Member Support and Wellbeing
 

RANZCOG recognises that our Members face stressful situations on a day-to-day basis in both their personal lives and in their demanding yet rewarding professions. This can sometimes result in difficulty maintaining self-care and a healthy work/life balance, which can be detrimental to your physical and mental health.

To take care of others, you must first take care of yourself. Being proactive about your mental health and wellbeing is important for your professional and personal lives. Being proactive involves discussing and recognising symptoms and seeking appropriate professional support when needed.

Our Member Support Program, Converge, provides confidential support to RANZCOG Trainees, SIMGs and Fellows (and their immediate family members) across Australia and New Zealand.
 
Support is available through access to qualified and experienced counsellors on a range of issues including:



All sessions are entirely confidential, and your first four sessions within any 12-month timeframe are fully subsidised by the College. Sessions may be face-to-face, by video conference or by phone.

You can book a counselling session by calling the below:

• 1300 687 327 (Australia)
• 0800 666 367 (New Zealand)

To book a session online or find out more visit the Converge website.

For any queries, please contact our Wellbeing Coordinator, Clare Wells on [email protected]
 

For information relating specifically to the support of Trainees and Supervisors, please visit

Training Support
 

 

You can use the Policies & Procedures search tool for locating up-to-date policies covering a wide range of topics including (but not limited to):

• the Exceptional Circumstances, Special Consideration and Reconsideration Policy and Procedure
• the Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy
• the Trainee in Difficulty Policy
• the Conflict of Interest Policy
• the Complaints Policy
• various Appeals Procedures

 

 

RANZCOG Annual Scientific Meeting presentations

Mental Health in the Medical Profession - Prof Steve Robson (2019)
Emily's Gumboots - Merv Keane (2019)

Medical complications and adverse events happen. The support you receive following an adverse outcome is integral to your overall wellbeing. Please see the below published articles from O&G Magazine on how to support yourself and support others following an adverse outcome. 

Coping with adverse outcomes in O&G – by Dr Rachel Collings and Dr Michael Williams

• Includes a toolbox for dealing with adverse outcomes for short, medium and long term
• Video: A notification was made about me: A practitioner’s experience

Adverse events: when your care does harm – by Dr Denys Court

• Includes the ASSIST ME model developed by the National Advocacy Unit, Quality & Patient Safety Directorate in Ireland
• Provides practical self-care information and pointers

Australia

Headspace: providing support and resources to strengthen your ability to manage your mental health. 

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia): supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.

Beyondblue: working with the community to improve mental health and prevent suicide by providing support and advice so that all people in Australia can achieve their best possible mental health.

MindSpot: free effective internet delivered psychological assessment and treatment for stress, anxiety, worry, depression, low mood, OCD and trauma (PTSD). 

SANE: a national freecall helpline providing information, advice and referral to anyone concerned about mental illness.

Lifeline Australia: provides free counselling for suicide prevention and mental health via telephone, online and video for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts, 24/7.

Alcohol and Other Drugs: practical ‘next steps' for information or support services regarding alcohol or drugs.  

New Zealand

Alcohol Drug Helpline:  information, advice and guidance to assist you in understanding and caring for someone impacted upon by alcohol or other drugs, or can provide you with advice and guidance for looking after yourself.

Lifeline Aotearoa: free and confidential community helplines answered by qualified counsellors and trained volunteers - available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand: a comprehensive list of helplines and services available in New Zealand that offer support, information and help.
 

RACGP, Keeping the Doctor Alive: a self-care guidebook for medical practitioners (PDF)

AMA Journal of Ethics, To Bully and Be Bullied: Harassment and Mistreatment in Medical Education 

AMA Fatigue Risk Assessment Tool (online resource)

Smiling Mind: a unique web and app-based program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance and mindfulness to people's lives.

Black Dog Institute: integrating research studies, education programs, digital tools and apps, clinical services, and public resources to discover evidence-based solutions and resources to support better mental health for all Australians. 

The Essential Network (TEN): The Essential Network connects health workers to a network of essential resources and support to manage stress and maintain good mental health. TEN offers discrete and convenient access to support including:

• self guided mental health screening
• evidence-based tools and resources
• peer support
• digital mental health programs
• connection to one-on-one clinical care.

 

 

Australia

DRS4DRS: providing tailored support, online resources and referral services for medical professionals and medical students. 

JMO Health: a website promoting the health and wellbeing of junior doctors. 

Doctors Health Advisory Service Australia: ensuring every doctor has ready access to health care. 

Victorian Doctors Health Program: is a free, confidential service for all doctors and medical students who have health concerns such as stress, mental health problems, substance use problems, or any other health issues​.

Health Care Complaints Commission - New South Wales
Office of the Health Services Commissioner - Victoria 
Office of the Health Ombudsman - Queensland 
Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner - South Australia
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office – Western Australia
Health and Community Services Complaints Commission - Northern Territory
Human Rights Commission – Australian Capital Territory
Health Complaints Commissioner – Tasmania 

New Zealand

Doctors Health Advisory Service NZ: ensuring every doctor has ready access to health care. 

Health and Disability Commissioner NZ: information if a complaint is made against you. 

NZ Resident Doctors Association: health and wellbeing information and resources for resident doctors. 

Medical Council of New Zealand - support for doctors: 

Australia

The AMA advocates on behalf of the medical profession and the public - operating at a federal level and within each state and territory.

AMA ACT 
AMA NSW
AMA NT
AMA QLD
AMA SA
AMA TAS 
AMA VIC
AMA WA 
 

 

New Zealand

The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) is a pan-professional medical organisation in New Zealand representing the collective interests of all doctors. 

NZMA Member Advisory Service

Pandemic Kindness Movement
Respected, evidence-informed resources and links to valuable services to support the wellbeing of the health workforce, curated by clinicians across Australia.

Hand-n-hand
A closed Facebook group that provides a national interdisciplinary peer support network for Australian healthcare workers. Fill out the form here for peer support options including one on one support, joining a peer support group or organising a facilitator to provide peer support to your team.