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Archived Presidents' Reports
On this page you can find an archive of early ASAT Chairman's Reports, in reverse chronological order. Please click on a title to view the whole report.
ASAT Chairman's Report — May 2002.WELCOME TO ALL
Welcome to the May 2002 edition of the Chairmans Report. This is of course is posted on our web site and distributed to all our Regional Associations.
Great News for All Anaesthesia Technicians
Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to inform all members of the Society that the Executive Committee of ASAT has just returned to their prospective regions after an intense weekend of policy review and strategic planning. The Executive Committee (which is a representative from each of our regions) was called together for the 28th and 29th April 2002 to put the finishing touches to the National Health Training Package [HTP] for Anaesthesia Technology.
Over the past year the Society in conjunction with many key stake holders including ANZCA, ASA and Unions has been working extremely hard to finalise our contribution. It gives great pleasure to announce that after ours of deliberation and argument the Executive (who represents the input provided by you) made the following resolution. " The document presented to the Committee as draft three of the National Health Training Package - Anaesthesia Technology represents an accurate, precise, clear and correct representation of the current training needs for anaesthesia technicians in Australia. The Society makes note of all who have had input into their development. The Executive Committee of the Society on behalf of all current and future anaesthesia technicians fully endorses the package".
The Society has also forwarded the following Recommendation through to relevant groups that the new training package be titled the following, 'Diploma – Anaesthesia Paramedical Sciences'.
I wish to thank all who have put an effort into their development. I would especially like to thank Barbara Lindbergs who has been a powerful influence and a driving force to our committee ensuring we achieved this. The introduction of the HTP is a step closer to completion now but we still have a few more miles to travel yet before their introduction. We are a step closer to Nationally recognised training. The Society will keep you informed.
During the drafting process and subsequent meetings that we have had to attend around the country there has been a lot of input and comment about the HTP for technicians. I am please to say that the majority of the comments has been extremely supportive. But this is not always the case though, unfortunately, we have also received some comments and feedback that has not been.
In a letter received from the Australian Nursing Federation they asked for the withdrawal of the Anaesthesia Technicians HTP. I will quote from this letter" this action is necessary to overcome serious concerns about the inter – relationship between these roles and nursing which, if left unresolved and the package implemented, could lead to serious conflict over roles at the workplace and other levels."
The formal response from this Society to a statement like that is quite simple. The draft HTP for anaesthesia technicians correctly and accurately reflects the educational requirements and the current duties we undertake in the workplace. Our members come from both technical and nursing backgrounds in which they are permitted to undertake tasks which are clarified in a job description. This Society is not attempting to erode roles or implement massive changes it supports the contents of the HTP because it reflects the educational requirements in 2002 to be an assistant to the Anaesthetist as required by the College of Anaesthetists. These are educational needs of a profession and not political moves. This Societies principle aim is an educational one. Politics and Education do not mix.
Events 2002
Sydney Meeting 2002.
ASAT in conjunction with Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers [NSW] is pleased to announce that registration documents are now available for is 6th Annual Conference and Scientific Exhibition at the All Seasons Premier Menzies Hotel in Sydney from the 14th to 16th November 2002. An extremely varied range of topics will be presented at this meeting and I invite you all to attend.
To book or obtain your registration brochures you do any of the following.
Contact your Regional Association.
Go on line at www.ASAT.cc
Contact Adrian Sage Conference Convenor at ASATnsw@anae.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au
For exhibition inquires contact Nicholas Arnold at nicholas.arnold@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
The registration fees are very well priced and the venue is outstanding. This year the Society has introduced credit card payments to make your transactions easier. I look forward to seeing you all in Sydney in November.
Don't forget your submission for the Alison Holloway Award, go to www.ASAT.cc for details NOW.
ASAT Calendar of Events 2002-2006
The Society is pleased to publish the following Calendar of Events for Meetings and Conferences within the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers
ASAT Conferences
- 2002 Sydney, Australia November 14th to 16th.
- 2003 Queensland, Australia October/November
- 2004 Perth, Australia October/November
- 2005 New Zealand October/November
- 2006 Melbourne, Australia October/November
Regional Conferences
- 2002 QSAT, Queensland May
World Conferences
- 2002 AODP, United Kingdom May 2002
- 2002 World Congress Operating Theatre Practitioners and Technologists Washington DC September 2002 postponed to 2003
Should you wish to add an event to this Calendar please contact the Society at:
SECRETARY ASAT
PO Box 8155
Woolloongabba,
Queensland, 4102
Or watch our website at
www.ASAT.cc
World Congress Washington September 2002- Postponed.
An event that was scheduled in the near future is the 1st World Conference for anaesthetic and operating room technologists and practitioners. This had been scheduled for Washington DC, USA in September 2002. Unfortunately due to the close time proximity to the September 11th tragedy this meeting has been postponed until next year. This Society continues to fully support this conference and indeed the concept of bringing the world of operating room technicians, technologists and practitioners together for a common meeting.
ASAT Change of Name
Due to the hectic schedule imposed on the committee in regards to the development of the Health Training Packages this issue has not progressed further since the Annual General Meeting in November last year. The committee decided to wait until the National qualification was assigned to the new training package. However, at the Executive meeting held in Sydney on the 29th April 2002 the Executive voted to accept an appropriate change in name. The Executive has accepted that in line with recent industry changes especially to education it puts forward the following change in name to members, The Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers.
