Whether you know it as access block, bed block, or ‘corridor care’ (or ABC!), tackling ED overcrowding is priority 1, 2 and 3. Whatever the terminology, it remains the fundamental issue and defining challenge facing our specialty.
We’re listening and staying focused on the issues that matter to members: bed block, workforce sustainability, and keeping patients and staff safe in our EDs. The College has been busy working with governments, key stakeholders and decision-makers across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to make sure emergency medicine is a crucial part of the conversation in health policy at a national and local level.
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Immediate Past President Dr Stephen Gourley, ACEM CEO Brendan Peek and I travelled to Canberra for an intense two days of advocacy at Parliament House in March. We met with the Minister for Aged Care the Hon Sam Rae, Assistant Minister for Health the Hon Rebecca White, Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health the Hon Emma McBride, Shadow Minister for Health Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Member for Robertson and ACEM trainee Dr Gordon Reid, and Member for Dickson Ali France.
These productive and positive discussions brought to their attention the priorities outlined in ACEM’s 2026–27 Federal Pre-Budget Submission: continuing the vital Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) program, advancing emergency medicine research, improving hospital flow through investment in aged care, and reducing occupational violence and aggression in EDs. These four key strategic aims are consistent with our advocacy strategy.
While we will continue to advocate for ongoing multi-year support for EMET, we welcomed last week’s federal Budget measures to expand aged care services and increase access to specialist dementia care units. I’m also really pleased to see additional investment through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), but it is important to ensure emergency medicine research is appropriately supported within national research priorities. We look forward to the Aotearoa New Zealand Budget announcements later this month.
Brendan and I were also in Canberra along with more than 100 medical leaders to discuss wide-ranging issues facing healthcare at the Australian Medical Association’s Colleges Associations and Societies Meeting in March.
The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) also met in Canberra earlier that month where discussion centred on the Expedited Specialist pathways, with emergency medicine the next tranche to be added. We are confident that our SIMG (Specialist International Medical Graduate) pathways are robust, fair and already pretty expedited! The College will continue to discuss this with government.
The future-focused Aotearoa New Zealand Emergency Medicine Conference was held in Whakatū Nelson, a stunningly beautiful place. You must go! It was a great opportunity to speak to members face-to-face across the Tasman and learn about innovations and new research in our specialty. Aotearoa New Zealand National Branch Chair Dr Michael Connelly, Brendan and I met with Aotearoa New Zealand Health Minister Hon Simeon Brown to discuss budget priorities, patient access and flow, workforce development and retention, health equity, and ongoing system pressures.
I also visited the Nelson ED and spoke with staff and trainees to get an understanding of local issues and concerns. In February I toured EDs at Waitakere and Middlemore Hospitals. My deep thanks to Nelson ED clinical director Dr Harriet Harper, Waitakere ED clinical directors Dr Nicholas Longley and Dr William Lin, and Middlemore ED clinical directors Dr Sarah Bowker and Dr Loana Tanielu for their warm welcomes and deep insights.
These visits followed ED tours of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney and Wollongong Hospital alongside New South Wales Branch Chair Dr Rachael Gill. Warmest thanks also to Prince of Wales ED Director Dr David Murphy and Wollongong DEMT Dr Hughes Makoni for sharing their experiences with us.
Hearing about the pressures facing emergency departments of all sizes across both our nations gives me personal insights into priority issues and are a valuable opportunity to forge connections with local clinicians and sector leaders. I always find these visits inspiring. It’s great to see the innovations people have tried in the face of these challenges. I’ve already stolen multiple great ideas to try and import into my own department in WA!
In February I attended the Manaaki Mana Advisory Group Hui in Auckland, which marked ACEM’s commitment to strengthening cultural safety and excellence in emergency care for Māori patients, whānau, and staff. Watch this space for news about the refreshed strategy.
The Manaaki Mana Kaikōkiri Hui 2026 is taking place from 10-12 August in Rotorua, Aotearoa, with registration now open and I hope to see you there.
As Chair of ACEM’s Preparation for Population Ageing Working Group I was closely involved in the creation of the Statement of Commitment on Emergency Medicine Preparedness for Population Ageing, and I am pleased to see that this issue has struck a spark. The College welcomed the recent announcement of the commitment from both the Federal and NSW Governments to establish a national Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce and progress a Productivity and Equality Commission inquiry into the impact of long-stay older patients to the health system.
On the topic of research, in Wollongong I attended the Evidence Review in Emergency Medicine 2026 conference. ACEM’s Research Symposium in Brisbane showcased interesting discussions and ideas about advocating for better research funding for our specialty and embedding it in core business of what we do. The Autumn Symposium is not far away (21-22 May) and if it’s not too late, I encourage you to attend.
Cutting-edge research was also on show at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Annual Conference in Birmingham, UK in late April, a chance to connect with the international medical community. I was very impressed with the research culture they have fostered and developed in the UK, so clearly on display at the event. I met with the presidents of RCEM, the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (ICEM) and the European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM).
It was really fascinating to hear about challenges affecting emergency medicine across the world. There are many similarities but also some striking differences, like the inclusion of military medicine in some of the curriculums in Europe. Cross-collaboration between our colleges is a great way of supporting the development of well-rounded emergency physicians and I look forward to working together on future projects to improve patient outcomes.
It’s been a busy time for ACEM, with meetings of the Board, Branches, Council of Advocacy, Practice and Partnerships (CAPP), Council of Education (COE), Global Emergency Care (GEC), Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR), and Workforce Planning committees and many other College entities taking place. I hope to be able share a lot of the interesting work coming from these groups soon.
May is Family Violence and Prevention Month, and to mark this the College published a media release about updated guidance for EDs in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in identifying, responding to, and safeguarding victim-survivors of family and domestic violence and abuse (FDVA), including their whānau, family and children. EDs are often the only place people in crisis can go to for help and in recognition of this ACEM is supporting the development of the Healthy Head Campaign, an Alice Springs and Central Australian project that aims to ensure workers are trained to recognise brain injuries and guide victim-survivors to seek medical assessment when needed.
A great deal of work is going on in the background around the introduction of the core rural term and I’m confident this will start next year. Big thanks to Stephen for everything he’s done in the RRR space. I’m keen for us to keep that momentum going, build on what he has started, and carry his legacy forward.
It’s really pleasing to see a record number of trainees applying to our specialty in 2025 including a significant uptake in Aotearoa New Zealand after a period of declining trainee numbers. This is a good sign for the future.
Closer to home, WA Health Director-General Dr Shirley Bowen attended the WA Branch meeting to discuss the winter plan for our state. With our busiest season just around the corner for both our countries, I wish you all well.