Australia Day honours

The two main aims are to provide the best culturally appropriate care for our patients and to promote and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to choose ANZCA as their specialist college.

Across the Tasman, our New Zealand colleagues recently attended the launch of the Cultural Safety Training Plan for Vocational Medicine in Aotearoa.

It’s the first plan of its kind worldwide to be implemented into the curriculum of specialist medical training and will help achieve equity and the aspirations of Māori towards reaching their full health potential (see page 27).

I hope this is the beginning of a journey that will eventually see our college membership reflective of the communities we serve.

Finally, I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at the ASM and FPM Symposium in Sydney from 5-9 May. This promises to be one of the most impressive educational events we have ever created with a fantastic social program as well.

I am particularly excited about the welcome function at the newly opened wing of the Art Gallery of NSW. Congratulations to the co-convenors, councillor Dr Tanya Selak, and Dr Shanel Cameron and the organising committee for putting together such a marvellous event.

Dr Chris Cokis ANZCA President

Two fellows have been recognised in the 2023 honours list:

MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)

Dr Geoffrey Dobb (WA)

Dr Dobb, who is also a fellow of the College of Intensive Care Medicine, was recognised for significant service to intensive care medicine and professional associations. Dr Dobb is head of the intensive care unit at Royal Perth Hospital and a board member of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and the WA Child and Adolescent Health Service.

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM)

Dr Vernon Moo (Qld)

Dr Moo has been honoured for service to medicine as an anaesthetist and is based in Brisbane. He works as a senior visiting specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and privately through Gabba Anaesthesia. He has practised in Australia, the UK and Antarctica and has volunteered for more than 50 missions with Interplast Australia and New Zealand, Operation Smile and other charities. He has also served in the Royal Australian Navy on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.