Ethics Committee meets up to three times a year, including one face-to-face meeting at RACP's head office in Sydney (an all-day meeting) and all other times via Zoom videoconference meetings (2 to 4 hours).

The Committee membership comprises:

• 8 x RACP members
• 1 x Māori representative
• 1 x Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island representative
• 2 x Healthcare consumer representatives
• 1 x Non-clinical ethicist
• 1 x Legal professional representative

The Committee is supported by the RACP Policy & Advocacy.

Context of the position and the Committee

The RACP has been serving the health of the Australian and New Zealand people for over 85 years. The RACP is a large and diverse educational institution and membership body that delivers post-graduate training and continuing professional development to over 30,000 Fellows and trainee Members.

The RACP operates in a highly regulated context that is subject to constant change.

Health technologies are rapidly advancing, and more and more physicians are working as part of multidisciplinary teams, often in community and hospital settings. These trends will only increase as the health system responds to an aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, demands for patient-centred care, and growing funding pressures. There is also a trend for trainees' medical education requirements and the Fellowship's continuing professional development to become broader and more rigorous.

To meet these demands, the RACP is adapting and responding to our Fellows' and trainees' changing needs to serve our communities.

The Ethics Committee ensures that the RACP continues to deliver high-quality physician education and training programs, support future healthcare systems, and provide health policy leadership. 

Apply

Read the RACP Ethics Committee By-law (PDF) before applying and submit your expression of interest form (DOC) and CV to ethics@racp.edu.au.