Opening the forum, RACS President Dr Philip Morreau highlighted the importance of a clear, long-term vision for surgical education and training. He emphasised the need for collaboration to respond to changes and enable continued innovation of the surgical profession.
RACS CEO Stephanie Clota gave an overview of the College’s advocacy priorities, focusing on workforce pressures, access, affordability and maintaining high standards.
“Currently, we’re at a crossroad. Access, affordability and workforce pressures are not separate issues, they are deeply connected. We require a coordinated response on behalf of the profession” said Ms Clota.
Following this, a panel looked at the evolving regulatory landscape with leaders from Ahpra, the Medical Board of Australia and the Medical Council of New Zealand discussing reforms to streamline registration pathways while maintaining patient safety and standards.
A second panel then focused on the sustainability of the private health sector with speakers from the Productivity Commission, Southern Cross Healthcare (NZ), Ramsay Health Care and Aller Consulting. They explored increasing system pressures like rising costs, declining insurance participation and growing reliance on public–private collaboration. They also highlighted impacts on training, equity of outcomes and hospital operations, while emphasising the need for better system alignment.
From the afternoon a clear message emerged, meaningful reform will require a united clinical voice with strong collaboration from the surgical profession to help shape a sustainable, patient-centred system for the future.
RACS CEO Stephanie Clota gave an overview of the College’s advocacy priorities, focusing on workforce pressures, access, affordability and maintaining high standards.
“Currently, we’re at a crossroad. Access, affordability and workforce pressures are not separate issues, they are deeply connected. We require a coordinated response on behalf of the profession” said Ms Clota.
Following this, a panel looked at the evolving regulatory landscape with leaders from Ahpra, the Medical Board of Australia and the Medical Council of New Zealand discussing reforms to streamline registration pathways while maintaining patient safety and standards.
A second panel then focused on the sustainability of the private health sector with speakers from the Productivity Commission, Southern Cross Healthcare (NZ), Ramsay Health Care and Aller Consulting. They explored increasing system pressures like rising costs, declining insurance participation and growing reliance on public–private collaboration. They also highlighted impacts on training, equity of outcomes and hospital operations, while emphasising the need for better system alignment.
From the afternoon a clear message emerged, meaningful reform will require a united clinical voice with strong collaboration from the surgical profession to help shape a sustainable, patient-centred system for the future.