The NZATS Inc
The NZATS IncThe executive team of the New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians' Society Inc. (NZATS) oversees the running of the society and is comprised of Anaesthetic Technicians and two Anaesthetists. The ten elected positions are held by Anaesthetic Technicians. The two Anaesthetists are representatives of the NZ National Committee of the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA)Each of the Anaesthetic Technician positions on the executive has one vote and one vote is shared between the representatives from ANZCA and NZSA. Under the executive team are several committees, which are overseen by a member of the team, taking on specific roles including Examinations, Education, Registration and Standards of Practice. Each of these committees is comprised of both technicians and anaesthetists from around the country. Each region within New Zealand has regional representatives who report to the Secretary of the society on matters raised at regional meetings by members that need to be passed onto the executive team either for information purposes or for action.
The purpose of the executive team is to oversee the education of trainee anaesthetic technicians, the further education of anaesthetic technicians who are qualified to practice, uphold the standards of practice for anaesthetic technicians within New Zealand. The Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand now maintains the register of anaesthetic technicians able to practice within New Zealand.
About usThe New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians’ Society inc. (formally the New Zealand Association of Anaesthetic Technicians and Nurses) was formed in 2000 with the amalgamation of the Anaesthetic Technicians Board (ATB) and the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetic Technicians (N.Z.S.A.T.). The ATB were the overseers for education of trainee anaesthetic technicians and the certificate of proficiency (COP) examinations. The N.Z.S.A.T. was an interest group, setup by the qualified technicians, for further education of qualified technicians practicing within New Zealand through the running of conferences every year. After a meeting held in 2000 with the then minister of health for New Zealand and representatives from both groups it was decided that an amalgamation of both the ATB and N.Z.S.A.T. would benefit all anaesthetic technicians within New Zealand, thus the N.Z.A.A.T.N. was formed. In February 2003 representatives from the N.Z.A.A.T.N. executive made a submission to the Health Select committee of parliament on the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Bill (H.P.C.A.), with a view to gaining parliamentary recognition for the profession and compulsory registration for anaesthetic technicians within New Zealand. The Health Select Committee recommended that the name of the society be changed so no confusion over the role that anaesthetic technicians undertake could be drawn, so the name of the society was changed to ‘The New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians’ Society inc.’ (N.Z.A.T.S.). The N.Z.A.T.S. inc. is responsible for overseeing the training of trainee anaesthetic technicians, the further education of qualified anaesthetic technicians and to maintain the membership of anaesthetic technicians within New Zealand. In order to be a member of the society, anaesthetic technicians must hold a certificate of proficiency/diploma, or equivalent, if issued outside New Zealand, or be training in a registered training centre towards the diploma in Anaesthetic Technology. All training within New Zealand is based on the guidelines laid down by the Australian and New Zealand Collage of Anaesthetists in their document (PS8 Guidelines on the Assistant for the Anaesthetist). The N.Z.A.T.S. inc is a nonprofit organisation, with all the roles involved in running the society being undertaken by volunteers.
The Executive
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