There are now over 2,500 trainee members in the College. Having an early and effective trainee engagement strategy is an important focus area for the College. Last year, a three year Trainee Engagement Strategy was co-developed by trainee representatives and approved by the Board. 

The Strategy recognises the vital role that trainees play in the College, and the importance of listening to and meeting their needs. Its objective is to build a training experience and environment that is shaped by the priorities of its users - trainees, and one that ensures trainees feel valued, seen and heard by their professional body. 

It has six areas: 

1. Orientation: improving the orientation and onboarding process for new trainees joining the Fellowship pathway. 
2. General communication: utilising diverse channels and ensuring that the information trainees need is available to them in a timely manner.
3. Events: developing trainee-specific events and encouraging trainee involvement in College conferences and CPD activities.  
4. Advocacy and inclusion: ensuring that trainees are represented at all levels of College governance, and that their voice is heard in College decision-making.
5. Wellbeing: recognising the diversity of trainees, as well as identifying and meeting their wellbeing needs.
6. Education: seeking and acting on feedback provided by trainees.

Work is underway to implement the action items under many of these areas. 

• A new trainee welcome pack has been delivered this year.

• A change management policy about changes to assessments is in progress.
• Trainee representative contact details are available on the Bi-national Committee for Trainees webpage. 
• More information about wellbeing support options for trainees, including the College’s free EAP service, is being communicated. 

We are only at the start of this important work program, but want to ensure that all trainees understand and have oversight of the activities that are underway. To test our current reach, and to understand what more we need to do, we surveyed trainees in July this year.

We asked four short questions, by text message to make it easy for trainees to respond. Roughly 10% of trainees responded and the baseline data told us that most them are aware of trainee-specific committees, but not the detail of the work they are doing.

The Bi-national Committee for Trainees and the Trainee Advisory Council are discussing this and ways to extend the reach of their work. The Trainee Engagement Strategy is a key part of delivering an improved experience for trainees, and we will keep you updated about what is being delivered through this Strategy. 

If you have any thoughts or feedback about this work, or would like to get involved, please contact bct@ranzcp.org.