I am delighted to contribute to what is my first CEO report for O&G Magazine and I am equally excited about what the future holds for RANZCOG. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President, the Board, our members and College staff who have given me a warm welcome. It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the College and to be working together in delivery of excellence and equity in women’s health.

Strategic Plan

The College’s Strategic Plan 2019–2022 was launched in March this year, defining our strategic priorities. I believe that through stronger engagement with members via better support, advocacy and education provisions; the development of an agile, sustainable and innovative organisation, and the development and maintenance of productive and mutually beneficial relationships, together we will create meaningful outcomes for the benefit of women’s health across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.

Respectful Workplaces and Thrive Workshops

The College’s Training Support Unit has been instrumental in setting up the Supporting Respectful Workplaces workshops, which aim to tackle the issues of workplace bullying and harassment faced by many consultants and trainees. There has been an overwhelming response to the workshops, with positive feedback from participants about the interactivity, openness of conversation and insight from both trainees and senior colleagues that has been enlightening.

Thrive workshops that were created to promote the wellbeing and support of doctors, especially those in their first years of medicine, are designed using research evidence, including cognitive and positive psychology, and in consultation with our trainee cohort to provide support and skills to trainees, provide practical techniques and strategies to improve their personal wellbeing and workplace performance.

The feedback received on the workshops has been of high praise as being practical and relevant and I am pleased that we have created a positive learning environment with both workshops for trainees and Fellows alike.

Endometriosis Project

As reported in previous issues of O&G Magazine, the College was awarded a contract for services by the Department of Health (DoH) to develop an Australian Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management Of Endometriosis, in line with the National Action Plan for Endometriosis 2018.

Endometriosis affects one in every 10 Australian women, with the average diagnosis taking between seven to ten years.¹ Currently, there are no national evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis for use in Australia.

RANZCOG’s first Endometriosis Expert Working Group meeting is scheduled to be held in July and we will be required to submit periodic progress reports to DoH. A Project Plan had been devised by RANZCOG in consultation with the guideline methodologists and had been approved by the DoH. The first progress report is due on 30 August and the final version of the Guideline is to be delivered to the Department by February 2020.

International Women’s Day

In March, RANZCOG hosted an event at College House in celebration of International Women’s Day. Stephanie Woollard of Seven Women was our guest speaker and told a fascinating story of how her organisation started and the hurdles she faced along the way. We also had the opportunity to ask questions of three very different and intriguing female doctors at different stages in their RANZCOG journey: Dr Bernadette White, Dr Amber Moore and Dr Manarangi De Silva.

Staff were very appreciative and inspired by this event as it gave them the chance to pause and connect with co-workers and our members on a different level from day-to-day work interactions. It was an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of successful women and recognise the opportunities that are available to us all.

DRANZCOG Advanced Oral Examination April 2019

The Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG is a hospital-based training program intended for medical practitioners who have gained skills in obstetrics through the Diploma and who wish to develop them to a level that will enable them to safely undertake complex deliveries and perform more advanced gynaecological procedures. Following a successful pilot conducted during 2018, Adelaide Health Simulation Centre at the University of Adelaide has been adopted as the venue for delivery of this exam.

Adelaide Health Simulation is a world-class, purpose-built, clinical education, training and assessment centre. Some of the benefits of the centre include integrated IT systems that allow examination results to be recorded electronically in real time, video and audio recording, access to modern medical and simulation equipment and high-fidelity medical suites and observation rooms.

The Advanced RANZCOG Oral Examination was held on Sunday 7 April 2019. The examination followed a structured oral examination format, including 10 cases from the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology.

The feedback received from examiners and candidates on the conduct of this exam has been positive. Both examiners and candidates felt the examination was delivered professionally, was very well organised and they felt supported by RANZCOG and Adelaide Health Simulation staff.

Finally, on behalf of the College, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to our members in New Zealand, and all of those affected by the tragic events of March 15 in Christchurch. We are united in our grief and stand with you in solidarity.

1. The Department of Health. National Action Plan for Endometriosis. Commonwealth of Australia. Available from: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/endometriosis.