In the near future a postal vote will be sent to all members asking them to either accept this name or decline. You may ask yourselves why, that is simple for the following reasons;
This name reflects the new Diploma we are seeking endorsement for. The term Anaesthesia reflects the specialised area in which we work in and is definitive in discerning areas relative to pre hospital care and ambulance work, Paramedical reflects that we are multi disciplinary as we can either be a technician or an assistant. Officers is suitable as well as it stays away from stating that you are a technician/assistant/nurse it is non discriminatory or gender specific. Also across Australia many unions use the term Officer for example in WA the Hospital Salaried Officers Association and in NSW and Qld your current title can be Technical Officer or you specific callings are in the Technical Officers stream. This way there would no confusion and no major shift in terminology to keep you supported by the Union should you be a member in your State. It is extremely important that you respond in the pre paid postal envelopes upon receipt of this voting form. There are no other names that are suitable to reflect your diverse and important role as the assistant to the Anaesthetists. It is time to settle this issue for once and for all.
In the mean time the society would like to clarify that membership to this society and indeed our regional associations is open to any person either technical or nursing who holds a recognised qualification. Just because the name of the society says Anaesthesia Technician it does not exclude you from membership if you hold a recognised qualification. This society and its educational benefits are open to all 'Assistants to the Anaesthetist'.
The society will review the proposed change in name in the future after the establishment of the National Training Program.
Regional - Change of Name
This society has entered into discussions with our regions to ask them to consider the changing of their relevant societies to draw further notice to the National nature of our profession. Several regions have undertaken postal votes or are about to do so to get membership support.
If successful the following changed names will happen. QSAT becomes ASAT (Qld), VSAT becomes ASAT (Vic), WASAT becomes ASAT (WA) [Inc} and after our meeting in Sydney we would ask ASAT (NSW) to become ASAT (NSW). What will the change of name mean well that's simple. A national association with similarly named regional groups, a definite reporting relationship, a sense of unity, the ability to award a national qualification, clarity in membership and many more benefits. It is hoped in the future to provide public liability and indemnity insurance through your membership also it will give a clear message here and overseas of a group of dedicated and aligned health care professionals.
Certification of Qualifications
The College of Anaesthetists has appointed a member of the College to develop guidelines in relation this certification. The College has agreed to work alongside ASAT to develop this. ASAT will keep you informed as this progresses. ASAT along with its regions will work together to develop these educational qualifications and indeed acceptable qualifications to be an "Assistant to the Anaesthetists" in accordance with the ANZ College of Anaesthetists Policy Document PS8 "Assistant to the Anaesthetists"..
Other developments have been the formation of one group in New Zealand called the NZ Association of Anaesthetic Technicians and Nurses [NZAAT & N]. As previously reported at our meeting in Melbourne we met with a delegation from this new group to ensure our close association with New Zealand continues. This meeting was successful and we look forward to working alongside the new Association. The team in New Zealand has introduced many new dynamic changes including a form of voluntary registration which can only be of benefit to the patient.
Call for Support from all Members
Voluntary Registration for Australia.
The Society asks you keep watch on our web site www.ASAT.cc in the near future as the committee is putting the final touches to documentation calling on all anaesthesia technicians and assistants to VOLUNTARILY REGISTER WITH ASAT. These documents will ask you a wide range of qualification based questions. Once you obtain membership you will be entered onto the National Register, receive certification from the College of Anaesthetists and ASAT and be issued an annual practicing certificate.
There are of course fees attached to this process which is being discussed at the moment. We would ask all person entering from overseas to register with ASAT as well. This process will lead to and provide supporting evidence that more formal Regulation is appropriate. The Society continues to feel that formal regulation must be seriously considered in Australia due to events overseas. For example, New Zealand and the UK in which in the UK the National Health Service has asked all employers to ensure a practitioner is on the National Register of the AODP before allowing employment. This at this stage is voluntary Registration which is a prelude to formal Regulation.
If this occurs in the UK and New Zealand then we will be lacking behind the rest of the world. Do you want regulated health professionals entering Australia? Or more importantly your employment prospects overseas are now limited as would you employ some one whom is entering from an unregulated country. Anaesthetic technicians and assistants need to be regulated in their own right and not tied into another group. We must be independent but have a process of industry input eg ANZCA, ASA and Nursing professional groups. We need to work together with all to ensure the success of Regulation for the sake of patient safety and not any other agenda whatsoever. ASAT is willing to lead this country to a process of regulation of assistants and technicians. Are you ready for it? We will keep you informed about this as it progresses.
But please remember we do have different needs and educational requirements to Registered Nurses and must be Registered as a separate stand alone and independent profession.
We will continue to keep you informed on what is happening around Australia and New Zealand in the near future and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Sydney in November this year.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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ASAT Chairman's Report — December 2001.Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of the Society a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. I hope all your wishes come true in the future.
The Society in conjunction with the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians [VSAT] held its 5th Conference and Trade Display at the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Melbourne from the 14th to 16th November 2001. The conference was extremely well organised and run by the team in Victoria with every session and event running like clockwork. I would like to thank the team in Victoria for an outstanding job, well done.
The conference was attended by well over 170 delegates from around New Zealand and Australia with Key Speakers from the United Kingdom. The Honorable Barry Jones AO, officially opened the conference. With Dr Rob Westhorpe representing the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetist welcoming all technicians and assistants to the meeting.
Just prior to the official opening address the Society was treated to a traditional welcome from the original landowners of the Southbank area on which the Sheraton Towers is built. This was an excellent opening to what turned out to be an outstanding conference.
