Introduction
A Message from the CEO Looking After Ourselves and Our Colleagues Duane Findley
The old proverb/curse “may you live in interesting times” certainly applies to our members and their colleagues in current times. Medical professionals have been at the forefront of the COVID pandemic for two years now, operating in a rapidly changing landscape of evolving medical knowledge and advice, political decisions, community emotions, rejection of scientific knowledge by some in the community, long hours, threats of physical violence, and staffing shortages through illness or resignation. And trying to find toilet paper amid the early panic buying days! Studies have identified the psychological impact on the medical sector from taking on this lead role over an extended timeframe and this is something that may need closer attention. The need for medical services as a direct or indirect result of climate change is already here and is likely to escalate in coming years. Whether it is people caught in natural disasters, heat-related health impacts from rising temperatures, or dealing with diseases that are reaching new populations as regional temperature and humidity conditions change, our medical professionals will be expected to adapt and change to this new world. Finally, conflicts around the world, and now unnervingly occurring in Europe with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, thrust medical professionals into dangerous and heartbreaking situations as they seek to save lives under unimaginable conditions.
All of us tend to respond with “I’m okay” when others ask how we are. Perhaps each of us should take a little more time to consider that question and frame an honest and open answer. Are you really okay? And if not, what might you need?
Also from April, members will also be welcome back in the Sydney office.
College staff return to office
It’s important to note that prior to the pandemic, the College had planned for a hybrid home/office work model. COVID delayed the implementation of this model for two years, but we are now moving to implement the hybrid model.
In late 2021, after nearly two years of COVID-enforced working from home, College staff began returning to the Sydney office as part of a 3-stage return process. Then omicron emerged and the NSW Government instructed CBD staff to work from home unless it was unavoidable. If staff had to travel to the office, then mask-wearing inside the office was compulsory.
“All of us tend to respond with “I’m okay” when others ask how we are. Perhaps each of us should take a little more time to consider that question and frame an honest and open answer.” Staff reverted to working from home and member/external face-to-face Sydney office meetings went back to video meetings. In February, the NSW Government revoked these restrictions. With the lifting of these restrictions, staff are returning to the Sydney office in March on a volunteer basis. From April, if the situation remains stable, staff will move to a blended working model from a mixture of home and office locations.
In New Zealand, restrictions are also slowly lifting, although international visitor travel appears to be some way off yet.
To help plan for our move to a hybrid working model, the College created a Return to Office (RTO) advisory team, comprising a wide span of viewpoints from across College staff. This team provided valuable insight and advice into this vexed area and has been instrumental in the success of our staged return to office approach.
RANZCR Learning Portal The College has recently launched its new Learning Portal. The College’s new ePortfolio platform has been designed to provide our members with a greatly enhanced user experience, replacing the previous CPD, Learning Management System (LMS) and Trainee Information Management System (TIMS) for both the Clinical Radiology and Radiation Oncology Training and CPD Programs. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the College via the appropriate email address below and a College staff member will assist you: Continuing Professional Development CPD@ranzcr.edu.au Clinical Radiology Training CRTraining@ranzcr.edu.au Radiation Oncology Training ROTraining@ranzcr.edu.au Volume 18 No 2 | March 2022
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