An article commissioned for a trainee focus series in Emergency Medicine Australasia exploring the future of emergency medicine.

In 2023, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) turned 40. For many, midlife is an important time to reflect on the past, take stock of identity, examine values and set priorities for the next season – and ACEM is not exempt from this period of soul-searching.

Saturday the 27th of May is Emergency Medicine Day. This year, the Emergency Medicine Day campaign is dedicated to safety – for patients and colleagues. ACEM President Dr Clare Skinner writes that we must work together to ensure safety in the ED and change the culture that tells us a lack of safety is just part of the job – because it isn’t.

The causes of incivility in Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand EDs are complex and highlight incivility in EDs as a key adaptive leadership challenge of emergency physicians. Fundamentally, the results underscore the need to foster a workplace culture of respect, inclusion and civility in Australasian hospitals.

The 21st International Conference on Emergency Medicine was held in June 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Over 1600 emergency care providers from more than 60 countries participated in the meeting.

A talk about music, medicine and leadership delivered at Don’t Forget The Bubbles Refresh Conference 30th August 2022

Lack of accessible, affordable, and coordinated primary and community-based care – including GPs, other medical specialists, and allied health professionals – can lead to people’s chronic health conditions worsening significantly over time.

We are in the most challenging times our health professionals have ever faced and only deep, structural reform can fix the crisis.

According to Dr Clare Skinner, President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), history has shown that pandemics trigger significant social change, and Australia now has a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a better, fairer, safer health system”.

Looking after elderly patients in ED is a great honour, and a great responsibility.

Because what is the most important thing in the health system? It is the people who work in it. Without skilled health care workers, there is no health system at all.

Today (8 March 2022) is International Women’s Day. The theme this year is ‘break the bias’. I was asked to speak with you about what it means to me. But, I often feel a bit uncomfortable about International Women’s Day. And I will explain why.

In the run up to the Federal budget on 29 March and an election by 21 May, this article continues a Croakey series asking: what health issues should be elevated in national debate?

This story, by emergency medicine specialist Dr Clare Skinner, is fiction, but clearly reflects the reality of the pressures on emergency departments in recent months, as well as the opportunities for moments of connection.

ACEM President Handover speech November 9 2021

Friday October the 15th is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Clare Skinner shares a story about loss and asks us to reflect on how we might care for patients and colleagues better. A trigger warning – discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy loss.

Health care has changed in response to the pandemic. There have been many mistakes, but there are a lot of good things that have happened too. We should use what we have learned to drive positive change into the future. We should use this opportunity to build back fairer.

You might not guess it from our national health debate that is tiredly rehashing outworn arguments about hospital financing, but the pandemic could open the door for transformative changes for health.

Since 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has collaborated with the Swinburne University of Technology on a research project to understand and enhance the leadership capacity of emergency physicians, beginning with Australasian Directors of Emergency Medicine (DEMs). This programme has revealed the complexity of leadership in emergency medicine.

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine continues with significant advocacy on ED overcrowding and access block. We ask that colleagues in other specialties and professions stand with us to advocate for change. Together, we must engage with decision makers and work towards a common goal: timely access to affordable, safe, and effective health care for all Australians.