Advocacy and engagement

RANZCOG advocates for women’s health professionals and the patients they care for by working with governing bodies to make meaningful policy change towards equitable access to women’s health services across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.


LATEST ADVOCACY NEWS

Advocacy 14 March 2024
2024 Women’s Health Summit Ignites Call to Action Against Systemic Gender Bias in Healthcare
RANZCOG is honoured to be organising and presenting the Women’s…
Advocacy 8 March 2024
RANZCOG to deliver the 2024 Women’s Health Summit
RANZCOG is honoured to be organising and presenting the Women’s…
Advocacy 4 March 2024
RANZCOG on LGBTQIA+ and health: there is more to be done
RANZCOG was proud to again march as part of the…
Advocacy 4 March 2024
RANZCOG stands up for the importance of advocacy at the AGES conference
RANZCOG President Dr Gillian Gibson laid out how the College…
Advocacy 23 February 2024
RANZCOG defends maternal and fetal health during Senate climate change inquiry
This week, Dr Kristine Barnden testified in front of the…
Advocacy 18 December 2023
Briefing for Incoming Minister of Health
RANZCOG has written to the new Minister of Health in…
Advocacy 15 September 2023
RANZCOG & FARE webinar – The moments you spend with her matter: alcohol & pregnancy
RANZCOG and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)…
Advocacy 31 July 2023
Fostering Respect update
RANZCOG has provided an update on its work to foster…
Advocacy 31 July 2023
RANZCOG supports the Voice to Parliament
RANZCOG considers the vote on the Voice critical to the…
Advocacy 14 July 2023
Gendered Language Project Update
The Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group thanks all Members…
Advocacy 26 June 2023
Response to NZ Herald article – 26 June 2023
RANZCOG acknowledges the pain and distress suffered by many Aotearoa…
Advocacy 1 June 2023
Statement on access to contraception in Aotearoa New Zealand
RANZCOG has reiterated its support for access to contraception, in…
Advocacy 25 May 2023
RANZCOG welcomes Senate inquiry’s report into access to reproductive healthcare
RANZCOG welcomes the Senate’s Inquiry into universal access to reproductive…
Advocacy 8 May 2023
Australian rural women’s health roundtable
Women in rural and remote Australia face unique challenges when…
Advocacy 2 May 2023
GALLERY: Rural Women’s Health Roundtable
RANZCOG hosted an Australian Rural Women’s Health Roundtable on 2…
Advocacy 17 April 2023
RANZCOG calls for action to address elective surgery backlog
RANZCOG is calling for urgent reform to address the growing…

ADVOCACY IN AUSTRALIA

In Australia, RANZCOG makes submissions throughout each year on a variety of women’s health policy issues, supporting over 7,500 members to provide equitable women’s health care.

How we advocate

As the peak body for women’s health in Australia, RANZCOG advocates on behalf of our membership, to improve equitable access to health care, develop tailored strategic policy frameworks and timely outcomes to pressing issues facing women, their families, as well as our members.

RANZCOG consults with our Committees and members who have specific expertise on the consultation topics. Their feedback is reviewed, collated and drafted as a submission.

The submissions are reviewed and approved by the President and CEO prior to being submitted to the consultative entities. The Australian submissions and consultations process is managed by the Executive Office & Advocacy.

ADVOCACY IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

RANZCOG makes submissions each year on behalf of our Aotearoa New Zealand members and the wāhine they work with.

We are committed to equity of health outcomes for all wāhine and their pēpi.

How we advocate

We advocate for excellence and equity in hauora wāhine by engaging with health sector stakeholders, including through submissions and representation, collaboration in policy development and advice on clinical matters.

Pae ora for all wāhine and pēpi

Read about our mahi in hauora wāhine Māori on the Aotearoa New Zealand page.

Key submissions

Each year the College makes submissions on behalf of members, wāhine and pēpi in Aotearoa New Zealand. We thank the members who contribute so much of their time and expertise to each submission. Key submissions made in the past year are highlighted below.

Submission titleDate
Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and other Matters) Amendment BillFebruary 2022
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) BillDecember 2021
National Contraception GuidelinesNovember 2021
Ministry of Health Primary Maternity Services Notice Review 2021October 2021
National Sepsis Action PlanOctober 2021
Ministry of Health Mesh credentialling frameworkJune 2021
Health Select Committee: Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment BillJune 2021
Ministry of Health LARC Training Principles and StandardsMay 2021
Ministry of Health revised HPV primary screening clinical pathwayMarch 2021
Standards New Zealand Health and disability services standardMarch 2021
Medical Council of New Zealand statement on a doctor’s duty to help in a medical emergencyJanuary 2021

Engagement

Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku engages and collaborates regularly with key health stakeholders.

The mahi of Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku, He Hono Wāhine and other advocates for women’s health in Aotearoa New Zealand have seen positive outcomes achieved for wāhine including:

Government commitment to a women’s health strategy in the Pae Ora legislation

HPV screening and self-testing beginning in 2023

Folic acid fortification of bread will be achieved through supplementation of non-organic bread-making wheat flour

New sector guidelines completed on contraception

RANZCOG and the New Zealand College of Midwives collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the Immunisation Advisory Centre to provide consistent and clear advice on COVID-19 and pregnancy 

Previous advocacy work

Each year the advocacy work of the College is outlined in our Annual Report.

Engage with our members

Interested in surveying our membership? Find out what is involved and how to apply.


Contact

Get in touch with the advocacy team in your country:

Australia: advocacy@ranzcog.edu.au
Aotearoa New Zealand: ranzcog@ranzcog.org.nz

Leadership 10 May 2022

Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group

The Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group (GEDWG) works to improve gender equity, inclusion and diversity within our College.


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