Happy New Year! It gives me great pleasure to kick off 2026 with the reintroduction of the RANZCOG’s President’s blog: my opportunity to share some of the work taking place behind-the-scenes at the College.
From time to time, I still hear the question: “But what does the College actually do for me?” And I admit to having felt that way in the past. Having been involved with RANZCOG at various levels of leadership, I have come to fully appreciate just how much work the College does, and the invaluable support it provides to us as O&G professionals. Most importantly, I have seen firsthand the dedication of the members and trainees who generously devote their time and energy to create something better for us all. It has been quite a journey, and one I look forward to sharing with you – College members and trainees – through this monthly blog.
With the passing of each new year comes a fresh opportunity: another chance for us to reinvigorate our purpose and momentum and refocus on achieving our goals. I’m very pleased to be working with the new and returning members of the Fourteenth RANZCOG Board and Council who started their elected term in November 2025. I’ve enjoyed getting to meet many new faces whilst supporting the transition and working together to build on the achievements of those before us, pushing the College in an effective direction for those we represent.
Key priorities
My presidency over the next two years will focus on several key priorities.
The College plays a fundamental role in training the next generation of women’s health specialists and has done for decades. Maintaining that role, as well as staying relevant in a rapidly changing environment remains top priority. Our world is an increasingly unpredictable one. We need to make sure the next generation of specialists is adaptable and well equipped with the tools and confidence to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Ensuring every trainee has access to high-quality education and training, including surgical numbers, resources, and an ongoing connection with the College to continue learning and maintaining skills throughout their career is essential if we are to safeguard the standards we’ve worked hard to establish and support a sustainable pipeline of specialists into the future.
This brings me to workforce. As a clinician on the frontline, I know the significant challenges the obstetrics and gynaecology workforce are facing – staff shortages amidst state-mandated hiring freezes, maldistribution, rural recruitment and retention, declining numbers of GP-obstetricians, private hospital closures, burnout, and relentless pressure.
If we want to retain skilled clinicians and attract the next generation of specialists, we need to urgently address these challenges. RANZCOG maintains representation on the Australian Commonwealth Government’s Medical Workforce Advisory Collaboration (MWAC). The College will use this Collaboration to ensure decisions and policies developed around workforce are within the best interest of trainees and members, and the women and families for whom we care. The College is continuing ongoing discussions with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Health Workforce Division and New South Wales Health to further advance arguments on current workforce pressures, and has contributed to conversations around the National Maternity Workforce Strategy.
The last priority I’ll mention is my steadfast focus on protecting women’s choice in making their own healthcare decisions. The rights of women and girls to make autonomous decisions about their own body and reproductive functions is at the core of their fundamental right to equality. We must stand against ongoing attacks on women’s sexual reproductive autonomy and access to essential healthcare, such as abortion and contraception services. Abortion must remain a decision between women and their healthcare providers; it does not belong in political discourse.
Synonymous with maintaining women’s choice and autonomy is safeguarding access, by ensuring patients can access all models of care, both public and private, irrespective of where they reside. RANZCOG’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Education Training (OGET) Project has expanded – most recently to Tasmania – and continues to build momentum, now with 12 regional hubs across Australia. This expansion has significantly enhanced access to onsite, localised education and skills maintenance across more than 60 peripheral rural and remote health services.
These are my priorities. But I’d also like to hear from members and trainees about what matters most to you. As your President, I am committed to working with you, and making sure RANZCOG listens to and supports you to deliver the best possible care for women. You can write to me any time via president@ranzcog.edu.au, or get in touch with your local state and territory representative.
Activities and achievements
Now, on to some updates on activities and achievements from across the past few months.
RANZCOG has successfully delivered the pilot of its Birth Trauma Education Project (BTEP): an education initiative aimed at addressing the core causes of birth trauma. This government-funded Project emerged from the findings of the NSW Parliament’s Select Committee on Birth Trauma Inquiry report, and ongoing collaboration with the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Co-designed and delivered with Birth Trauma Australia, the program comprised three webinars and three in-person workshops held in November and December. Feedback from multidisciplinary participants was overwhelmingly positive. The College is seeking extended funding to continue and expanding on this important program into the future.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, RANZCOG is working with Birth Trauma Aotearoa, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and other stakeholders to research experiences of birth trauma in Aotearoa. This work will inform the development of an education program specific to New Zealand.
Birth trauma is, quite rightly, a consistent focus across policy and media landscapes. I have had the opportunity to represent members and trainees in public discourse, advocating for the system-level reforms needed and reinforcing our collective responsibility to tackle birth trauma across the entire maternity care system.
At the end of 2025, RANZCOG made pre-budget submissions to the Australian Commonwealth Government seeking ongoing and new funding for key initiatives, including OGET, maintenance of the Australian Living Evidence Guideline for Endometriosis, Birth Trauma Education, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and a Gendered Review of the MBS. If successful, this funding will enable the College to continue delivering impact in these critical areas, in alignment with its strategic priorities.
Looking to the year ahead, I am optimistic about what we can achieve together. I see the passion and commitment of our incredible members and trainees every day. If we can harness this energy and work together as one unified movement, then I know we will support each other to improve outcomes for women.
Dr Nisha Khot
RANZCOG President
