The Wellbeing SIG is one of the most active SIG memberships within ACE with valuable input from both trainees and fellows throughout Australia and New Zealand.
ANZCA supporting workforce and wellbeing
One of ANZCA's main goals is “supporting workforce and wellbeing”, as outlined in
ANZCA's 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. With that goal in focus, ANZCA is developing a framework to promote, protect, and support better health and wellbeing for doctors.
Find out more.
The day of workshops on May 7 included a choice of clinical skills practice, opportunities to learn how to use available resources. Wellbeing and life balance was prominent in the workshop program.
The elephant back in the room
With the wellbeing of doctors a major focus in ANZCA’s current 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, one of the stars of the 2017 ASM in Brisbane, “the elephant in the room” was back, but this time on stage at the combined Welfare SIG and RACS plenary session, “Keeping the passion alive: Surviving 21st century practice”. This was an excellent final plenary session as evidenced by a flurry of tweets addressing burnout of doctors, depression, and resilience. The speakers were all knowledgeable and inspiring.
This session challenged us to look at how we view our wellbeing as doctors and how we can start to make the mindset changes that can make a difference to morale and mental health.
Future Events
2018 Combined Special Interest Group Meeting
Come and join the Medical Education, Welfare, Leadership and Management, and Communication special interest groups in Byron Bay this September, for the 15th annual Combined special interest group meeting. This year’s meeting is convened by the Medical Education SIG. Further information. 
The theme: “Turning potential into performance” will explore topics of relevance to all of us including:
- Feedback
- Having difficult conversations
- Getting the most out of workplace based assessments (WBAs)
- How to turn your questions and ideas into research
Welfare sessions - read more
ASA NSC 2018, Adelaide, October 6-9
The theme of the session is “Wellbeing: So what are we doing about it?”. Read more
Topics of interest
Mental health in the workplace
Resources
A list of welfare resources by region/state, which can be accessed in Networks.
Once you login, under My Networks click on “Supervisor orientation and support resources”.
Click on “Welfare and mentoring”.
Click on “Welfare support services by region”.
Resource documents currently still under review:
- RD22 Bullying and Harassment document currently under review by ANZCA BDH working party
- RD 05 Critical Incident Support 2016
Resource documents sent for approval
The SIG Executive Committee has revised the documents; and these have been sent to ACE for approval
- RD 08 Mentoring: Reviewed by the Welfare SIG Executive
- RD 18 Latex allergy: Reviewed by the Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group (ANZAAG) and the Welfare SIG Executive
- RD 23 Communication and professional behaviour: Reviewed by Welfare SIG Executive and member from RANZP
- RD 24 Mandatory reporting: Reviewed by the ANZCA solicitor Mr Michael Gorton
- RD 25: The disruptive anaesthetist: Reviewed by Welfare SIG Executive
- RD27: New resource document reviewed by Welfare SIG Executive
Useful articles
Useful and recommended articles can be found in the Welfare Dropbox. Please contact Events to gain access to the Dropbox.
Communication
The Welfare SIG is committed to open and authentic communications with its fellow members, its parent bodies, ANZCA, ASA and NZSA, trainees and the wider community. All feedback and questions are welcome and confidentiality respected.
Thank you!
To our secretariat Sarah Chezan for all her hard work, and patience and keeping the chair on track. We could not run the SIG without her contribution.
For submissions or ideas for the next newsletter, please contact:
ANZCA House
630 St Kilda Road Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
T: +61 3 9093 4989