“The relationships, the credibility, the seat at the table – these things are genuinely hard to earn, and we have to keep earning them.”
ACEM’s federal presence wasn't built overnight. YourED spoke with six ACEM Presidents, past and present, about the deliberate decisions and long relationships that have led to the recent establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Emergency Medicine and Care.
At Rotorua Hospital, staff, patients and whānau (family) meet every morning for karakia (blessing) and waiata (song). This is a valued opportunity to connect, reflect and learn together – the same philosophy of this year's Manaaki Mana Kaikōkiri Hui (10-12 August 2026) in Rotorua. ‘Everyone is at different levels on their cultural journey, and it is about learning from one another,’ FACEM and Head of Rotorua Hospital Emergency Department Dr Kate Kerr said.
FACEM Dr Golam Sarwar is the Clinical Lead of Logan ED’s Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit (GEMU), a unique and innovative dedicated emergency unit for older persons. GEMU was established in 2025 to address the complex and specialised medical, functional and psychosocial needs of older patients presenting to the ED.
As an ACEM trainee from Aotearoa New Zealand, Dr Olly Aughton has worked in the hustle and bustle of metropolitan EDs in Auckland and Wellington. However, he said it was when he stepped away and embraced his placements in RRR settings that he learned about the power of practicing emergency medicine with a human touch.
‘When you’re a trainee you may have difficult experiences such as exams or patient interactions, so finding support to overcome those is so important.’ The value of having a mentor through ACEM’s Mentor Connect program is explored as we talk to a mentor and a trainee who said mentoring provided her with invaluable support and made her more ‘resilient’.
Pride Month is a time to foster inclusivity, promote understanding and celebrate the diversity of LGBTQIA+ISB communities. YourED asked ACEM Immediate Past President Dr Stephen Gourley to reflect on his years in the role and the experiences that shaped him.
‘Now it was my turn to be on the other side’. Retired Fellow Dr Alan Broomhead’s son Andy was involved in a motor bike accident late last year and had a right below knee amputation. The former Director of Emergency Medicine Training at Adelaide’s The Queen Elizabeth Hospital reflects on his family’s journey from the day of the accident to where his son is now, mobile on his prosthetic leg, the exceptional care he received in the ED and beyond, and how this experience has affected them all.
ACEM EM specialist trainee Kathryn turned an Intensive Care placement in Alice Springs into four-year family caravanning adventure exploring Australia by road. Thanks to ACEM's flexible RRR training policies, Kathryn has since undertaken ACEM training in Albany, Perth, Geraldton, Broome and Kununurra. She was awarded ACEM’s Buchanan Prize, has successfully completed her fellowship examinations, has recently been elected to Fellowship, and is still travelling.
Later career FACEMs can continue to make a valued contribution to the specialty and patients - and it begins with reflection and having the conversation with family, friends, and colleagues. ACEM’s Statement for Later Career FACEMs provides guidance and support for career flexibility and longevity.
Foundation Fellow Dr Peter Burke reminisces about the circumstances leading to the founding of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM).
ED trainees at Dubbo Health Service developed cultural immersion tours to address poor health outcomes for Indigenous patients. The tours have strengthened understanding of Aboriginal communities and their healthcare experiences, improving cultural awareness, inclusivity and patient care.
After spending a life balancing demanding clinical work with family responsibilities, retired FACEM Dr Diana Badcock now finds fulfilment in treasuring what she calls the essentials: ‘silence, stillness and solitude.’ Diana shares her insights on how to reclaim yourself and find genuine joy in retirement.
The ACEM Foundation recently formally established its fourth pillar: Sustainable Emergency Medicine and Climate Health. This is more than a symbolic addition. It signals that the College will “encourage, support and promote practice, research and education of sustainable emergency medicine and climate health”. Here’s what sustainability looks like for ACEM.
‘Having a system in place like this really makes a difference to the hospitals, to public health, and to patients.’ Professor Daniel Fatovich discusses the need for the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia (EDNA) project and his passion for research.
A precautionary MRI for an aching hip gave FACEM Dr Tariq Nehvi a new appreciation for what patients experience when facing the unknown.
Bumps, bruises and visits to the ED are part and parcel of raising kids, and long hours spent working in the ED can sometimes leave FACEMs at a loss when it comes to helping their own family members and loved ones. FACEM Dr Michael Lovegrove was glad he went to the ED when his daughter complained of pain and was eventually diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis.
Meet the 2025 ACEM Foundation Global Emergency Care Scholars - Dr Manisha Shankar (Fiji), Sister Wilma Sebby (Papua New Guinea), Dr Bibek Rajbhandari (Nepal) and Dr Josefa Tokon (Vanuatu) - as they reflect on their experiences, challenges and innovations.
As we commemorate International Women’s Day and its 2026 theme ‘Balance the Scales’, ACEM spoke to two FACEMs who have recently published medical textbooks to learn about their experiences and how we can bridge the gender gap in medical publishing.
ACEM supports the cutting edge of EM research through its Clinical Trials Network (CTN), which facilitates and promotes investigator-initiated, collaborative, multicentre clinical research programs and trials in EM throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
