Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RANZCOG

The latest episode of Talking O&G: A RANZCOG Podcast is now available. Hosts Dr Nisha Khot and Dr Heather Waterfall speak to Professor Kirsten Black and Dr Catriona Melville about RANZCOG’s binational, evidence-based Clinical Guideline for Abortion Care. Prof Black and Dr Melville discuss key recommendations, including pre-abortion testing, telehealth provision, STI screening, medical and surgical techniques, and providing contraception following an abortion. They also highlight the importance of providing person-centred care which promotes equity and cultural safety, as well as considerations for those in rural or remote areas. They encourage clinicians to engage in further training opportunities in abortion care, emphasising that equitable abortion access is an essential part of healthcare provision. 🎧 Listen or watch now on your preferred streaming platform (Apple, Spotify or YouTube) and learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gWz_p4YQ

Last week, RANZCOG collaboratively with Birth Trauma Australia kicked off the co-designed, Birth Trauma Education Project (BTEP) - a pilot education program with the aims of making a meaningful difference to address the core causes of birth trauma and identifying opportunities for change or improvement. Funded by the commonwealth government, this program draws on on both care provider's perspectives and the voices of those with lived experience to provide birth trauma and trauma-informed care education to a range of maternity health professionals. Birth trauma remains a persistent challenge faced by women and birthing people and those involved in providing maternity care. The program highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care providers and those with lived experience working together to drive change. BTEP is open to all health professionals involved in maternity care, and is being delivered via both a combination of eLearning modules, and in-person workshops or online webinars. Healthcare professionals can find more information about how to get involved on the RANZCOG website.

The gender pain gap is felt sharply by those living with endometriosis – a condition affecting one in seven people assigned female at birth, yet taking an average of eight years to diagnose. For women of colour, this delay in diagnosis is often compounded by systemic bias and historical exclusion from pain research and clinical trials. Why does the gender pain gap persist? How has racism and classism shaped the history of gynaecology? How can clinicians recognise unconscious bias and support culturally responsive care? In the latest edition of O&G Magazine, Dr Haddijatou Hughes shares her powerful dual perspective as both emergency medicine specialist and patient, unpacking the intersection of endometriosis, the gender pain gap, and racial bias through historical context and personal reflection. Read the full article via the link in bio.

Last week, RANZCOG brought together key stakeholders for a roundtable discussion to address the escalating crisis faced by Australia’s private maternity care system. This meeting provided an opportunity to explore solutions to address inequitable gender bias in private healthcare funding, ongoing closures of private maternity units across the nation, and diminishing choices for pregnant people and their families. Today, the College is proud to publish its 2025 Roundtable Report, containing a comprehensive overview of the discussions and proposed solutions. RANZCOG looks forward to progressing the report’s recommendations and gratefully acknowledges all participants who contributed their time and expertise to this crucial discussion. The College urgently calls on the Private Health CEO Forum to address the issues highlighted as part of the report. Read the report in full: https://lnkd.in/gH7vMv8d

Watch a decade of change in the O&G workforce – in under ten seconds. From a majority male cohort in 2014 to a majority female cohort in 2024, the gender distribution of RANZCOG Fellows has seen a significant shift over the past decade. This insight comes from the College’s annual Activities Reports, which offer a detailed account of key activities and trends in O&G. View the report for 2024 on the College's website: https://lnkd.in/gGY3mtGH

This Cervical Screening Awareness Week, RANZCOG recognises the significant progress being made towards eliminating cervical cancer in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. 👏 Cervical screening remains a critical tool in the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. The introduction of self-collected samples in 2022 has made testing more accessible, with participation rates almost doubling – particularly among people in rural and remote areas and those from lower socio-economic groups. Improving accessibility to this life-saving test is essential in achieving Australia’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer within the next decade. 🎧 In this excerpt from Talking O&G: A RANZCOG Podcast, Dr Anna Clare discusses the evolving landscape of cervical screening with Associate Professor Jared Watts and Dr Nisha Khot. 🔗 Listen to the full episode via the link in bio.

Systemic gender bias in the Australian healthcare system means women and pregnant people are paying more for maternity care whilst their choices are diminishing amidst continuing closures of private maternity units. 🔍 Swipe through for an overview of the key issues. Today, RANZCOG is convening key stakeholders — including the Assistant Minister for Health, the Hon Rebecca White MP, government, private hospitals, service providers and other organisations with an interest in private maternity care — for the 𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙕𝘾𝙊𝙂 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣'𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 - 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙊𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, seeking to develop actionable solutions for the private healthcare crisis. This work builds on the first roundtable held in 2024. RANZCOG remains committed to advocating for urgent systemic reform that supports access, choice and sustainability across both public and private maternity care. Read more on the College's website: https://lnkd.in/gX8TKdhM

The latest episode of Talking O&G: A RANZCOG Podcast is now available. Host Dr Heather Waterfall is joined by internationally renowned endometriosis expert A/ Prof Mathew Leonardi, who shares his insights. Mathew weighs in on the benefits and limitations of ultrasound for first-line diagnosis, how MRI compares, recommendations for laparoscopy as a surgical intervention, and much more! 🎧 Listen or watch now on your preferred streaming platform (Apple, Spotify or YouTube) and learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gWz_p4YQ

This week, RANZCOG's Board, Council and key committees gathered in Melbourne for the final Council Week of 2025 and the first meeting of the 14th Council.   Council Week is a key moment in the College calendar — a time for significant discussion, planning and decision-making to shape the future of the O&G specialty. Members can expect more information in Monday’s Connect newsletter. The College extends its sincere gratitude to all members who have taken the time to contribute their expertise, and acknowledges the dedication of the many committees and working groups meeting before, during and after Council Week.   🎥 Hear from RANZCOG President Dr Nisha Khot as she reflects on this week and the work ahead.   From 2026, there will be opportunities for members to attend Council Week as observers.   RANZCOG is pleased to welcome the incoming Board, Council, committees and working groups for the next term, and looks forward to continued collaboration over the years ahead.

RANZCOG has recently refreshed and updated a suite of Patient Information Pamphlets (PIPs) in alignment with the latest clinical guidelines, ensuring consistency in support and information provided. The eight updated pamphlets cover: 📄 Asherman Syndrome 📄 Birth After Caesarean 📄 Cervical Screening 📄 Contraception 📄 Ectopic Pregnancy 📄 Hysteroscopy 📄 Miscarriage 📄 Vasa Praevia Explore and download the full range of PIPs on the RANZCOG website: https://lnkd.in/guzc3igq Members are encouraged to check their clinical web pages to ensure the most recent versions are made available.