Aotearoa NZ Trainees' Day
Date: Sunday 14 June, 2026 | Venue: Grand Millennium Hotel
Time: 8.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $600
For FRANZCOG Trainees
Maximum 24 participants.
To register for this workshop please use the general ASM registration form as linked here and you can either add it to your ASM registration or choose early in the registration process to register solely for a Pre-ASM workshop.
Programme:
The programme will contain the Communications Skills Training in the morning, a sub-specialties overview and an OASIS workshop in the afternoon.
| 8.30am | Mihi whakatau |
| 9.00am | Communication Skills Workshop with Dr Katy Culliney and Dr Bridget Willox |
| 10.30am | Morning tea |
| 10.45am | Communication Skills Workshop continues |
| 12.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.15pm | Sub-specialties overview |
| 2.45pm | Afternoon tea |
| 3.00pm | OASIS workshop with Dr Louise Tomlinson and Dr Sylvia Lin |
| 4.30pm | Finish |
Communication Skills Workshop
Facilitators: Dr Katy Culliney & Dr Bridget Willox
For our clinical relationships to function well, it is important that we reflect on our communication skills and learn about new techniques to use in challenging situations. Challenging situations can arise with colleagues, patients, or in our inter-professional workspaces. It is necessary for us to have the tools to resolve conflict and work in harmony.
The aim of this course is to support trainees in effective communications with colleagues, patients and their families and help identify appropriate tools/strategies to assist in the clinical work environment. The workshop covers:
• how individual and environmental factors can be optimised to facilitate communication
• identifying barriers to effective communication
• effectively delivering 'bad' or unexpected news
• how to identify individual areas for improvement and develop a personalised action plan
Please note that attendance at the Communication Skills Workshop meets the requirement for FRANZCOG trainees to complete a Communication Skills workshop or online modules by 104 weeks Basic Time in Training
Dr Katy Culliney
Katy is an Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Clinical Lead at Tauranga Hospital. She completed her training in New Zealand. Katy has an interest in education and simulation, having completed post-graduate study and a simulation Fellowship in Brisbane. Her clinical interests are in minimally invasive surgery, persistent pelvic pain and outpatient hysteroscopy. She is a member of the RANZCOG simulation, training, and advisory group (STAG) and the RANZCOG/AGES Endoscopic Surgery Advisory Committee (ESAC).
Dr Bridget Willox
Bridget is a 6th year Trainee working at Tauranga hospital. Bridget works closely with Dr Katy Culliney and is passionate about patient centred care, fertility and communication skills and simulation.
Sub-specialties overview
An opportunity to hear and ask questions about each of the sub-specialties from Fellows who have recently qualified or a currently training: GGO, CREI, MFM, AGES, DDU, CU.
OASIS Workshop
A practical workshop led by Dr Louise Tomlinson and Dr Sylvia Lin focused on obstetrics and anal sphincter repair.
Obstetric anal sphincter injuries can have devastating short and long term consequences for women. What happens in delivery suite can make the difference for a woman's outcome. This workshop aims to give you understanding in anatomy, physiology recognition and repair of anal sphincter disruption including a practical hands-on session covering repair on a pig sphincter model.
Dr Louise Tomlinson
Dr Louise Tomlinson is a gynaecologist with a special interest in urogynaecology, She is currently completing a 1 year urology fellowship with the Northern Female Pelvic Mesh Service at Waitematā. She has a special interest in Maternal birth injury and is passionate to see maternal birth injury managed appropriately.
Dr Sylvia Lin
Sylvia is a full-time consultant in Waikato public for over a decade. She held the position of Clinical Tutor Specialist Fellow and Chief Resident role at Counties Manukau prior to Fellowship elevation and has since completed Master of Medical Science degree at the University of Otago, investigating long-term impact of pelvic floor trauma and dysfunction following birth.
Her interests are broad, encompassing both clinical work, also of life at large. She is RANZCOG Training Supervisor and an appointed Fellowship examiner. She has been an Honorary Senior Lecturer in O&G at the University of Auckland for 10 years and continues to cherish teaching and collective learning opportunities.