Despite intense pressure and ever-growing demand on emergency departments, ACEM has responded with imagination, creativity and innovation.
It makes me so pleased that people have stepped up and are doing the best they can under trying circumstances. We are always there on the frontlines and are doing it well. It is truly inspiring.
It has been an absolute privilege to travel around Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, meeting FACEMs and trainees and visiting your workplaces and diverse communities, from Broome to Masterton and many stops in between.
In early October I went to Canberra to meet with stakeholders regarding the future funding for the Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) program. It was a productive day of meetings that helped inform the development of the ‘Fund EMET’ campaign. This was followed up in mid-November with another trip to Canberra to meet with more stakeholders regarding EMET. The Federal Government has only committed to funding EMET until the end of 2025. We are working very hard to secure future funding and you can help by visiting the FundEMET campaign website and sending a letter to your MP, sharing the video or adding your story to the EMET tale.
In mid-October I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Seminar on Emergency Medicine (SSEM) in Orange, NSW and visiting the ED there. After this, I travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand and had the honour to attend the Manaaki Mana Kaikōkiri Hui and advisory group meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and share experiences and presentations on the advancement of emergency care.
I visited around 30 different EDs this year – including a great many outside metropolitan centres – which has confirmed my belief that celebrating our rural and regional EDs can only benefit our members, our patients and our communities. Everyone deserves the same access to quality emergency healthcare, regardless of where they live. Current ACEM projects in the rural health equity space include the Accredited Training Networks Project and the Blended Supervision Pilot Project. The aim is to develop options for FACEM trainees to complete ED training in rural and remote settings, giving them a different, broader experience. After this training FACEMs should be able to, and more importantly, want to, work anywhere.
The release of the State of Emergency 2024: Regional, Rural and Remote report shines a light on the realities of working outside metropolitan centres and the positives to be gained from making the move.
My own journey from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and then to Alice Springs was transformative. It was not until I actually started travelling that I experienced what it’s really like to ‘get out there’. It was only then that I discovered a whole other world out here – and it’s full of opportunities to make a real difference.
Alice Springs opened up a world of professional and personal experiences, support and opportunities that would never have been available to me in a city. I encourage Fellows and trainees to take a deep breath, dive in and see how the world can be different.
It was wonderful to see so many of you in Adelaide for the Annual Scientific Meeting. It was an amazing event and I enjoyed the chance to meet and talk with members face to face. For those who couldn’t attend, I encourage you to read the articles in YourED. The challenge to continue to grow, innovate, create and dream for a better emergency medicine future continues. I’m interested to see what is in store in 2025’s ASM on the Gold Coast, my old hometown.
As the year draws to a close, I am busy meeting with health ministers around the country, including in South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and even a stop home to Alice Springs this week where I met with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler.
Over this past year I have seen every Australian state health minister and have been speaking to health leaders and decision makers bi-nationally about the priorities of the emergency medicine community.
Chief among these is the devastating impact that access block is having on us, our profession and our patients. We know the problems sit outside the ED and now policy makers are beginning to understand this too. Access block is caused by problems beyond EDs and investment and greater resources are urgently needed. We will continue to advocate for improvements to the whole system of health care to improve patient flow.
The College is currently in the process of outlining the Strategy for 2025–2027. Member feedback and input are already playing a key role in shaping our new strategic direction as we tackle new challenges and continue to provide an effective and impactful voice. Look out for an update on this early next year.
Austerity measures are also concerning. The EM workforce is continually asked to do more and more with less and less. However, increased resources are required to improve process flow and initiate and consolidate work on solutions we know can work. There is a global shortage of trained staff – but there are projects in the pipeline to address this. Some of these initiatives will require careful input to ensure we continue to provide the safest and best care we can.
One of the greatest challenges we are facing is fragmentation of care. To avoid this, we can work smarter. It’s important for professional longevity for practice to be varied. Our generalist speciality should be able to see everything that comes into the hospital from cradle to grave.
There is so much work to be done and FACEMs can’t be everywhere – but everywhere benefits from the work we do.
I’m excited about growing the ACEM family, whānau, clan, tribe, posse: increasing our membership and embracing bringing talented people into our College and supporting them in their careers.
We work at our best as part of a committed team. While I’ve been busy addressing the challenges facing emergency medicine I’m not doing it alone. I’m surrounded by very supportive people who do their job well and I am in their debt every day. ACEM staff, committees, networks, elected officeholders and other stakeholders are available to support and work with ACEM members. I encourage you to reach out if needed and get involved in the team.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to outgoing ACEM Immediate Past President Dr Clare Skinner, whose exceptional support, encouragement and work ethic were such a wonderful example to me. Clare took me under her wing and demonstrated putting the ACEM values of respect, integrity, collaboration and equity into practice in the role of President.
I’m pleased to welcome new President-Elect Dr Peter Allely and look forward to working together in the coming year.
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season. I’m very excited about what the New Year holds.
Dr Stephen Gourley
ACEM President