USANZ and ANZSU Cooperation Agreement

Last Friday, 8 August 2025, a formal Cooperation Agreement between USANZ and the Aotearoa New Zealand Society of Urology (ANZSU) was signed by USANZ President Prof Damien Bolton and ANZSU President Dr Mark Fraundorfer.

The Cooperation Agreement marks a significant milestone for the AoNZ Autonomy Project, a core deliverable in the USANZ Strategic Plan for 2023-25.

ANZSU is the membership organisation for urological surgeons and other health professionals working in the field of urology in New Zealand, formed to address urological issues specific to New Zealand, and whose members are identical to those USANZ members in the USANZ New Zealand Section.  Given the overlap in membership and functions of the two organisations, the Cooperation Agreement sets out the ways in which USANZ and ANZSU will coordinate and collaborate.

The signing of the Cooperation Agreement on Friday was the culmination of years of hard work which included finding a model that creates autonomy for our AoNZ members while also keeping USANZ intact as one organisation representing urologists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a pivotal moment in our collaborative efforts and marks a new chapter for USANZ.

The agreement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of many individuals who have been instrumental in these negotiations over several years. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved, especially Leanne Shaw, Michael Vincent, Helen O’Connell, Michael Nugara and Madeleine Bennison, whose contributions were invaluable.

ANZSU Membership will come into effect for the 2026 Membership year. USANZ will continue to support ANZSU as they develop their business operations and become more self-sufficient. This is an exciting time for the future of urology across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and we look forward to implementing the agreement over the coming months.