ANZGITA
Like us
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission and Objectives
    • Our History
    • Our Principles
    • Our Governance >
      • Board of Directors
      • AGM 2022
      • Annual Reports
      • Recognition Awards
      • Advisory Group
    • Our Trainers >
      • Programs Coordinator
      • Surgical Coordinator
      • Karen Kempin RN
      • Chris Hair (Assoc Prof)
      • Eileen Natuzzi
      • Chris Kiely
      • Leshni Pillay
      • Tony Clarke
    • Our Regional Colleagues >
      • Dr Mail Ling Perman
      • Dr Aminiasi Rokocakau
      • Dr Rooney Jagilly
    • Program Expansion
  • News
    • ANZGITA Information
    • Events
  • Virtual Training
    • 2023 Webinar Program
    • vTERM Service Project
    • Samoa Training Program
    • Previous Virtual Programs >
      • Webinars 2021
      • Webinars 2020
      • COVID 2021
  • In-Country Training
    • 2023 In-Country Programs
    • Fiji
    • Solomon Islands
    • Timor-Leste
    • Nepal
    • Samoa
    • Tonga
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Myanmar
    • Trainer Information & Tools for Programs
  • Supporters
    • Offer Your Services as a TRAINER
    • Become a Supporting MEMBER
    • Equipment, Accessories & Logistics Supporters
    • Monetary Donors
    • Medical Community
    • Government
    • Operations
  • DONATE
    • DONATE TO ANZGITA
    • Sock Project
    • Variceal Banders
    • Donate Equipment & Supplies
    • Doctors: promote ANZGITA in your Rooms
    • Donation Thank You
  • Contact

Our History

PictureThe 2008 Masters students in Fiji with Assoc. Professor Jioji Malani of the Fiji Medical School
ANZGITA was initially conceived by Professor Finlay Macrae after discussions in Suva with Professor Rob Moulds, one time Professor of Medicine at the Fiji School of Medicine. Rob and Finlay had been meeting for nearly a decade during periodic visits by Fin to the Gordon St General Practice to provide specialist consultative and endoscopy services.

Prior to 2007 there was no specialist training in the South Pacific islands, and doctors who decided to complete their training abroad were often reluctant to return home. The need to support local training for postgraduates and undergraduates by gastroenterologists through an organised program delivered in a public environment was articulated. 

The project was thus born. The Australian team adopted the title of Gastroenterology Fiji Training Team (GeFiTT). Early on, it sought recognition from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) and the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO). The WGO welcomed this development in the region and included it as the newest of its WGO Training Centres around the world. These training centres are generally centres supported by first world national gastroenterology organisations delivering training in developing countries. Annual support (US$15,000 at present) has been provided by the WGO to support the centre. GESA was also supportive, but wished to remain administratively separate.

Picture
The GESA President (2013-15), who had always held an interest in GeFiTT, encouraged GeFiTT to incorporate in 2014 to enable us to relate better with other organisations, including GESA and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).  Recognizing that our interests are now also outside Fiji, we changed our name to Australian and New Zealand Gastroenterology International Training Association (ANZGITA), which recognises our primary mission as well as the support from team members in New Zealand.

ANZGITA is a public company limited by guarantee under the Commonwealth of Australia Corporations Act 2001. It is also a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profitS Commission (ACNC).

As defined in our Constitution, the affairs of ANZGITA are managed by a Board of Directors appointed from our members at the AGM. There are no salaried executive officers and all members provide their time and services pro bono. Those eligible for membership are individuals who have directly participated on-site in delivering training programs and other individuals, as well as companies and organisations who support us in achieving our objectives. ​

© 2022 Australian & New Zealand Gastroenterology International Training Association Ltd        ABN 73 601 657 185
ANZGITA is a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
ANZGITA is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the Australian Tax Office. Your donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.
ANZGITA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Maori as tangata whenua (people of the land) of New Zealand.
Privacy Statement     Website Disclaimer