Member wellbeing
A healthy workforce is integral to patient safety and to quality and sustainable health care. We support all our members and trainees to make their health and wellbeing a priority.
Your wellbeing
As doctors, it can be challenging to balance the demands of a busy profession with family and personal commitments. We too, like the rest of society, can struggle with depression, anxiety and poor mental health.
This page is for wellbeing support in times of personal or workplace difficulty.
Our services
Member Support program (EAP)
RANZCOG recognises that our members can face stressful situations, both in 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 affect 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. This involves recognising the signs and seeking informal or 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 Aotearoa New Zealand.
Through Converge, you can access qualified and experienced counsellors on a range of issues including those set out below. Converge also runs specialist helplines for First Nations people, LGBTQIA people and for those impacted by domestic violence. Please ask for these helplines when you contact Converge.
All sessions are entirely confidential, and the College pays for your first four sessions within any 12-month period. Sessions may be face-to-face, by video conference or by phone.
You can book a counselling session by calling:
1300 687 327 (Australia)
0800 666 367 (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Please follow the links below to make a booking, and to learn more about the process and questions you will be asked when initially calling to book a session.
For any queries, please contact: wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au.
Trainee and supervisor support
RANZCOG’s Training Support Unit is a confidential service for trainees, SIMGs and supervisors.
RANZCOG recognises that trainees and SIMGs may experience periods of professional and personal difficulty. Coping with the demands of a busy profession, developing skills, building knowledge, as well as balancing family and personal commitments can be challenging.
The College also recognises the importance of supporting supervisors, who ensure trainees and SIMGs receive vital learning opportunities and are given adequate time to develop their skills.
Meet your trainee representatives
Workshops and CPD
To support your mental health and wellbeing, the RANZCOG’s CPD Framework allows for educational health and wellbeing activities to be approved as part of your continuing professional development. If you’re not sure if a wellbeing activity is relevant, please email wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au.
Policies and procedures
Please click on the three dots in the bottom left corner below to explore our policies and procedures relating to member wellbeing.
SUPPORT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
SUPPORT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Managing Complaints Against RANZCOG Members Guideline
Parental and Extended Leave Reduction in Subscription Fees Policy and Procedure
Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Exceptional Circumstances and Special Consideration Policy
Trainee in Difficulty Policy
Gender Equity and Diversity Policy
RANZCOG Examination Verbal Feedback Policy
Complaints Policy
Code of Conduct
Having your own GP
The Doctors Health Advisory Service has found that fewer than 40 per cent of doctors have an identifiable GP. Many who do are consulting their spouse or practice partner. Many have not consulted that doctor for years.
Find a local health professional
Visit DRS4DRS for information for your annual GP check-up.
Find a local GP, psychologist or psychiatrist who specialises in seeing doctors as patients:
Find a psychiatrist on the RANZCP website: under ‘patient groups’, select the dropdown option, ‘doctors, psychiatrists or medical students’
QLD GPs and psychologists: Doctors’ Health Queensland Find a health professional webpage
SA GPs list: Doctors’ Health SA Find a GP webpage
WA clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and GPs listing: Doctors Health Advisory Service WA Doctors for doctors list
VIC: Contact the Victorian Doctors Health Program for its list of preferred GPs, psychologists and psychiatrists
TAS: Contact the Tasmanian Doctors Health Program (administered by the Victorian Doctors Health Program) for its list of preferred GPs, psychologists and psychiatrists
NT: Doctors Health NT Find a GP webpage
Aotearoa/NZ: DHAS NZ are compiling a list of preferred treatment providers. Please call DHAS NZ on 0800 471 2654 if you’re seeking a treating practitioner.
We can see the value of patients having a personal physician who knows their history and gives personal care, but, in a strange twist of thinking, we don’t see that this applies to ourselves and our families…
So take your own best advice. Find a GP you trust and let them manage your health care. Encourage your colleagues to do the same. This will free you to do what you do best – concentrate on the health of your patients.”
– from ‘Having our own GP‘ by Doctors Health Advisory Service
Adverse outcomes
Medical complications and adverse events happen. The support you receive after an adverse outcome can be crucial to maintaining your wellbeing.
O&G Magazine articles
Facing Adversity, Finding Connection webinar
Hear from senior colleagues about managing adverse outcomes and potential fears going forward if informal channels of support are gone.
