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The NZSA offers free trainee membership and support for trainees through events, resources, scholarships, grants, and regular news updates. Find out about member benefits, how the NZSA represents anaesthetists and their patients, and how to join.
The NZSA has two trainee representatives on our Executive Committee. They provide a strong voice for trainees and keep the NZSA updated on key trainee issues and concerns. Our reps are full voting members of the NZSA Executive and at least one attends each Executive meeting.
The NZSA Trainee Representative meets regularly with the ANZCA Trainee Committees (NZ and Australian levels) and has close communication with GASACT, the trainee arm of our sister organisation, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
As an NZSA trainee member there are also opportunities to work and/or attend conferences in the Pacific through our Global Health Committee. There is an annual Trainee Grant to attend the Pacific Society of Anaesthetist’s Annual Refresher Course, as well as locum positions to apply for throughout the year, including providing cover for Pacific anaesthetists to attend their annual conference. Visit our Global Health Committee page.
The New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (RDA) and Specialty Trainees of New Zealand (SToNZ)
The RDA and SToNZ are the major representative associations for Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) (i.e. house officers and registrars) in New Zealand. One of the most important roles of the RDA is negotiation of the Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) which covers RMO employment contracts and conditions for those employed by DHBs across New Zealand.
The RDA and SToNZ MECAs provide full reimbursement of all training costs. This includes attending examination preparation courses, EMAC and/or EMST. Some DHBs will fund other courses on a case-by-case basis, guided by recommendations from their Anaesthetic Department.
For RDA members, Senior registrars in their 5th year or above are also entitled to $6,500 and eight days’ conference leave to attend conferences. The clause comes into effect one year after passing the Primary Examination.
For SToNZ members, trainees receive 10 days of conference leave, and $2000 per annum (accruable to $6000) for implements to aid training (such as laptops, non-reimbursed textbook, subscriptions, conferences). This is currently at the discretion of each DHB and Anaesthetic Department.
Please see the unions’ websites for more details.
SToNZ: https://www.stonz.co.nz/
ANZCA hosts the Part 0 Course for new trainees in each of the four rotations in New Zealand. For information visit the ANZCA website
NZSA hosts this one-day interactive course every two years. It is ideal for advanced trainees to gain insight into the opportunities and issues they may have during the transition from RMO to SMO. In 2022 we are looking to host a Part 3 Course and will provide details when confirmed.
Provides updates on a wide range of topics relevant to contemporary anaesthetic practice. A discounted registration fee applies to NZSA members. Details can be found on the AQUA website
This annual meeting is held in Auckland. The programme for registrars (the “Anaesthetic Registrars’ Day”) takes place the day before the main programme, and is usually free, whereas participants pay a fee for the main programme.
This meeting is held on the first Friday in December each year at Auckland City Hospital. The morning session consists of lectures on topics relevant to trainees and a fellowship forum where recently returned specialists will discuss their local and international fellowship experiences. The NZ Annual Registrars’ Meeting is held in the afternoon and is an opportunity for trainees to present their research and QI projects to an audience of specialists and trainees. There are three prizes for this including the University of Auckland Caduceus Award for Excellence in Anaesthesiology Research, the ANZCA prize for Best Scientific Presentation, and the NZSA sponsored prize for Best Quality Assurance Project. Entrants are only eligible for this prize if they are members of the NZSA.
For more information on all upcoming events, visit our events page