After the opening address the conference launched into three days of education, team building and social activities. The educational sessions put together by the team in Victoria was excellent with a large proportion of the talks given by anaesthetic technicians and assistants from around the country. The topics were wide and varied and extremely interesting. We had several Key Note Speakers which included Dr Alison Holloway who gave a presentation on Complementary Medicines and Anaesthesia and Mr Paul Ward of the Association of Operating Department Practitioners (AODP)(Wales) Professional Development Issues for Operating Departments.
The remaining education sessions were presented by Technicians and Anaesthetists, all of which were excellent. I would like to thank all speakers for giving up your time to educate us. It was once great to go to a conference in which the education primarily came from within the profession, this should continue to be the way for the future for us. So if you have a topic or subject that you wish to present at our next meeting then please contact us now.
The social functions were well organised and attended as well. On the first night the delegates attended the official opening of the Trade Display at 5 PM with a cocktail hour. From there they all dispersed to various parts on Melbourne were extensive team building and networking was undertaken. This I am told was an excellent night. The following night was the formal dinner at the Sheraton. The delegates were treated to a barage of foods that would make the most avid food lover jealous. It was an excellent night and all that attended said they enjoyed themselves immensely.
There was an official part of the evening in which Dr Alison Holloway and Mr Paul O'Sullivan from Tyco presented the prestigious Alison Holloway Award to this years winners. The winners of this year's award were Miss Donna Stibbard and Mr John Duckworth from Gold Coast Hospital for their five-year study on Post Spinal and Epidural Head Aches. Donna and John now have their names forever immortalized on the picture which is held in the ASA Head Office in Sydney, they also won $1000. John drew the short straw and gave the winning presentation the following morning to all delegates at our meeting. Well done and congratulations Donna and John.
The Society has again launch the Alison Holloway Award for this year proudly sponsored by Tyco. A flyer has been sent to your Regional Offices promoting this Award so please start putting pen to paper and you could be our next winner. The society has also placed it onto our Web page so feel free to review it from there. We would like to thank Tyco for their continual support with this award.
The Society has just purchased an independent web domain, which is www.ASAT.cc and in the next few weeks a new ASAT home page with relevant links and contact details for you to get in touch with us will be launched. Also on the web will be the Societies new look Journal so watch out for this. Our emphasis this year and in the future is education and communication and we believe the Internet is the way to deal with this. There will also hard copies available to those members that don't have access to the net.
The Society has put together a Calendar of Events, which will assist you in planning your attendance at various conferences around the world. Here is a sample.
ASAT Calendar of Events 2002-2006
The Society is pleased to publish the following Calendar of Events for Meetings and Conferences within the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers
ASAT Conferences
- 2002 Sydney, Australia November 14th to 16th.
- 2003 Queensland, Australia October/November
- 2004 Perth, Australia October/November
- 2005 New Zealand October/November
- 2006 Melbourne, Australia October/November
Regional Conferences.
- 2002 QSAT, Queensland May
World Conferences
- 2002 AODP, United Kingdom May 2002
2002 World Congress Operating Theatre Practitioners and Technologists Washington DC has been postponed.
Should you wish to add an event to this Calendar please contact the Society at:
SECRETARY ASAT
PO Box 8155
Woolloongabba,
Queensland, 4102
Or watch our website at
www.ASAT.cc
As you can see from the calendar our next ASAT Conference and Scientific Display is in Sydney from the 14th to 16th November 2002 and our new conference committee has secured a venue and confirmed the dates. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Sydney to support ASAT (New South Wales).
The 1st World Conference for anaesthetic and operating room technologists and practitioners. This has been postponed until further notice due to the September 11th tragedy. This Society fully supports the concept of bringing the world of operating room technicians, technologists and practitioners together for a common meeting. Once again during the Melbourne meeting we were able to network with the AODP to develop a close association with this group. We believe we can learn of each other's experiences for the common good of the patients we care for.
I am regularly asked if I am a member of ASAT and I believe it is time to clarify to all who is a member and who is not. You are a member of the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers if you are a member of one of our five regional Societies. That means if you are a full or ordinary member of NZAAT & N, QSAT, WASAT, ASAT (NSW) and indeed VSAT you are a member of ASAT. Also if you are an associate or student member of these regions you are also a member of ASAT. At this stage your region decides on the educational qualifications required to be a member of your region and if you meet the regional criteria for membership you are automatically a member of ASAT. At this stage there is no direct membership to ASAT. ASAT along with its regions are developing educational qualifications and indeed acceptable qualifications to be an "Assistant to the Anaesthetists" in accordance with the ANZ College of Anaesthetists Policy Document PS8 "Assistant to the Anaesthetists". This is to be published soon by the Society. This will form the foundation for training needs and development of generic courses through out Australia. This Society believes it must be guided by the College document as our primary job function is to assist the Anaesthetists. We also recognise that we must be independent.
Should you be a member of your region then I am pleased to say that you are one of 535 trained assistants and technicians on the ASAT Data Base in Australia, with a further 300 in New Zealand. For the past 24 months ASAT has been continuing to build on its database of members. At regular intervals your regional office sends membership details to our Registrar who enters this information on the ASAT Data Base. We are a rapidly growing and developing profession so I would like to encourage you to remain a member and indeed encourage your colleagues to join.
Other developments have been the formation of one group in New Zealand called the NZ Association of Anaesthetic Technicians and Nurses [NZAAT & N]. At our meeting in Melbourne we met with a delegation from this new group to ensure our close association with New Zealand continues. This meeting was successful and we look forward to working alongside the new Association. The team in New Zealand has introduced many new dynamic changes including a form of voluntary registration which can only be of benefit to the patient.