For access to a recording of this webinar, please contact: wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au
Fatigue
Excessive working hours, and the potential fatigue experienced by doctors, may have adverse effects on both patient safety and on the health and well-being of doctors.
To support our members, the College has released the Fatigue risk management in obstetric and gynaecological practice (WPI 18) guideline, along with a supporting document.
Further resources
AMA Fatigue Risk Assessment Tool (online resource)
External services and resources
Health and wellbeing referral options
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 to improve mental health and prevent suicide so that all people in Australia can achieve their best possible mental health.
SANE: a national free call 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.
Aotearoa New Zealand
Alcohol Drug Helpline: information, advice and guidance to help you care for yourself or someone else impacted by alcohol or other drugs.
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.
Tools and digital resources
Leading Kindness COVID-19 Toolkit: a healthcare-specific wellbeing program developed by doctors in training and awarded RANZCOG’s 2021 Group Wellbeing Award.
The Essential Network (TEN): Developed by health professionals for health professionals, TEN provides specialist, individualised mental health advice and triaged support to connect health workers to the help they need.
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. Includes an online clinic.
Shift: an app to safeguard the mental health of JMOs. A free, easy-to-use app designed to help you monitor, improve and maintain your mental health and wellbeing while managing the demands of your profession. Search ‘Shift Black Dog Institute’ on the App Store or Google Play.
RACGP, Keeping the Doctor Alive: a self-care guidebook for medical practitioners (PDF)
MindSpot: free online assessment and treatment for stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and other mental health conditions.
Practitioner advisory services
Australia
DRS4DRS: providing tailored support, online resources and referral services for medical professionals and medical students.
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association: supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and advocating for a culturally safe healthcare system.
Doctors Health Advisory Service Australia: ensuring every doctor has ready access to health care.
Health Care Worker Wellbeing Centre (Victoria): provides support for people in clinical and non-clinical roles across all health care settings.
Victorian Doctors Health Program: a free, confidential service for Victorian and Tasmanian doctors who have health concerns, including stress, mental illness and substance use.
CRANA: Crana’s Bush Support Services provides free confidential 24/7 telephone psychological support for all rural and remote health workers and their families.
Aotearoa 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 about you.
NZ Resident Doctors Association: health and wellbeing information and resources for resident doctors.
Te ORA: Māori Medical Practitioners Associations.
Health and human rights commissions
Medical Association support
Australia
The Australian Medical Association advocates on behalf of the medical profession and the public, operating at a federal level and within each state and territory.
Pacific region
Pasifika Medical Association: a network of health professionals working together to meet the health needs of Pacific people in the region.
Unmoderated peer support groups
Pandemic Kindness Movement
Respected, evidence-informed resources and links to 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.
Mandatory reporting
Seeking help can often instill fear into medical practitioners and raise questions about mandatory reporting.
Advocating for your wellbeing
Meet the leadership committees and working groups advocating for your wellbeing at the College.
Trainees’ Committee
Chair: Dr Sara Ooi
Deputy Chairs: Dr Rania Abdou and Dr Sam Holford
2022 MEETING DATES
6 July, 19 October
CONTACT: training@ranzcog.org.nz
COORDINATOR: Meagan Buttigieg
Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group
Chair: Dr Nisha Khot
Deputy Chair: Dr Gillian Gibson
2022 MEETING DATES
27 September
CONTACT: equityanddiversity@ranzcog.edu.au
COORDINATOR: Sabrina Hanna
Wellbeing Working Group
Chair: Dr Katrina Calvert
Deputy Chair: Dr Basia Lowes
2022 MEETING DATES
24 February, 6 June; 3 November
CONTACT: wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au
COORDINATOR: Kathryn Jones
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Click here to read
Advancing system-wide change
RANZCOG has signed up to the ‘Every Doctor, Every Setting’ medical framework, which guides coordinated action on the mental health of doctors and medical students.
Contact us
Your local office
Local solutions are often the best solutions:
Social media
Join the wellness conversation via our social media channels:
Twitter: @ranzcogwellness
Instagram: @ranzcogwellbeing
Members
Contact Kathryn Jones,
Wellbeing and Diversity Lead
Email: wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9412 3939
Trainees and SIMGs
Contact Carly Moorfield,
Training Support Liaison
Email: traineeliaison@ranzcog.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 6102 2096
EAP
We offer short-term counselling and a 24-hour support line through Converge, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP):