Introduction
Welcome to our blog series, "Sustaining our Professions - Policy and Advocacy in Action." The role of effective advocacy has never been more critical. RANZCR aims to be a prominent voice for our professions, ensuring that our members can continue to deliver world-class care to patients across Australia and New Zealand.
In this first blog, we’ll explore how RANZCR has established itself as a trusted source of advice and policy input, building what we call "trust capital." This trust capital is the foundation of our advocacy efforts, allowing us to influence decisions that impact our members and their ability to provide the highest standard of care.
Building Trust Capital
Trust capital is the accumulated confidence that governments and stakeholders have in our integrity, reliability, and expertise. Over the years, RANZCR has built strong relationships with state and national governments, earning a reputation as a trustworthy advisor on policy matters. This reputation is not built overnight; it is the result of consistent communication, responsive engagement, and the development of compelling position papers that reflect the collective expertise of our members.
Our advocacy work is not just about addressing current issues but also about ensuring the long-term sustainability of our professions. We work tirelessly to secure the funding and regulatory environment necessary for our members to continue delivering the best possible care. This includes advocating for world-class training and continuous professional development (CPD) to equip our members for the rapid changes in technology, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical practice.
Recent Successes
Our combined efforts have yielded significant successes in 2024. For instance, we achieved a key policy priority with the federal government’s agreement to deregulate MRI services in MMM1 metropolitan areas, a change that will be fully implemented by 2027. Additionally, we secured the expansion of Medicare to cover rectal MRI re-staging and surveillance, ensuring that our members can provide comprehensive care to their patients.
These successes are the result of the hard work and dedication of our members and staff, who have invested countless hours into advocacy efforts. As we celebrate these achievements, we also recognise the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Every RANZCR member has a role to play in our advocacy efforts. Whether it’s through nurturing relationships with colleagues, contributing to position papers, or engaging in consultations, your involvement is vital to our collective success.
Stay tuned for our next blog, where we will dive into the specific achievements of 2024 and how they are influencing the future of our professions.
In our previous blog, we discussed the importance of building trust capital and how it underpins RANZCR’s advocacy efforts. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the specific achievements of 2024 that highlight the impact of our advocacy work. These are stepping stones toward a future where our professions can succeed.
Key Achievements in 2024
This year, RANZCR has made significant strides in advocating for our members and their patients. One of the most notable achievements is the deregulation of MRI services in MMM1 locations. This policy change, set to be fully implemented by 2027, represents the culmination of eight years of persistent advocacy. It will create a level playing field for sites delivering MRI services, regardless of their location, and improve access to essential diagnostic tools.
Another major success is the expansion of Medicare coverage for rectal MRI re-staging and surveillance. Previously, Medicare only covered the initial staging of rectal MRI. Thanks to RANZCR’s advocacy, patients can now receive ongoing surveillance, ensuring more comprehensive care.
In New Zealand, the Radiation Oncology training program achieved a milestone by becoming oversubscribed for the first time, with 16 applicants for 14 positions. This is a testament to the growing recognition of the program’s excellence and its alignment with RANZCR’s training standards.
Additionally, we secured funding for eight additional rural and regional training posts in Australia, addressing the critical need for medical professionals in underserved areas. This aligns with our broader strategy to support the sustainability of our professions by ensuring that training opportunities are available across the country.
Finally, RANZCR was awarded a Flexible Approaches to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) Grant, which supports our goal of inclusive training. This grant will enable the appointment of an Indigenous Training Liaison Officer and an Indigenous Medical Educationalist, providing culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori trainees.
These achievements are the result of collective effort, members and staff working together to advocate for policies that support our professions and improve patient care. As we look back on 2024, we can take pride in these successes, knowing that they will have a significant impact on the future of radiology and radiation oncology.
In our next blog, we will explore the challenges of delivering world-class training in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment and how RANZCR is addressing these challenges.
In our ongoing blog series, we've celebrated some of RANZCR's key advocacy successes in 2024. Today, we turn our attention to one of the most critical areas of our work, which is to deliver world-class training. As healthcare continues to evolve, ensuring that our members have access to the best training and professional development is more important than ever. In this blog, we'll discuss the challenges we face in this area and how RANZCR is working to overcome them.
