Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Current SIGs

Upcoming SIG Events

Sustainability SIG November meeting

ACIPC members are invited to attend the upcoming Sustainability SIG meeting which will be held online on Thursday, 27 November at 12:00 PM (AEDT) via Zoom. This is a free event open to ACIPC members. 

Topic: Driving Sustainability with Reusable Gowns & Drapes

Event Description:
Reusable sterile gowns and drapes: A case study on using existing evidence, collaborative policy development, and case studies of change to drive larger sustainability wins.

Speaker: 
Ben Dunne is a Thoracic Surgeon at Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He is the RMH Clinical Sustainability Lead, he a Senior Fellow in Sustainable Healthcare and chairs the University of Melbourne Environmentally Sustainable Surgery Network, and is Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Environmental Sustainability in Surgical Practice Working Party. Ben is passionate about driving clinician engagement with sustainable healthcare initiatives, reducing low value care and improving collaboration in sustainability across the health system

To register for the November meeting, please click here: sig-sustainability

For more information, please visit the Sustainability page on the ACIPC website: https://www.acipc.org.au/sustainability.

Contact SIG Convenor: Karen McKenna, Infection Prevention and Control Consultant, Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
karen.mckenna@acipc.org.au

Purpose of a SIG

The purpose of a Special Interest Group (SIG) is to provide a network for members with a particular interest to develop their professional skills, exchange views and information, and to guide the career aspirations of junior members.

The ACIPC Membership and Engagement Committee (MEC), under the delegation of the board, will consider if the proposed SIG contributes to the purpose, strategic goals, and objectives of the College. To review the 2023-2029 strategic plan please visit https://www.acipc.org.au/about/strategy/

Establishing a SIG

Members of the College may apply to establish a SIG by sending the following information to the ACIPC office:

• the name of the proposed SIG
• a statement of the purpose and objectives of the SIG
• the proposed convenor of the SIG
• the names of at least five members who support the formation and ongoing coordination of the SIG
• Note: only ACIPC members are invited to attend SIGS

Members of the College may apply to establish a SIG by sending the following information to the ACIPC office office@acipc.org.au

What will you get from a SIG?

Opportunities to

• Develop new friendships
• Network and create links with likeminded people
• Grow your knowledge and skills
• Stay up to date with current information
• Join us at ACIPC Conference and meet with familiar faces
• Engage with ACIPC Committees

SIG Activities

SIG activities are open to all members of the college.

SIG activities may include:

• Hosting of events related to the SIG including education, webinars, meetings
• Development of communications including emails, information for college website, activity reports for the board

Other activities are subject to the approval of the MEC and can be proposed via the Executive Manager of the College.

Management of SIGs

• the members of the SIG will appoint a convenor
• the convener will be the point of contact and spokesperson for the group and will manage the activities of the group with the support of the members
• SIGs will operate under the MEC

Reporting of SIG Activities

To promote the activities of SIGs and ensure their success:

• SIGs should provide at least four updates per year to be included in the College’s newsletter, IPC News
• SIGs must provide an update for inclusion in the College’s annual report including:
  • a list of current members
  • a summary of activities for the year
  • objectives for the next year

Hosting SIG Events

A budget must be approved by the Executive Manager for any proposed SIG events with a registration fee or expenses. Any agreements, such as venue, catering bookings and industry sponsorship, must also be approved by the Executive Manager. Please contact the office for more information.

Office Support

The office will support SIGs by:

• Publishing SIG updates and content in IPC News
• Setting up Zoom Meetings for the SIG.
• Please note: The office does not attend SIG meetings or provide technical support.
• Sending email updates to SIG attendees
• Sending email updates to College members (where relevant)
• Posting content on the College’s digital channels (where relevant)
• Providing registration forms for SIG events
• Collecting fees for SIG events
• Authorising industry sponsorship agreements
• Organising the payment of expenses for SIG events