Getting Involved

As an anaesthetic trainee, there are many ways to get more involved. The main pathways are through the college (ANZCA), our professional societies (ASA, NZSA), the special interest groups (tripartite groups of ANZCA, ASA & NZSA) and your own department.

When it comes time to apply for consultant work at the end of training, it pays to have extra selling points on your CV. Remember, everyone you’ll be competing against for jobs will also have finished training so you need to set yourself apart from the pack.

The most efficient and effective way to find opportunities is to ask! This works best if you have some idea of what sort of opportunities you’re looking for. Most consultants are involved in something outside of their usual clinical work – make the most of down time during long cases or non-clinical time to ask your consultants about their portfolios, projects, research and other extra-curricular activities you could help with. Not everyone will have a suitable opportunity but they might be able to direct you to someone who does.

To start your thought process, below is a list of just some of the many avenues you could pursue to engage further with anaesthesia.

Opportunities through ANZCA include:

• Trainee Committee
• Regional Trainee Committees
  • ACT
  • NSW
  • NZ
  • QLD
  • SA/NT
  • TAS
  • VIC
  • WA
• Trainee representation on various other committees, e.g. Education Development and Evaluation Committee, Emerging Investigators Subcommittee

Opportunities through the ASA include:

• Membership
• ASA Trainee Members International Scholarship
• Trainee Events, All Events inc. Annual National Scientific Congress (NSC)
• Trainee Members Committee

Opportunities through the NZSA include:

• Membership
• Trainee Representatives

Opportunities through the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) include:

• Membership
• Trainee representation on some committees, e.g. Perioperative Medicine SIG

Opportunities in your department will vary and may include:

• Teaching
• Research
• Audit
• Representation (e.g. Chief Registrar / Principal Fellow)
• Rostering
• Presenting at meetings
• Involvement with hospital or departmental special interest groups, committees, etc.

Information about ways for ANZCA fellows to get involved can be found on the ANZCA website.