The Society has also received confirmation from ANZCA that they are willing to Certify or issue a certificate to members who hold a qualification that meets with the PS 8 'Assistant to the Anaesthetist'. This Society looks forward to working with ANZCA to formalise this process. The Society continues to feel that formal regulation must be seriously considered in Australia due to events overseas. For example, New Zealand and the UK in which in the UK the National Health Service has asked all employers to ensure a practitioner is on the National Register of the AODP before allowing employment. This at this stage is voluntary Registration which is a prelude to formal Regulation.
If this occurs in the UK and New Zealand then we will be lacking behind the rest of the world. Do you want regulated health professionals entering Australia? Or more importantly your employment prospects overseas are now limited as would you employ some one whom is entering from an unregulated country. Anaesthetic technicians and assistants need to be regulated in their own right and not tied into another group. We must be independent but have a process of industry input eg ANZCA, ASA and Nursing professional groups. We need to work together with all to ensure the success of regulation for the sake of patient safety and not any other agenda whatsoever. ASAT is willing to lead this country to a process of regulation of assistants and technicians. Are you ready for it? We will keep you informed about this as it progresses.
The society at our recent Annual General Meeting voted to change the name of the Society. However, this is an emotive issue and significant debate ensured over this issue. At the AGM members voted to change the name but endorsed the Committee of Management to undertake further investigation into which name best suits the diversity of our membership. Members will be notified shortly over this issue. But please remember we do have different needs and educational requirements to Registered Nurses and must be Registered as a separate stand alone and independent profession.
Finally at our AGM a new position was endorsed by the Committee and voted on by the members present at this meeting. The Society has introduced a new position on the committee being the Defence Force Liaison Officer and I would like to welcome Lt Bill Alexander to the team. The principle purpose of this new role is to bring on line the Defence Forces to pass on developments of our profession to all who work in it. Also to enable a career path for ex- service men and women.
We will continue to keep you informed on what is happening around Australia and New Zealand in the near future and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Sydney next year.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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ASAT Chairman's Report — May 2001.
Welcome to the May 2001 Report from the Chairman. The Society hopes that you are all well and coping with the influx of the flu that seems to be bringing everyone down. Since my last report a lot of issues continue to be dealt with by your elected committee and we continue to hold teleconferences to bring issues to the forefront. The next scheduled teleconference is in the middle of July so please contact your local State Representative to ASAT so that your issues and concerns can be discussed and dealt with on your behalf.
The Society has had a number of significant issues that have been dealt with over the first 5 months of the year. Firstly, the society in conjunction with the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians is proud to present the 5th ASAT Educational Conference and Trade Display in Melbourne, Victoria from the to the November 2001. This once again will be the biggest event on the calendar in Australasia for anaesthesia technicians and assistants. The event has been proudly supported by Datex Ohmeda with many other Trade Companies attending. A poster promoting the event is now available. Please contact the Society or your Regional Society for further details. You will be pleased with the venue and the subjects for discussion.
Registration forms for the conference will be available by the end of June and your regional Society will be posting these out to you in the near future. Don't forget to get your submission in for the 2001 TYCO Health Care – Alison Holloway Award, you could win $1000.00. Please check out our website for further updates and details. It would be great to have as many anaesthesia technicians and assistants in Victoria in November to support our Victorian Anaesthesia Technicians.
The Society has compiled an extensive document recommending the training requirements of anaesthetic technicians and assistant in Australasia. We have submitted a draft document to the College of Anaesthetists for their initial comment. Once the Society receives back the comments from the College this draft document will be formally released to all members. The document recommends a minimum of just over 2000 hours of training and the recommended course content. The document was compiled by extensive regional research and input from New Zealand and the United Kingdom training needs. It is the most thorough examination of the training needs of technician and assistants ever undertaken. The Society to date is pleased with the feed back we have received. We will keep you posted on this issue.
On the 12th and 13th May 2001 I was asked by the Queensland Society of Anaesthesia Technicians to officially open their 11th Annual Conference and Trade Display in Cairns, Queensland. It was my pleasure to travel to Cairns to attend this conference. The choice of Cairns was initially thought to be one of concern as it was the first time the QSAT meeting had ventured this far north. But fears were soon put to one side as the attendance by delegates from around the country and New Zealand flocked in their droves to this meeting. The choice of venue and educational sessions was outstanding, well done QSAT and the conference committee.
During the meeting on the first day several workshops were held in which delegates could put their hands to a number of practical sessions. This included IV cannulation, intraosseous infusion, cricothyroid punctures and 12-lead ECG interpretation to name just a few. These workshops were an excellent idea. During the dinner on the Saturday night I presented the graduating class of 2001 their Diplomas, well done. The caliber of new anaesthetic technicians graduating in Queensland is of an extremely high standard and we all should proud of their efforts and the efforts of QSAT in setting and maintaining standards. The dinner was well attended with many people arriving quite unwell the next morning!
The Society is in the process of compiling an exciting educational program for the 1st International Conference to be held in Washington DC, USA in September 2002. Watch our web site and the new site being developed to promote this conference. We are expecting over 300 Delegates from the USA, the UK and Australasia to attend this meeting. This is a joint venture between the American Society of Surgical Technologists, the Association of Operating Department Practitioners and ASAT. We will keep you posted.
