Post by Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RANZCOG

Today, RANZCOG hosted the "Women's Health Roundtable: Strengthening the O&G Workforce" at Djeembana, College Place in Melbourne. This event follows the release of the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's "Obstetrics and Gynaecology Supply and Demand Compendium Report", which projects ongoing national shortages of O&G specialists over the coming decades, despite workforce growth. Representatives from the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments gathered alongside consumer representatives and clinicians from across the country and consumer representatives to discuss the future sustainability of Australia's O&G workforce. Participants examined challenges and identified opportunities for collaboration between governments, health services, and the profession to support a women's health workforce capable of meeting Australia's evolving needs. Key focuses included regional, rural, and remote trainee and workforce needs; GP Obstetrics and Rural Generalist Obstetrics pathways; and trainee wellbeing. RANZCOG thanks the government and consumer representatives and clinicians who attended the roundtable and provided valuable discussions and insights. A special thank you to the the Hon Harriet Shing MP, for her ministerial address outlining government priorities for women's health. The roundtable will culminate in a report of findings and recommendations, to be published in the coming weeks.