Selection of Papers: Selection for the session is made by the Scientific Convenor of the ASM in consultation with the NZSA Education Officer. To be accepted for the session the abstract and the work described in it must be of a suitably high standard. Papers should not be accepted simply to fill spaces in the Ritchie Prize Session. Any questions regarding eligibility shall be referred to the NZSA Education Officer.

Declaration: Entrants must declare compliance with the following conditions:

• Work presented in this session must have been carried out predominantly in New Zealand.
• The presenter should be the lead researcher and must have played the major role in the conduct of the study and preparation of the presentation.
• The presenter must be a member of NZSA.
• The work must not have been presented previously at a major Australasian or International Meeting. (Note that presentation at a NZ meeting would not normally preclude later presentation elsewhere).
• Receipt of appropriate Ethics Committee approval.

The Ritchie Prize Session: This is a named plenary session at the ASM. If there are insufficient entrants, the balance of the session should be made up with other submitted free papers. If there are insufficient free papers to populate the session then the remainder of the time can be used at the discretion of the Organising Committee. The format of presentations is a 10-minute oral presentation with 5 minutes for questions, and will include candidates for both the Ritchie and NZSA Trainee Prize. The winner of the John Ritchie Prize will be invited to apply for the NZSA Ritchie Prize Research Grant. Receipt of the Research Grant is not automatic.

Guidelines

1. The Prize shall be awarded to the presenter judged to have the best paper at the Ritchie Prize Session which is held at the Annual Scientific Meeting organised in whole or in part by the NZSA and at which the Society’s Annual General Meeting is held. In the year an ASM is not held, the Ritchie Prize shall not be awarded.
2. Any questions relating to eligibility for the Prize shall be referred to the President of NZSA for discussion by the NZSA Executive Committee. The NZSA Executive Committee’s decision will be final.
3. Three adjudicators for the Prize will be appointed annually by the NZSA Executive Committee. The judges will not themselves be eligible for the prize while acting in that capacity.
4. An award will only be made if, in the opinion of the judges, there is a paper of sufficient merit.
5. Selection of papers: Selection for the session is made by the Scientific Convenor of the ASM in consultation with the NZSA Education Officer. To be accepted for the session the abstract and the work described in it must be of a suitably high standard.

Judging: The judging panel of three is selected and led by the NZSA Education Officer.

1. Judges are ineligible to enter.
2. Judges must be given a copy of these guidelines.
3. The approved marking schedule is to be used.
4. To be eligible for the Prize a presentation shall score well in every section.
5. If there is no presentation of a suitable standard the judges shall make no award.
6. The judges’ decision is final.

The Prize

The current value of the John Ritchie Prize is $2500. The winner will also receive a suitable certificate. The work of the winner may also be submitted to the AIC Journal (Anaesthesia and Intensive Care) for publication. The winner of the Ritchie Prize will be invited to apply for the NZSA Ritchie Prize Research Grant. Receipt of the Research Grant is not automatic. The John Ritchie Prize Research Award Value $5000. 

This will be offered to the winner of the Ritchie Prize who will be asked to submit a proposal to the NZSA Executive (no more than one A4 sheet) within three months of receiving the award. 

The award is to be for a specific project or part of a project and supported by a budget. 

The proposal will be considered by a subcommittee convened by the NZSA Education Officer who will make a recommendation to the NZSA Executive Committee. A condition of the award is that a report on the project be submitted within 12 months of receiving the award and that work arising from the award should be presented at a meeting in New Zealand.