The biggest issue that this Society has been dealing with since February of this year is one that should be of great concern to all anaesthesia technicians and assistant in Australia. The overall issue is complex and indeed politically sensitive and has taken up considerable time of the Executive Committee to appropriately deal with. I will give you a brief overview of the issues at hand but at this stage it would take hundreds of pages of dialogue to bring you all up to speed on the issue.
In Victoria the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) in the Blair Report made some rulings in the resolution of a dispute between the ANF and Victorian Hospitals Association which contained some elements in relation to the ratios of staffing levels in operating theatres. The report also resolved many other issues and dealt with salary and conditions for nurses that were well deserved and rightly fought for. It was the staffing ratio issue in theatre that was the only concern to many health professional groups.
This Society, the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians along with other health care groups have written to the Commission raising our concerns on the interpretation of the ratios of staff in the operating theatre as there may be scope for this ruling to actually be misinterpreted. ASAT and other groups have also submitted a report to the Agreement Implementation Committee (AIC) who is overseeing the implementation of the new agreement in an effort to have our concerns and indeed the concerns of many health professions heard. We did manage to secure a hearing in the IRC in early May but this was postponed.
We have now had a meeting date confirmed as the 21st June 2001 where we can get around the table with IAC to put the concerns of many groups forward. The Society will keep you informed as new comes to hand.
We are still putting together our newsletter, so if you have an article or wish to promote an event please contact us. It takes the full commitment of every member to make a newsletter work.
If you are not a member and wish to become one, please contact the Society who will put you in touch with your region.
Recently the Society changed it postal address to:
ASAT Secretary
PO Box 8155
Woolloongabba Qld 4102
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Victoria in November to support our colleagues there. Until next time take care and please contribute to your profession.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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ASAT Chairman's Report — December 2000.
Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of the Society a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. I hope all your wishes come true in the future.
The Society in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Anaesthesia Technicians (Inc) [NZATS] held its 4th Conference and Trade Display at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland from the 15th to 17th November 2000. The conference was extremely well organised and run by the team in New Zealand with every session and event running like clockwork. I would like to thank the team in New Zealand for an outstanding job, well done.
The conference was attended by over 120 delegates from around New Zealand and Australia with Key Speakers from the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The Honorable Annette King, Minister for Health of New Zealand, officially opened the conference. Just prior to her opening address the Society held a meeting with her to discuss relevant and current issues in New Zealand. Represented at this meeting was the Mr Jeremy Morris President NZATS, Dr Malcolm Futter Regional President ANZCA, Dr David Chamley Regional President NZSA, the United Kingdom and the NZ Anaesthetic Technicians Training Board.
The principle purpose of this meeting was to ascertain from the Minister whether Anaesthetic Technicians in New Zealand could be included in the current Health Professionals Competency Assurance Bill that is currently going through Parliament. The inclusion of anaesthetic technicians under this Bill will ensure formal Registration and indeed Regulation in New Zealand. The outcome of this meeting was extremely positive and the NZATS and this Society have a joint submission in with the Department of Health. The Minister supported our endeavors for Registration. Both the NZATS and this Society will keep you informed as things progress.
After the Ministers opening address the conference launched into three days of education, team building and social activities. The educational sessions put together by the team in New Zealand was excellent with just over 80% of the talks given by anaesthetic technicians. The topics were wide and varied and extremely interesting. We had four Key Note Speakers which included Dr Alison Holloway who gave a presentation on Intravenous Fluids and Mr Bill Kilvington Vice Chairman of the Association of Operating Department Practitioners (AODP) Education Issues for Technicians Past, Present and Future. Also Ms Robin Szarmach President Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) Technicians from a Big Country – Present Day America and Mr Martin Smith Registrar AODP Registration – The Route of an Emergent Profession. These talks were excellent and certainly provoked some interesting debate amongst the delegates, which I am sure, will flow into your workplaces in the future.
The remaining education sessions were presented by Technicians and Anaesthetists, all of which were excellent. I would like to thank all speakers for giving up your time to educate us. It was great to go to a conference in which the education primarily came from within the profession, this should be the way for the future for us. So if you have a topic or subject that you wish to present at our next meeting then please contact us now.
The social functions were well organised and attended as well. On the first night the delegates moved to an Irish bar next to the Heritage were extensive team building and networking was undertaken. This was an excellent night. The following night was the formal dinner on Auckland Harbour were the delegates were treated to a Harbour cruise and of course dinner and music. This was excellent and all that attended said they enjoyed themselves immensely. There was an official part of the evening in which Dr Alison Holloway and Bridget O`Reilly from Mallinckrodt presented the prestigious Alison Holloway Award to the winner. The winner of this year's award is Lynne van de Waardt from Palmerston North Public Hospital for her case study on Malignant Hyperthermia. Lynne has her name forever immortalized on the picture which is held in the ASA Head Office in Sydney, she also won $1000 and a personal gift. Lynne gave her winning presentation the following morning to all delegates at our meeting. Well done and congratulations Lynne.
The society has again launch the Alison Holloway Award for this year proudly sponsored by Mallinckrodt. A flyer has been sent to your Regional Offices promoting this Award so please start putting pen to paper and you could be our next winner. The society has also placed it onto our Web page so feel free to review it from there. We are currently investigating an independent web domain and early next year ASAT will have a home page with relevant links and contact details for you to get in touch with us. Also on the web will be the Societies new look Journal so watch out for this. Our emphasis this year and in the future is education and communication and we believe the Internet is the way to deal with this. There will also hard copies available to those members that don't have access to the net.
