In the Room. At the Table. On Your Behalf.

NASOG represents all specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists across Australia, whether you work in private practice, public practice, subspecialty practice, academia, training, metropolitan centres or rural and regional communities.

Every conversation, meeting, submission and enquiry is directed towards one goal: ensuring the voice of specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists is heard.

Advocacy is most effective when someone in the room is asking the hard questions.

Representation Where Decisions Are Made

Last week, NASOG representatives meet with senior Department of Health, Disability and Ageing officials, parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, healthcare stakeholders and hospital leaders to ensure specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists continue to have a strong voice in decisions affecting our profession, our practices and the care of our patients.

Our work takes place at hospital, state and federal levels.

Member Support in Hospitals and Health Services

Recent member concerns result in direct representation by NASOG with hospital executives and health services. Matters raised include credentialling requirements, scope of practice documentation, governance processes and procedural fairness.

The members involved spoke to NASOG councillors who brought the concerns to the NASOG executive. As a result, issues have been communicated to senior hospital leadership within both public and private hospitals on behalf of members. The outcomes are tangible: concerns that might otherwise go unheard reach the right people, at the right level, through the right channels.

While individual matters remain confidential, this engagement reflects an important part of NASOG's role in ensuring specialist concerns are appropriately raised and considered.

Engagement with State Health Systems

At a state level, NASOG continues to engage with health departments and public health services regarding matters affecting specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists.

This includes ongoing discussions regarding the recognition and employment of specialist O&Gs and ensuring the specialist voice remains represented in policy discussions affecting our profession.

Georgie Crozier, Victorian Shadow Minister for Health, Ambulance Services & Medical Research presented at the Melbourne Insight Series event on 20 June.

Policy Influence With the Australian Government

At a federal level, NASOG representatives are participating in multiple meetings with the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing regarding implementation of the Medical Costs Finder reforms and associated legislative changes.

NASOG representatives are part of those processes directly, ensuring specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists are represented as these reforms are developed and implemented. Our focus is ensuring members have practical information, appropriate support and a specialist voice at the table. We continue to engage directly with Government to provide updates, seek clarification and press for implementation that recognises the realities of specialist practice.

A Specialist Voice in National Health Policy Forums

NASOG was represented at Parliament House in Canberra as part of Avant's healthcare roundtable examining access, quality and sustainability within the Australian healthcare system.

The roundtable attendees were moved by the contribution of our Northern Territory Councillor, Dr Alia Vemuri, who shared her experience as the last obstetrician to deliver a baby in the private sector in Darwin. Her account provided a powerful reminder of what happens when specialist services disappear from a community and why sustainable specialist-led care remains so important for women, babies and families.

Dr Vemuri will contribute a guest blog in the coming weeks. I encourage you to watch for it.

Public Commentary and Media Leadership

Members also strengthen the profession when they step forward and contribute their expertise to important national conversations.

We were pleased to see multiple NASOG members contribute to recent media discussions regarding endometriosis surgery, including NASOG Executive Committee members A/Prof Vinay Rane and A/Prof Gino Pecoraro OAM. Their contributions ensure specialist voices are represented in an important public discussion affecting women's healthcare.

Member-led Reform and Evidence Gathering

Member-led advocacy is also underway on MBS arrangements affecting urogynaecology services. Dr Emmanuel Karantanis is building a case for both the specialty and women seeking access to care, focusing on sudden changes to rebate settings and access barriers relating to Botox treatment and cystoscopy services. Through a member survey, he is gathering evidence of the real-world impact of these changes to inform future engagement with Government on MBS policy. We encourage members to support this work by participating in the survey. [Link to survey]

Raising Issues from the Front Line

Effective representation does not occur only in Canberra, a boardroom or a committee meeting. It begins with members raising issues, sharing experiences and helping identify the challenges facing specialist practice across Australia.

The strength of our advocacy comes from the strength of our membership. If you value having specialist representation at hospital, state and federal levels, be part of growing that voice. Become a member. Share NASOG updates with your colleagues. Tell us what issues matter in your practice and where you believe NASOG can make a difference.

The strongest professional organisations are built by engaged members. Every new member strengthens our collective voice, increases our influence and improves our ability to represent specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists across Australia.

Together, we can continue to advance our profession, support specialist-led care and promote the health and safety of women and babies throughout Australia.

Are you a current NASOG Member? CLICK HERE to find out more about membership and get engaged with the work we do for O&G Specialists and Practices.