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ANZCA – Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), which includes the Faculty of Pain Medicine, is the professional body responsible for the specialities of anaesthesia and pain medicine. The college represents around 7100 specialist anaesthetists and pain medicine physicians and 1800 trainees. ANZCA is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation.

The work of ANZCA includes setting the practice standards, training and continuing education of specialist anaesthetists and pain medicine physicians and supporting research that provides the evidence underpinning safety and standards.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine has a history of engagement with the community, particularly through its contribution to the National Pain Strategy and its membership of Pain Australia.

How ANZCA can help

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) serves the community by fostering safety and high-quality patient care in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain medicine.

Most people will need the care of an anaesthetist at some stage in their lives, including pain relief during the birth of a baby, for routine day-stay procedures or for major operations requiring complex, split-second decisions that keep patients alive.

Pain is the most common reason that people seek medical help, yet it is one of the most neglected areas of healthcare. One in five Australians live with chronic pain including adolescents and children, and this increases to one in three people aged over 65.

Vision and mission

ANZCA’s vision is to be a recognised world leader in training, education, research, and in setting standards for anaesthesia and pain medicine.

ANZCA’s mission is to serve the community by fostering safety and high quality patient care in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain medicine.

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This information was originally published on healthdirect - ANZCA – Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Last reviewed: October 2022

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