The Society has put together a Calendar of Events, which will assist you in planning your attendance at various conferences around the world. Here is a sample.
ASAT Calendar of Events 2001-2005
The Society is pleased to publish the following Calendar of Events for Meetings and Conferences within the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers
ASAT Conferences
- 2001 Melbourne, Australia Mid November TBA
- 2002 Sydney, Australia October/November
- 2003 Queensland, Australia October/November
- 2004 Perth, Australia October/November
- 2005 New Zealand October/November
Regional Conferences
- 2001 QSAT, Cairns, North Queensland May 2001
World Conferences
- 2001 AODP, United Kingdom May 2001
- 2002 World Congress Operating Theatre Practitioners and Technologists Washington DC September 2002
Should you wish to add an event to this Calendar please contact the Society at:
SECRETARY ASAT
PO Box 498
Spit Junction
Sydney N.S.W. 2088
As you can see from the calendar our next ASAT Conference and Trade Display is in Melbourne in mid November 2001 and our new conference committee is currently securing a venue and confirming a date. Once this is done we shall inform all our members and indeed our Regions. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Melbourne to support the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians.
Another event that is scheduled in the near future is the 1st World Conference for anaesthetic and operating room technologists and practitioners. This has been scheduled for Washington DC, USA in September 2002. This Society fully supports this conference and indeed the concept of bringing the world of operating room technicians, technologists and practitioners together for a common meeting. During the New Zealand meeting we were able to network with the AODP and the AST to develop a close association with these groups. We believe we can learn of each other's experiences for the common good of the patients we care for.
In the UK the AODP has approximately 7000 members or eligible members and the AST in the USA have 19000 registered members. The AST recently purchased their own Head Office and have 20 full time staff working for them. Both the AODP and the AST are keen to work closely with us and develop a professional friendship. The planned World Congress [we are still deciding on a title, I have made that one up for now] will be an excellent event for all of us to get together and learn from each other. So please put this in your diary for 2002.
I am regularly asked if I am a member of ASAT and I believe it is time to clarify to all who is a member and who is not. You are a member of the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers if you are a member of one of our five regional Societies. That means if you are a full or ordinary member of NZATS, QSAT, WASAT, ASAT (NSW) and indeed VSAT you are a member of ASAT. Also if you are an associate or student member of these regions you are also a member of ASAT. At this stage your region decides on the educational qualifications required to be a member of your region and if you meet the regional criteria for membership you are automatically a member of ASAT. At this stage there is no direct membership to ASAT. ASAT along with its regions are developing educational qualifications and indeed acceptable qualifications to be an "Assistant to the Anaesthetists" in accordance with the ANZ College of Anaesthetists Policy Document P8 "Assistant to the Anaesthetists". This is to be published soon by the Society. This will form the foundation for training needs and development of generic courses through out Australia. This Society believes it must be guided by the College document as our primary job function is to assist the Anaesthetists. We also recognise that we must be independent.
Should you be a member of your region then I am pleased to say that you are one of 535 trained assistants and technicians on the ASAT Data Base in Australia, with a further 300 in New Zealand. For the past 18 months ASAT has been building a database of members. At regular intervals your regional office sends membership details to our Registrar who enters this information on the ASAT Data Base. We are a rapidly growing and developing profession so I would like to encourage you to remain a member and indeed encourage your colleagues to join.
The Society has written to relevant Professional Groups in Australia to ascertain the impact on Australia should the technicians in New Zealand be Registered. We as a Society now feel that formal regulation must be seriously considered in Australia now due to events overseas. For example, New Zealand and the UK in which in the UK the National Health Service has asked all employers to ensure a practitioner is on the National Register of the AODP before allowing employment. This at this stage is voluntary Registration which is a prelude to formal Regulation.
If this occurs in the UK and New Zealand then we will be lacking behind the rest of the world. Do you want regulated health professionals entering Australia? Or more importantly your employment prospects overseas are now limited as would you employ some one whom is entering from an unregulated country. Anaesthetic technicians and assistants need to be regulated in their own right and not tied into another group. We must be independent but have a process of industry input eg ANZCA, ASA and Nursing professional groups. We need to work together with all to ensure the success of Regulation for the sake of patient safety and not any other agenda whatsoever. ASAT is willing to lead this country to a process of regulation of assistants and technicians. Are you ready for it? We will keep you informed about this as it progresses.
The society at our recent Annual General Meeting resolved to ascertain from its members whether it would be appropriate to change the name of the society to reflect the diversity of our membership. So would like to have a change of name? Currently we have 535 members in Australia of which 40% are either Registered General or Enrolled Nurses but our name says Technician. Should we change to reflect this? This will be a passionate issue I am sure. Please let us know what you think.
There have been a number of titles considered. Here is a sample of a few it would start as Australasian Society of Anaesthetic Department Practitioners or Anaesthetic Department Technologists or Anaesthetic Technicians and Assistants or Anaesthetic Technicians and Nurses or Anaesthetic Department Technicians and Technologists. Do you have a title? The important issue is that we ensure the people we deal with are aware that we do have a broad membership base, which includes both Technicians and Nurses. Also we do have different needs and educational requirements to Registered Nurses and must be Registered as a separate stand alone and independent profession.
We will continue to keep you informed on what is happening around Australia and New Zealand in the near future and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Melbourne next year.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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ASAT Chairman's Report — May 2000.
