The ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee (WAC) is dedicated to upholding the personal health and wellbeing of ASA members, associates, and their families. Together, we are committed to promoting the wellbeing and overall wellness of our ASA community.
The WAC Tasmanian position is currently vacant. To submit an expression of interest to become the Tasmanian Representative, please contact ASA Wellbeing Secretariat Ms. Sue Donovan sdonovan@asa.org.au
Dr. Lan-Hoa Lê MBBS (UNSW), FANZCA
Specialist Anaesthetist | Wellbeing Advocate | Mindfulness Educator
Dr. Lan-Hoa Lê is a Specialist Anaesthetist based on the Central Coast of NSW, with a deep commitment to clinician wellbeing and peer support. She serves as Chair of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists’ Wellbeing Advocates Committee and is an Executive Member of the ASA’s Wellbeing Advocates Special Interest Group.
Dr. Lê facilitates Hand-n-Hand Peer Support training and holds a Mental Health First Aid Certificate. She is also a certified mindfulness educator with over 18 years of training through the Sakya Institute Buddhist Academy (SIBA), specialising in ‘Wellness on-the-fly’ techniques for healthcare professionals. Her qualifications include Calm Abiding (Shamatha) Meditation Train-the-Trainer certification.
Dr. Lê’s guiding philosophy is simple yet powerful: “A safe doctor is a safe patient.”
Dr Shona Bright is the current Chair of the West Australian Wellbeing Advocates (WAWA) Group and represents WA on the ASA Wellbeing Advocates Committee. WAWA meets biannually to provide a networking and peer support platform for wellbeing advocates in WA. We promote awareness of wellbeing issues for Fellows and Anaesthesia Trainees and share initiatives that foster a healthy work environment and support the overall wellbeing of anaesthesia colleagues. We also advocate on behalf of trainees and colleagues impacted by departmental or group policies and practices that may be affecting their wellbeing. It is so encouraging to collaborate on wellbeing initiatives with this amazing group of people – they are all inspiring!
Our latest initiative is to develop a New Fellows Mentoring program. Please get in touch if you would like a mentor, or if you’d like to be a mentor.
Contact can be made for peer support or resources through the WA ANZCA office – wa@anzca.edu.au or 08 6188 4555.
*The ASA Peer Support initiative for peer support facilitator training or looking for peer support yourself can be contacted via ASApeersupport@asa.org.au
WA Resources
- Doctor’s Health Advisory Service Western Australia provides a confidential, anonymous 24 hour/7 days a week advice line and referral system for doctors and medical students seeking assistance with health or personal problems.
- Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia. Call Drs4Drs WA 08 9321 3098
SA/NT resources
- Doctors Health SA – A fabulous resource which offers clinical, education, training and phoneadvisory servicesexclusively to medical students and doctors. It also has a comprehensive resource section including crisis care, personal education and links to finding the right GP for you.
- StandBy Support After Suicide – provides free, ongoing support for anyone bereaved or impacted by suicide in South Australia. They offer emotional support, resources, and guidance for navigating grief and the impact of trauma.
- Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia. Call Drs4Drs SA/NT 08 8366 0250
VIC resources
- The Victorian Doctors Health Program is a free confidential advisory service for all Victorian doctors and medical students who have concerns about their well-being: such as stress, mental health questions, substance use struggles, or physical health issues.
- Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia. Call Drs4Drs VIC 1300 330 543
NSW resources
- Doctors’ Health NSW offers a telephone help line for personal and confidential advice for practitioners and students, and also for colleagues and family members in NSW.
Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia. Call Drs4Drs NSW 02 9437 6552
QLD resources
- Drs4Drs has been established by the medical profession for the medical profession. Through a network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, independent, free, safe, supportive and confidential services are available across Australia. Call Drs4Drs QLD 07 3833 4352
Suicide Help
Peer support
The WAC runs a various Hand-n-Hand Peer Support facilitator training workshops across the year.
Peer support provides a safe and private space for emotional and well-being assistance. Peer support is:
• Between peers and is a supportive one to one or group experience
• Designed to allow facilitators and participants to be equals, sharing similar experiences
• Voluntary, opt-in and opt-out anytime
• Not involving clinical psychiatric treatment
• Not a mentor to mentee dynamic, nor supervisory role dynamic
• Supported by evidence as a pre-clinical mental health intervention
Join ASA Peer Support Confidential Database, which connects peer support seekers with trained facilitators
Looking for training to become a facilitator? Click here to find the next workshop.