Growing and supporting the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori workforce

The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health workforce in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is integral to ensuring that the system has the capacity to address the needs of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples.

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are significantly under-represented in the specialist anaesthesia and pain medicine workforce. The First Nations population of Australia is 3.3 per cent of the total population, yet Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders make up less than 0.1 per cent of the specialist anaesthesia and pain medicine workforce. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the figures are 15 per cent and six per cent respectively.

Helping more Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors to train as anaesthetists and pain specialists is one of the key ways we can address wider inequities. This doesn't just mean recruiting, retaining, and supporting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health practitioners, but also helping to create culturally safe and responsive workplaces. 

Explore the ways we're working to encourage Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to specialise in anaesthesia and pain medicine and to support them through their training.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander career navigator network

The career navigator network is an Australian wide network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fellows, senior trainees and allies united to support prospective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees.

Career navigators aim to provide culturally safe career support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and pre-vocational doctors interested in a career in anaesthesia.

The type of support offered by career navigators could include-  

• General information and advice on anaesthesia as a career.
• Navigating the trainee selection application process.
• Advise on building your resume.
• Culturally safe, active feedback when needed
• Help in connecting you with senior anaesthetists.
• Providing links to other resources

Please email us if you would like to be put in touch with a career navigator.

Māori prevocational doctors career advice

If you are interested in a career in anaesthsia or pain medicine and would like to be put in touch with a Māori fellow to discuss your career options please email us 

Promoting our specialties to pre-vocational doctors - Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 

Each year, we invite Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori senior medical students and pre-vocational doctors with an interest in anaesthesia or pain medicine to apply for a number of financially supported places at the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting.

2025 applications are now open.
Guidelines
Application form 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainee education grant

Annual grants are available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander trainees to support their anaesthesia or pain medicine training. Grants can be used towards the payment of college training fees; college exam fees or college exam preparation courses.  

2024 grants are now open for applications.
Guidelines and form

Opportunities to join ANZCA and FPM committees and working groups 

Here you will find information about committees, working groups or projects at the college that are currently seeking Māori and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.

History and Heritage Advisory Panel - This panel works on matters relating to the history and heritage of the college, and the specialties of anaesthesia and pain medicine and would love to have Indigenous representation. To enquire about joining this panel please contact [email protected]

Identifying emerging Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori leaders

Each year, our Indigenous Health Committee nominates two new Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori fellows to attend the Emerging Leaders Conference, a precursor to each ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting.

Please email us if you would like to be considered for one of these places.