Women’s Empowerment and
Leadership Initiative
AUSNZ WELI
Achieving gender equity
in anaesthesia and pain medicine
in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
What we do
Empower highly productive women and non-binary anaesthetists and pain medicine specialists achieve equity, promotion and leadership.
How we help
Personalised pairing with experienced advisors, workshop series, networking events, access to resources and network.
Our goal
To improve women’s potential for achieving promotion and leadership positions in anaesthesia and pain medicine by helping to even the playing field.
Who is AUSNZ WELI?
The Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (AUSNZ WELI) was established in 2023 with tripartite support from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and the Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia in Australia and New Zealand (SPANZA).
AUSNZ WELI is a chapter of US WELI, the highly successful program developed by the Society of Pediatric Anesthesiologists (SPA) in the USA.
We support women and non-binary anaesthetists and pain medicine specialists to identify and achieve their career and leadership goals through a program that combines:
- elements of coaching, mentoring and sponsorship
- practical workshops
- resource provision
- networking opportunities
AUSNZ WELI is recruiting
Protégés
Are looking to develop your skills and progress your leadership career?
We invite you to apply to become a protégé with AUSNZ WELI, if you are:
- a woman or non-binary anaesthetist or pain medicine specialist
- working in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand
- at least one year post-fellowship and
A fellow of ANZCA/FPM, or member of the ASA or SPANZA
We also highly encourage that protégé applicants be nominated by a
current Chair or Head of Department or current or past WELI member; other senior leader in anaesthesia in Australia or New Zealand
Protégés will be matched with an advisor in their field of interest. The advisor will combine the skills of mentoring, coaching and sponsorship to help the protégé achieve their career goals.
Advisors
Are you a leader in your field and keen to see more women and non-binary people in key leadership roles?
Come and get involved with AUSNZ WELI and become part of the solution!
An AUSNZ WELI advisor is an individual of any gender who has leadership experience in anaesthesia, pain medicine or any other relevant field.
Advisors should have a history of successful mentoring or coaching and be willing to spend approximately 1 hour per month with their protégés.
Advisors will be supported with workshops on combining coaching, mentorship and sponsorship to support the dyad.
Frequently asked questions
AUS NZ WELI Advisory Board decided to adopt the terms used by (US)WELI to describe the key partnerships facilitated by AUS NZ WELI; the protégé/advisor dyads.
Advisors are Leaders in medicine or other applicable fields who are supported to combine the elements of coaching and mentoring, and incorporate aspects of sponsorship where applicable. Advisors may well be mentors, but we ask them to not just show our protege’s how they have achieved success, but incorporate tools into the relationship that place the onus back onto the protege to develop goals and a plan for their own success.
The protege should be more focused than a mentee on active reflection and planning to achieve their goals; and will participate not only as part of the dyads, but also as contributing members of workshops, networking events, and peer support within the program.
Yes! Its incredibly important to have men involved in WELI, both as advisors and as champions for gender equity. Men can provide opportunities for networking and sponsorship that may be difficult to come by even for very successful women. Cultural change is only possible with the engagement of men, and the fact is that a diverse workplace with equal access to flexible work arrangements and gender equitable policies is good for everyone.
A helping relationship to achieve a mutually identified set of goals to improve an individual’s performance, personal satisfaction and consequently their effectiveness.” (paraphrased from Kilburg, R.R. (1996))
A mentor teaches specific skills within an area of the mentor’s expertise. These include task specific advice, direct instruction, and feedback.
Upcoming events
AUSNZ WELI is excited to be hosting networking events at the upcoming ASA NSC (2 – 5 October, Canberra) and the SPANZA ASM (15 – 18 October, Uluru).
If you are attending either of the these conferences, please join us to develop your networking skills and meet like-minded women and leaders of all genders in a safe and friendly environment.
Want to learn more about AUSNZ WELI advantages?
Acknowledgment of Country
AUSNZ WELI acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.
AUSNZ recognises the unique role of Māori as Tangata Whenua and embraces Te Tiriti o Waitangi recognising Māori as tino rangitiratanga of Aotearoa New Zealand while embracing the three guiding principles of the Treaty – Partnership, Participation and Protection.