On the 8th May 2000 I was invited by the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians to attend the VSAT Global Village Education Seminar at the Crown Towers Hotel in Melbourne. This Seminar was run as a satellite meeting to the Combined meetings of ANZCA and the ASA at the Crown Towers. Over 900 Anaesthetists and Specialists in Pain and Intensive Care from around Australasia attended this Combined meeting during the course of the program.
I wish to thank the VSAT Committee and Mr John Byrne VSAT Chairman for a well-organised and truly professional Seminar. The level of professionalism and commitment of the organising team was evident at all times during the program. The seminar ran on time and with precision, which was testament to the way it was organised. Having been involved from the organising side I know what effort goes into events of this nature. John and his team should also be congratulated for securing this seminar as a satellite meeting of ANZCA. Satellite meetings have only occurred in New Zealand to date but who knows what the future holds for us?
It was by far an excellent program for all that attended. VSAT secured the greatest number of delegates at any of their seminars or educational evenings. The program was interspersed with a variety of topics that appealed to all of us. Unfortunately there are no handouts or speakers notes that I can make available to you to read, so I will give you all an overview of the program.
The Parliamentary State Secretary for Health Mr Matt Viney officially opened the seminar. He spoke with praise about the role and functions of the Dedicated Assistant to the Anaesthetists and the important function we as Anaesthetic Technicians have in patient safety during the patient's visit to the operating theatre. He also highlighted various other issues in relation to the Victorian Governments Health policies, budget expenditure and education.
The first topic was presented by Dr George Chalkiadis a Consultant Anaesthetist from the Royal Childrens in Melbourne. I can remember George from many years ago when he was training in Perth, sorry George not that many years ago. He presented a topic titled "Project Bangladesh" which depicted his experiences in Bangladesh were he has worked on several occasions. He portrayed a working environment that was far removed from the safety and security that we have come to expect here in Australia. However, the staff and indeed the characters he worked with seemed to make it all worthwhile.
The next topics included "Alternative Intubation Techniques" by Jenny Fuller, Senior Technician Royal Children's. Jenny presentation was excellent. Then Mr Clarke Thys, Clinical Perfusionist from the Children's presented "Blood Products used in Surgery". This included current products and new ones that are being assessed for use.
Mr Ray Murtagh, Senior Technician, who came all the way from Albury/Wodonga gave an excellent presentation on "Information Technology and the Anaesthetic Assistant". Ray has a special interest in IT and is of course the ASAT Web Master. Ray showed us all just how easy it is to navigate the Web. The final presenter was Sgt Margaret Koimans from the RAAF. Margaret gave us "East Timor –Interfet. Margaret was one of the first contingents of service personnel into Timor. She certainly had us all in awe as she talked about the conditions that not only her team and Australian soldiers had to endure but also the conditions that the locals had to live in in the lead up the United Nations commitment. The evening finished off with the Annual General Meeting of VSAT. May I welcome all the new Committee of VSAT and thank the outgoing Committee for their commitment to the profession of the Anaesthetic Technician. ASAT looks forward to working alongside VSAT now and in the future.
During the Seminar we had ample opportunity to visit the expansive Trade Display area which was the biggest trade display I have seen since the World Congress in Sydney. I was given significant follow up from a number of the Anaesthetists that I work with. I am still continuing to follow this up. The visit to the Trade area has also given me the opportunity to renew and confirm the close ties and association that we have with the Trade. Who are important groups to us as a developing profession in regard to their attendance at our conferences and subsequent sponsorship of these events.
Also during my visit to Melbourne I met informally with several key members of the Anaesthetic community. Attending these conferences is important as it gives you the opportunity to discuss and follow up issues that may need a less formal approach. It also enables you to renew old friendships which are important too. I can assure you significant follow up on current issues was undertaken.
I would like to sincerely thank both ASAT and WASAT who assisted me with my attendance. A full financial summary is available on written request if you require one. WASAT contributed $250.00 and ASAT paid the balance of $458.00. This was an important conference to attend. Whilst in Melbourne I took up the offer of John Byrne to visit the Department of Anaesthesia at the Childrens Hospital. I spent just under 2 hours there being shown around by the team. The place was a "buzz" with the success of the VSAT Seminar and rightly so I should say. The facilities are great with the latest generation Drager machines and a relatively new Day Surgery Unit. The team of Anaesthetic Technicians who I might say work extremely hard set the place off as they demonstrated a high level of commitment, patient care and professionalism. Keep up the great work team.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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ASAT Chairman's Report — April 2000.
It gives me great pleasure to once again contribute to the Newsletters and Journals of the Regional Society's of the Australasian Society of Anaesthesia Paramedical Officers. These methods of communication are at the forefront in keeping you our members of Australia and New Zealand informed. By the time you read this article ASAT would have held another of its regular teleconferences which we use to bring together the Regional Representatives of ASAT. Feel free to bring any concerns to your Regional Committee that can be addressed at an Australasian level. Please speak to your Society or write to us at our Postal address.
In early March I had the opportunity to visit the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Head Office in Melbourne and meet with the Colleges Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Joan Sheales. This meeting was an informal discussion where I raised a number of issues relevant to anaesthesia assistants. There was agreement between the College and ASAT for the continual development of dialogue between both groups, this Society looks forward to this. Both ASAT and the Regional Society's have been added to the Colleges mailing list to receive regular updates of College Policy documents, College Newsletters and information that is relevant to the continuing education of anaesthesia technicians and assistants.
