Foundation Fellow Dr Peter Burke reminisces about the circumstances leading to the founding of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM).
Cultural immersion tours enhance trust and engagement
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.
Reflections on retirement and treasuring the life you have
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 fourth pillar: establishing sustainability across emergency medicine
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.
EDNA a real-world example of research-driven excellence
‘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.
The burden of not knowing - a personal story
A precautionary MRI for an aching hip gave FACEM Dr Tariq Nehvi a new appreciation for what patients experience when facing the unknown.
Juvenile Arthritis – early diagnosis makes all the difference
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.
Frontline futures: 2025 GEC Scholars shaping emergency care across the globe
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.
Closing the gender gap in medical publishing
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 at the cutting edge of EM research
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.
Riding the wave at the Annual Scientific Meeting
The emergency medicine community gathered on the Gold Coast in late November 2025 from across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world to celebrate their specialty, share knowledge and new research, and connect with colleagues.
Setting sail – retirement and life after the ED
After being an ED director and practicing emergency medicine for five decades, FACEM Dr Bryan Walpole one day came to the realisation that while he was ready for life beyond the ED, he still had more to give as a doctor. He decided to have an adventure, and he never looked back.
ACEM korowai - its symbolism and meaning
The ACEM korowai (Māori ceremonial cloak) is a prestigious garment which holds profound cultural meaning and significance. First worn by Past President Dr John Bonning at his inauguration in 2019, FACEM Dr Stephanie Bedford wore the korowai at the College’s graduation ceremony in late 2025.
Flying high - lifting off into emergency medicine
FACEM Dr Krupa Mehta, Staff Specialist at the Campbelltown Hospital and a Retrievalist for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, shares some insights with YourED about her pathway to becoming a recent Fellow.
Celebrating 25 years of emergency medicine as a specialty in PNG
Emergency medicine as a speciality is turning 25 years old in Papua New Guinea. EM trainee Dr Ulysses Oli, a final-year candidate of the Masters of Medicine in Emergency Medicine (MMed EM) program at the University of Papua New Guinea, currently working at the Port Moresby General Hospital ED, reflects on what this means to him.
Making a world of difference
After a career spent working in resource-limited emergency medicine settings around the globe, FACEM Associate Professor Megan Cox received the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) Humanitarian Award 2025 at the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) this May in Montreal.
Surfing doctors making waves
The Surfing Doctors describe themselves as ‘a group of like-minded doctors with an interest in surfing, medicine, continuing medical education and service.’ Their mission is to provide medical care in remote surf locations where healthcare access is limited and difficult to provide.
Diagnostic safety and excellence
Associate Professor Carmel Crock travelled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the World Health Organization (WHO) global consultation for World Patient Safety Day 2024. Read her reflections on the event one year later, including how emergency departments can optimise diagnostic safety and excellence.
Trauma medicine: Skills and opportunities
Emergency physicians with trauma skills have always been highly valued in the emergency department, and ACEM is looking to further build and enhance opportunities for ED physicians to develop their trauma managements skills and expertise. Programs and openings in hospitals across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia are creating pathways for growing numbers of FACEMs to specialise, study, research and teach trauma medicine both within and outside of the ED.
'Being here has made me fall in love again with emergency medicine'
“He aha ta mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in this world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is people, it is people, it is people.”
This was the enduring message for around 100 delegates who made the journey from around Aotearoa, Australia, Canada, and the United States to attend the Aotearoa New Zealand Emergency Medicine Conference 2025.