“The future of increased workforce diversity within RANZCO and the development of a sustainable, robust Indigenous ophthalmic workforce bodes well for the future.” — Quote from A/Prof Kris Rallah- Baker in “From the Ground Up Building an Indigenous Ophthalmology Workforce”, mivision magazine, October 2023
Flagship Campaign: Empowering First Nations Ophthalmologists Recognising the pressing need for representation, self-determination, and cultural sensitivity in ophthalmology to close the gap in eye health among First Nations Peoples, ANZEF has established a platform to inspire and nurture First Nations medical students and junior doctors to pursue ophthalmology. This initiative specifically tackles the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika medical students and junior doctors in accessing specialty training. ANZEF greatly appreciates its strong partnership with the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) and the invaluable input from Associate Professor Kris Rallah-Baker in Australia, Dr Justin Mora in Aotearoa New Zealand and other First Nations Fellows and trainees who have been instrumental in shaping this initiative. A substantial philanthropic donation from the Finemore Family in August 2022 laid the foundation for this initiative, propelling ANZEF to establish various Indigenous scholarships and awards. The ANZEF Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Vocational Training Program (VTP) Scholarship for RANZCO Trainees provides recipients with $30,000 over five years, alleviating the financial burden of specialist training fees. ANZEF covers the VTP selection application fee for all First Nations applicants in Australia and New Zealand and provides grants for RANZCO Congress and AIDA Conference attendance as well as mentoring and interview coaching workshops for Māori and Pasifika applicants to the VTP. The generosity of ANZEF's Patron, Mrs Roslyn Packer AC, through her philanthropic giving was also instrumental to kickstarting and promoting this campaign. ANZEF's collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Yarranabbe Foundation marked significant progress, with the establishment of the Yarranabbe-ANZEF Indigenous Award in Ophthalmology at UNSW. The Award offers scholarships of $10,000 each to fourth-year Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander medical students pursuing research in ophthalmology. These students will be supervised by ophthalmologists at the Prince of Wales Hospital/UNSW Ophthalmology Department.
4 - ANZEF Impact Report 2023 - The Difference You Made
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