Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Framework sets out how we will actively promote and champion DEI across the college, throughout our many functions, within the anaesthesia and pain medicine specialties, as well as the broader practice of perioperative medicine across Australia and New Zealand.
The framework underpins our approach to supporting DEI initiatives within the college, through our committees, and in all interactions. It is supported by the ANZCA DEI Roadmap, which identifies eight key priority areas of focus, and outlines the actions we will take to achieve meaningful, lasting change.
Together, these documents reflect our strong commitment to advancing DEI within the college and contributing positively to the wider community.
Our role
To realise this vision, we play a vital role in advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion across the anaesthesia and pain medicine specialties. We actively engage, support and empower fellows, trainees and specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) to embed DEI principles into their workplaces and professional practice, through clear guidance and practical resources.
We also recognise the importance of leading by example. We are committed to fostering DEI within our own operations and governance, particularly in areas such as training, accreditation, continuing professional development and research. By doing so, we aim to create inclusive systems and cultures that support excellence, fairness and belonging for all.
ANZCA statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion
Our statement on diversity, equity and inclusion reaffirms our commitment to creating and supporting a culture of inclusiveness. The statement is as follows:
ANZCA is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Embracing diverse perspectives and promoting fairness, respect, and equitable access to opportunities enhances our ability to provide high-quality care in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain medicine.
We advocate for an environment that ensures everyone feels safe, valued and protected from bullying, discrimination and harassment. We celebrate the broader perspectives and enriched innovation that diversity brings. We are dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable culture for our workforce and the patients and communities we serve.
This statement is supported by the ANZCA Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) background paper and aligns with the ANZCA DEI Framework. In recognition of our diverse workforce we continue to support work throughout the college in areas of Indigenous health, gender equity, reconciliation, cultural safety, population health and much more. Our goal is for our fellowship to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
DEI initiatives
Conferences, meeting and events
- A code of conduct for all ANZCA meetings.
- Promotion of gender equity in speaker and panellist numbers.
- Provision of culturally diverse catering options.
- Parent’s room and facilities available at the Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Feeding facilities at ANZCA House and at the regional offices upon request.
Committee representation
- A diversity assessment matrix to ensure there is a broad and diverse representation on all committees, including community representation where required.
Recognition of changing life circumstances
- Concessions and special consideration on subscription fees are offered to fellows to account for changing circumstances.
- Support is available to fellows returning to work after a period of absence.
- Free, 24/7 access to the ANZCA Doctors' Support Program which provides confidential support for a variety of work-related and personal problems that may be affecting our fellows, trainees, SIMGS and their families.
Support for Indigenous trainees and fellows
- 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.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori senior medical students and pre-vocational doctors with an interest in anaesthesia or pain medicine are invited to apply for a number of financially supported places at the ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Each year, our Indigenous Health Committee nominates two new Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori fellows to attend the Emerging Leaders Conference.
- Māori fellows and trainees are invited to join the Māori Anaesthetists Network Aotearoa - a forum to provide tautoko (support for) and Manaaki (to care for) to Māori fellows and trainees. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees and fellows are invited to join an ANZCA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network WhatsApp group to enable connection and support as the workforce continues to grow.
Education
- Resources are available in the Gender Equity LibGuide and the Doctor’s Health and Wellbeing LibGuide.
- The Unconscious bias and interview panels toolkit provides an introduction to unconscious bias and how this might impact decision making in the context of participation in an interview panel.
- Launch of the Trauma – Informed Care (TIC) definitions, and support for the embedment of TIC principles throughout the operations of the college.
- Delivery of the Gender Equity Workplan.
- Revision of the Supporting professionalism and performance: A guide for anaesthetists and pain medicine physicians 2024.
Cultural safety
- Continuing professional development opportunities for cultural safety and wellbeing education sessions.
- Embedment of CAPE into the CPD Program.
At the college
- Corporate policy on bullying, discrimination and harassment for fellows and trainees acting on behalf of the college or undertaking college functions.
- Training for staff in broad range of DEI areas including bullying, discrimination and harassment, cultural competency and the application of DEI principles into every-day work.
Gender equity has ethical, social, and economic benefits to our fellows, trainees, specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs), and the broader community.
In March 2019, through the work of the Gender Equity Working Group (now Gender Equiry Sub-Committee), we released the Gender Equity Position Statement which states our commitment to advocate for gender equity.
We are pleased to release our second task-oriented action plan to be delivered over the coming three years.
The action plan aligns with the five key focus areas identified in the position statement, and the ANZCA Strategic Plan (2023-2025). Want to find out more on what we're doing check out the dedicated gender equity webpage.
In 2019, the college produced a statement on the role of ANZCA in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all people in relation to the college mission statement are:
- Supports access to healthcare as a basic human right.
- Opposes all forms of discrimination, given the potential for this to negatively impact on the health and wellbeing of our trainees, fellows, staff, patients and the wider community.
- Endorses the principles that (a) health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; and (b) the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. (From the World Health Organization’s constitution preamble – www.who.int/about/who-weare/constitution).
For full details refer to the Statement on the role of ANZCA in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all people.
In 2017, ANZCA joined other medical colleges to support marriage equality in Australia by releasing the following statement:
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) considers all forms of discrimination unacceptable, with the potential to negatively impact on the health and well-being of our trainees, fellows, staff, and the wider community. To this end, the ANZCA Council collectively supports marriage equality and urges our members, trainees and staff to give serious consideration to the health impact of ongoing discrimination.
This statement is supported by the ANZCA’s Marriage equality statement document.
As of 9 December 2017, marriage equality is protected in law in both Australia and New Zealand.