It has been another season of hard work and collaboration at RANZCOG. As I reflect on the past few months, it is gratifying to think of the vast array of work being undertaken. The College hosted two roundtables, convening a range of interest groups, multidisciplinary clinicians and providers of women’s healthcare, government representatives, and consumers to discuss issues impacting women’s health. The 14th RANZCOG Council convened in July to reflect on the College’s recent work, identify key challenges, and ensure we continue to remain accountable to our strategic priorities.
I had the pleasure of travelling to Aotearoa New Zealand for the RANZCOG Aotearoa ASM and welcoming our newly elevated Fellows there, as well as attending the RANZCOG Regional Symposium and ACT/NSW Symposium.
These are a few of the endeavours outlined below, and just a small glimpse of the advocacy and education the College is currently engaging in.
Birth Trauma Roundtable
On 24 June, RANZCOG convened the first national roundtable on birth trauma, at Djeembana, College Place. Supported by Birth Trauma Australia, the roundtable assembled clinicians, policymakers, sector leaders, and women with lived experience.
Discussions spanned pelvic floor dysfunction, psychological harm, system strains, and much more, but underpinning the entire day was one clear theme: that birth trauma is not a series of isolated incidents, but a result of broader, system-level failure.
I applaud the generosity and bravery of the women who shared their lived experiences at the roundtable. They described not only their physical injuries and chronic pain, but also the long-term, all-encompassing consequences of birth-related trauma – relationship strain or breakdown, limited capacity to work, feelings of isolation and psychological distress, and inability to engage in the version of parenthood that they had envisioned for themselves.
I also extend my thanks to the clinicians who discussed their experiences of vicarious trauma and cumulative stress. Our roles are inherently demanding, and when compounded with staffing shortages, escalating workloads, and system pressures, the emotional, physical, and professional toll can be great. To show up to work our best selves and provide the excellent, trauma-informed care that our patients deserve, we must also ensure that our own mental and physical wellbeing is maintained.
Following these powerful discussions, the College has compiled its Birth Trauma Roundtable Final Report(opens in new tab), containing a list of five core recommendations:
- Modernise postnatal care settings to support early identification and continuity.
- Improve public awareness and trauma-informed care across maternity services.
- Strengthen multidisciplinary postnatal and recovery pathways.
- Improve affordability and access to prevention and early intervention.
- Strengthen national data, visibility, and disability recognition for long-term maternal morbidity.
These reforms will require coordinated, dedicated effort across governments, services, and sector leaders. I encourage you all to read the full roundtable report. This is an essential first step in what must be an ongoing, focused effort, and it will require each and every one of us to commit to improving our practice and embedding trauma-informed care into our everyday interactions.
Women’s Health Roundtable: Strengthening the O&G Workforce
The Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing recently released its Obstetrics and Gynaecology Supply and Demand Compendium Report(opens in new tab). Using workforce supply and demand modelling to 2048, the report projected an ongoing and increasing national shortage of O&G specialists in Australia, despite workforce growth.
In response to the report, RANZCOG hosted the Women’s Health Roundtable, congregating representatives from the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, clinicians, and consumer representatives to discuss critical challenges and opportunities to strengthen the women’s health workforce in Australia.
It was an honour to have the Hon Harriet Shing MP give a ministerial address to begin the proceedings. We then heard from representatives from each Australian state and territory, who discussed local challenges, themes, and potential solutions, with input from both government and clinician spokespeople. The afternoon saw us divide into breakout groups to focus on specific topics impacting the O&G workforce – from pelvic pain and birth trauma to clinical governance and data quality improvement.
These discussions highlighted the vital need for collaboration across jurisdictions and governments, and the value of seeking perspectives from clinicians, multidisciplinary teams, and consumers. We do not work in silos – in order to address the challenges facing women’s health, we must invest in the broader health workforce, including GPO/RGOs, midwives, physiotherapists, pain specialists, sonographers, nurses, and allied health professionals.
The College will release its final report on the roundtable proceedings, with recommendations in early September 2026.
Partnership Roundtable
In July, the College also hosted a Partnership Roundtable. Representatives from societies and organisations across the broad spectrum of O&G attended at Djeembana to discuss how we can best collaborate to maximise our voices in issues that matter to our specialty and the women and families we serve. I am eager to continue to build on these relationships and work together to find new ways to advocate for and better our practice through uniting our voices in a shared purpose.
I extend my thanks to the representatives who attended for these important discussions.
RANZCOG Council Meeting
It was a pleasure to welcome RANZCOG members and trainees from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to the July Board and Council Meetings, held both in person at Djeembana and online. Our discussions spanned the College’s central priorities, including our response to the subspecialist workforce crisis, progressing recommendations made as part of the birth trauma roundtable, the governance reform project, review and development of several training pathways, and more.
Thank you to all participants who joined to share your experience and expertise – it is invaluable in ensuring we are addressing the core priorities of our specialty and making meaningful change that will shape the future of women’s health.
ACT/NSW Symposium & Regional Symposium
It’s been a busy period for the RANZCOG events team, with the ACT/NSW Symposium taking place in June and the Regional Symposium in August. It was a pleasure to speak at both of these events and spend time with colleagues from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. I extend my thanks to the speakers, chairs, organising committees, and staff for putting together such enriching programs, and to everyone who attended – learning and connecting with each other at such events is vital to ensure we are constantly growing and improving our practice.
Aotearoa ASM Awards and Elevation Ceremony
It was a joy to attend the Aotearoa ASM, and particularly invigorating to celebrate our newly elevated Aotearoa Fellows, subspecialists, and award recipients. Elevating to Fellow or subspecialist takes immense dedication, hard work, and diligence, and it was a privilege to mark this milestone with the next generation and their loved ones.
We are all juggling competing demands on our time and energy, whether they be family, caring responsibilities, or personal challenges. Pursuing your career goals alongside these commitments is a significant achievement. It is an honour to welcome our new Fellows, and I look forward to working with you to further our shared goal of excellence and equity in women’s health.
All of this work reflects the College’s entrenched dedication to improving clinical outcomes and experiences of the women and communities we serve. I am eager to enter this final quarter of the year to continue to strengthen our practice and advocate for our communities.