Also in March I was invited by the Queensland Society of Anaesthetic Technicians to officially open the 10th Annual Conference and Trade Display at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. I of course accepted this invitation and had great pleasure in opening this conference on the 19th March. I must congratulate both the Regional and Conference Committee for an outstanding selection of topics and social functions. The Trade Display area was also excellent with over 17 Trades present. On the Saturday the committee had organised a workshop for the morning where groups of delegates rotated through the stands being instructed on various aspects of difficult airway management. This was a great idea and was well received by the delegates. I even had the opportunity for three hours to give an overview of some of the tools of the trade.
In the afternoon of the Saturday QSAT held their AGM and Committee meeting. Once again the social functions of Queensland were outstanding and well patronised by the delegates as on the Saturday night was the formal dinner. During this function the graduating students of Queensland were issued with their new qualifications. ASAT also presented the Regional Top Student Award for the highest achiever of this course, this award went to Ms Carmel James. Congratulations Carmel.
The Society has also contributed some funds to assist our Treasurer Mr Shane Power to attend the Association of Operating Department Practitioners (AODP) conference in Blackpool in the UK in early May. Apart from Shane presenting a talk at the conference he will also be representing ASAT to discuss issues relevant to both Australasia and the UK. ASAT will be confirming the reciprocal agreement reached with the AODP regarding technicians being able to work in the UK for 12 months on Australasian qualifications. Shane will be providing a full report in future editions of your newsletters and journals about his attendance at this conference. ASAT has also endorsed Julie Bromley (NZATS) as the ASAT conference promoter at the AODP conference were she will receive complimentary Registration and accommodation offered by the AODP.
Plans are well underway for the Fourth Educational Conference and Trade Display in Auckland New Zealand in November 2000. Please contact your local Society for further details or go through the Internet web pages to gain access to further information. It is looking like an excellent and exciting program for all anaesthetic technicians and assistants. I look forward to seeing you all in Auckland in November 2000.
I would also like to remind you all that during this conference we will be presenting the Alison Holloway Award for the most outstanding paper/study conducted by an anaesthesia technician or assistant during the past year. Mallinckrodt proudly sponsors this award. So put pen to paper and you could be in the running to win A$1000.00, please contact your regional Society for further details and conditions.
I would like to congratulate the Victorian Society of Anaesthesia Technicians who will be hosting their 1st Conference on the 8th May 2000 as a satellite meeting to the National Combined meeting of ANZCA and the ASA. Well done and I will see you there.
The Society continues to work hard for you both in Australia and New Zealand, this work at times is not always noticeable on the surface but indeed this work is occurring for your benefit. ASAT continues to develop its Terms of Reference and Standards of Practice. We are also researching all qualifications in the Australasian area that we work under, we are also continuing on the establishment of an Australasian Database of qualified members and training. The Society is also consulting various groups with the view to establish the Australasian Training Board for Anaesthesia Technicians and Assistants. We will keep you all informed of these developments.
At regular intervals we are informed by our Regional Societys that the role, level of professionalism and skills of the Anaesthetic technician has again come under question from other professional groups in the Operating Theatres. There appears to be genuine concern from these people that we are interested in eroding their role in the operating theatres around this country. I would like to assure you all that we have no intention of eroding any persons role we are, however, interested in cementing the role of the dedicated trained assistant to the Anaesthetists. The key element to this is the "dedicated and trained assistant". Each patient that enters the operating theatre deserve the most highly trained and dedicated person during their period of surgical or procedural intervention and a person with the necessary skills during the anaesthetic phase is the Anaesthetist of course along with their trained and dedicated assistant.
It is a highly specialised world that we live in and all disciplines have a function in the operating theatres in all Health Care facilities. The nurse has the role of the Scrub and Circulating Nurse and in some cases the Anaesthetic Nurse. We as a group respect and will continue to respect their roles. In some Health Care facilities an Anaesthetic Technician undertakes the role of Assistant to the Anaesthetist. These technicians have undergone extensive training in Anaesthetic Assisting and are highly skilled and extremely competent in this role. The training undertaken in some States is accredited National training with the ability of this technician being able to move from one State to another to work because of this training. With this in mind I ask those who question our training and skills to respect the role we as Technicians and Assistants perform. We don't want your roles we just wish to maintain ours.
ASAT is devoting much of its resources into education and training. As mentioned we are working on a National Database, recognising regional qualifications, standardising courses and both Regional and International Educational Meetings and Trade Displays. All this for the purpose of providing the patient with a highly skilled and dedicated assistant to the Anaesthetist not only through initial training but also through continuing education. Education and Training is the key word and we must all get involved. When I mean get involved I am referring to supporting your Regional Society through membership also getting involved in your workplace through continuing education programs. Your future is in your hands.
ASAT believes that you can also get involved in another way by giving us your feedback in relation to your desires and needs for us to pursue Registration of all Technicians and Assistants to the Anaesthetist. With Registration we mean the formal establishment of a National Board for us to Register to. In some Regions this has been on the agenda for several years with some feedback from members and Governments. ASAT believes that it is now time for Registration to come to fruition. Whether this is to be achieved through the Australasian Anaesthetic Technicians and Assistants Training Board is yet to be decided or fully discussed.
What is important is that through Registration we can formalise qualifications within Australasia develop training requirements with consultation with our key stakeholders. Also have a central national point of registration for qualified technicians and assistants; have a process to deal with standards from within the profession; deal with disciplinary matters; the list goes on and on. But most importantly it will safe guard the patients whom we take great pride in caring for. Your feedback and comments would be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you and I look forward to contributing in the future to your Newsletters and Journals.
Chris Evans
Chairman
ASAT
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