The Challenges of Training Today
RANZCR operates across multiple jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, each with its own regulatory environment and political landscape. Additionally, the rapid pace of technological progression, such as the integration of AI into clinical practice, requires continuous updates to our training programs to ensure that our members remain at the fore front of their fields.
One of the key challenges we face is the sheer scale of our training programs. RANZCR oversees 235 accredited training sites, conducts 215 examinations each year, and coordinates the efforts of over 2000 clinical supervisors, Directors of Training, and examiners. These numbers reflect the immense infrastructure required to maintain our high standards and the dedication of the many volunteers who contribute their time and expertise.
Addressing These Challenges
RANZCR’s work is crucial in addressing these challenges. For example, we have successfully reduced the number of Workplace-Based Assessments (WBAs) required for trainees, launched a new training program, and reduced the time taken to provide exam results. These changes were made in direct response to feedback from trainees and are part of our ongoing commitment to improving the training experience.
In addition to these internal improvements, we have also made significant strides in supporting Indigenous trainees. With the support of the FATES Grant, we have appointed an Indigenous Training Liaison Officer and an Indigenous Medical Educationalist to provide culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori trainees. This is part of our broader strategy to ensure that our training programs are inclusive and accessible to all.
The Importance of Collaboration
Cross-college collaboration is another key component of our success in delivering world-class training. For example, RANZCR has participated in multiple inter-college forums with the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) and Indigenous health organisations. These collaborations allow us to share best practices, align our training programs with broader healthcare goals, and advocate for the resources and support our members need.
In our next blog, we will take you behind the scenes of RANZCR’s stakeholder engagement and consultation efforts, highlighting the invisible successes that are critical to our advocacy work.
This fourth instalment of our blog series will give you an inside view of RANZCR’s policy and advocacy work. While the successes we’ve celebrated so far are visible and impactful, many of our achievements result from quiet, persistent efforts in stakeholder engagement and consultation. These behind-the-scenes activities are crucial to our ability to influence policy and protect the interests of our members and their patients.
The Importance of Stakeholder Engagement
Effective advocacy is built on strong relationships with key stakeholders. At RANZCR, we engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government bodies, regulatory authorities, and other medical colleges. These relationships are nurtured over time through consistent communication, reliable advice, and collaborative efforts.
One of the critical areas of our stakeholder engagement is our interaction with regulatory bodies such as the Australian Medical Council (AMC), the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), and the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC). For instance, RANZCR has been actively involved in the review of accreditation standards by AMC and MCNZ. Our goal in these consultations is to ensure that the standards are fair and do not place unnecessary burdens on the College or our members.
Consultations are another vital aspect of our advocacy work. These are often the “invisible” successes that members might not see, but they are essential in shaping the policies that affect our professions. In 2024, RANZCR participated in numerous consultations on a wide range of topics, including the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), MRI reform, and changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for radiation therapy.
For example, our submission to the Senate Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a critical opportunity to influence how AI will be integrated into clinical practice. By providing expert input, we aim to ensure that AI is used in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, the clinical judgment of radiologists and radiation oncologists.
Similarly, our submission on the deregulation of MRI services was instrumental in shaping the final policy, ensuring that the needs of our members and their patients were considered in the decision-making process.
The Need for Regular Engagement
One of the biggest challenges in policy and advocacy work is the lack of continuity in government staff and officials. This often means that we need to restart conversations and build new relationships from scratch. However, RANZCR’s consistent and regular engagement with stakeholders helps us maintain our influence and ensure that our voices are heard.
For instance, our CEO’s participation in the Health Workforce Taskforce, a senior advisory panel to the Federal Government, is a testament to the value of these ongoing relationships. As the only Medical College CEO invited to participate, this position allows RANZCR to advocate directly at the highest levels of government.
Stakeholder engagement and consultations may not always be visible, but they are the backbone of RANZCR’s advocacy efforts. These activities ensure that the voices of our members are heard and that the policies shaping our professions are informed by the expertise and experience of radiologists and radiation oncologists.
Click here to read our latest Policy & Advocacy report.