First Nations health
Working towards equitable healthcare
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters and communities across Australia, on which our members live and work, and to their Elders, past, present and future.
We are committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through increasing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce (members and staff), teaching culturally appropriate obstetric and gynaecological care, and the review and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
We recognise the vast inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia’s healthcare system, and we recognise there is always more work to do to bridge this gap.
Advocating for Indigenous doctors and patients
Each year, the College makes submissions to various governing bodies to advocate for meaningful policy change towards equitable access to women’s health services for First Nations healthcare consumers, and for the doctors who support them.
News
Committees and leadership
Your committees
RANZCOG Indigenous Network group
New group
More information coming soon
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
Chair
Dr Jared Watts
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Health Committee
Chair: Dr Marilyn Clarke
Deputy Chair: Dr Kiarna Brown
Selection into training support
I’ve received an invite for an interview as part of the selection process to enter the FRANZCOG training program. Can I get some mentoring or help to prepare?
Absolutely.
Reach out
As soon as you’ve received your interview invite from RANZCOG — please get in contact with us.
There’s about one month between the interview invite and interview so we would like to coordinate support and mentoring well in advance of the interview date.
The Cultural Diversity and Inclusion team who look after our First Nations members and trainees will be able to connect you with a mentor(s) as well as organise a mentoring session either for you individually or with other First Nations trainees who will also be interviewing.
Email our Cultural Diversity and Sustainability Project Lead, Maheshie at firstnations@ranzcog.edu.au
For a full list of dates relating to selection into the FRANZCOG training program please visit: Fellowship of RANZCOG trainee selection.
The mentoring/support session
Facilitated in a culturally safe space by experienced First Nations members, trainees and allies, a mentoring session, a few weeks to a week prior to your selection interview, will be held to talk you through the general interview process and answer any questions you may have. A practice interview can also be organised to help you prepare.
If you have any general questions about mentoring and support sessions, please get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help and explain the process in more detail.
If you have any questions about the FRANZCOG Selection into training process, please contact trainee_selection@ranzcog.edu.au
Financial support
How can I apply for financial assistance from the College?
The College applied to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHA) for Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) funding for the period 2022–2025, to be able to provide an allocation of financial support to our First Nations trainees.
Funding is subject to successful application of funding each year and we are pleased to be able to provide some support for 2023–2024.
Here’s what you need to do to apply:
Give as a call or send us an email
The Cultural Diversity and Inclusion team looks after our First Nations members and trainees and would be happy to chat and help you.
Call the College on (03) 9417 1699 and ask for our Cultural Diversity and Sustainability Project Lead, Maheshie or Head of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Sabrina or email us at firstnations@ranzcog.edu.au
Once we’ve had a chat about what you need and the right information, we will liaise with our Finance team to see whether we have the funds available to assist you
After this we will come back to you and let you know the support that we can provide and organise the financial support.
If you have any general questions about any of the above, please get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help and explain the process in more detail.
Grants and scholarships
One of the five parameters of the College’s STP Funding Agreement is specifically related to enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes, through increasing opportunities and training experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people either seeking to become medical specialists, or who are already on the specialist medical training pathway.
The STP Operational Framework outlines the Colleges commitment to identify, attract and support opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the program. Through these funding and support opportunities, we aim to address the health disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people within Australia.
Our current STP projects are:
Development and release of revised Cultural Competency online learning modules for all members
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainee scholarships (read about our 2022-23 recipients)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency workshops for all members
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainee pathway
Contribute to O&G Magazine
Do you have experience working in First Nations women’s healthcare? We would love to share your story.
O&G Magazine is a fantastic print and online platform to highlight Indigenous women’s health issues and initiatives.
Email the editor if you wish to contribute a story to O&G Magazine.
Contact us
For further information contact:
Email: firstnations@ranzcog.edu.au
ADDRESS
Djeembana, 1 Bowen Crescent Naarm (Melbourne), Victoria 3004, Australia.