Constitutional reform passed at AGM

The AMA (WA) would like to thank its members for giving Dr Richard Choong your proxy to take to the AMA National Conference.

We are pleased to advise that the Constitutional reform, as supported by the AMA (WA), was passed at the Annual General Meeting. 

This reform is significant and ensures that the AMA (WA) will have a guaranteed State nominee on the new national Board. 

WA will have a guaranteed say in the formation and implementation of financial, corporate accountability and governance decisions and, by giving the AMA (WA) your proxy, you have ensured that the crucial representation of WA’s interests on the new Board has been safeguarded.

To all members: thank you again for your ongoing support and, if you have any questions about the AMA Constitutional Reform, contact Chris Kane on 9273 3060 or via email.

Breakfast with the Minister for Health

The AMA (WA) is proud to host an upcoming breakfast function with the Minister for Health.

This is a great opportunity to raise issues you believe are affecting salaried doctors in Western Australia. It will also be a great chance to hear what other salaried doctors feel is important.


Date: Thursday 12th June 2014
Breakfast served from 7.00am
Discussions commence at 7:30am

Venue: Matilda Bay Restaurant
Upstairs Roe Function Room
3 Hackett Drive, Crawley

If you are interested in attending the Breakfast, please contact AMA (WA) secretariat via email or by phoning (08) 9273 3030.

For more information, please click here. 

AMA (WA) wins Advocacy Award at AMA National Conference

The AMA (WA) has won the National Advocacy Award 2014 for its campaign against a proposed new medical school at Curtin University. 

The Association took a lone and courageous stand when it decided to oppose plans for a new medical school in WA, which had backing from within the WA Government as well as other medical professions.

The advocacy effort undertaken by AMA (WA) was persistent, effective and made sure that its messages could not be ignored. 

Chair of the AMA (WA) Council of General Practice inducted into AMA Roll of Fellows

Former AMA (WA) Vice President and long-serving Chair of the AMA (WA) Council of General Practice, Dr Steve Wilson, has been inducted into the AMA Roll of Fellows.

The Perth-based GP, who has been in practice for almost 30 years, is active at all levels of the AMA and Government, advancing the interests of general practitioners and their patients.

Dr Wilson’s keen sense of justice and fairness has led him to practise in less affluent communities where the need for his services has been greatest, and he has been a prominent critic of policies that increase health costs.

Immediate Past President of the Federal AMA, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that the new Fellows have all excelled in their medical careers, across many specialties.

AMA Member Survey about public sector staff freeze

The AMA received 167 responses within 2 days to a survey of public sector salaried practitioners seeking feedback on the impact of the recruitment freeze on the capacity of medical practitioners to perform their duties.

While the AMA is aware the impact is likely to become increasingly significant the longer the freeze lasts, we have provided a summary of the key issues raised in the feedback to the A/Director General that need to be addressed and await a response.

The AMA encourages members to continue to provide feedback by completing the survey or contacting Marcia Kuhne, Josephine Auerbach or Nicola Roman at the AMA. The AMA will keep members informed of any progress.

Apply now for a 2015 prevocational GP placement

The Community Residency Program (formerly PGPPP) offers hospital-based doctors the opportunity to undertake their residency in the community setting.

Develop your skills in community care, gain an understanding of the integration between primary and secondary health care and ‘test the waters’ of General Practice as a possible career with a PGPPP. 

Applications for 2015 are open from 19 May to 6 June 2014.

For more information visit the WAGPET website, or contact WAGPET on (08) 9473 8200 or via email.

Australasian Health Professionals Directory

Last year the AMA reported to members about the ‘Australasian Health Professionals Directory’ (abbreviated in its correspondence as the ‘AUAHP’) a directory which many members signed up to believing it was free, but have subsequently received invoices for over $1,300 for dubious ‘listings’, with ‘interests’ [sic] and ‘dunning fees’ added for non-payment. The correspondence appears to originate in Portugal.

The AMA reiterates its concern about this organisation and its practices and strongly recommends that member do not engage with it. 

Recently members may have received correspondence from the Medical Directory of Australia (MDA), a free, reputable directory of medical practitioners in Australia. It is administered by the Australasian Medical Publishing Company Proprietary Limited.

Members can be assured that in signing up to the MDA, they are dealing with AMPCo which observes the highest standards of ethical behaviour, consistent with what members expect of the AMA.

The Medical Directory of Australia is not in any way affiliated with the ‘Australasian Health Professionals Directory’ or the ‘AUAHP’.

If you have any doubts, please contact AMPCo to confirm which organisation you are dealing with.

Workers' Comp: Protecting employer and employee

Workers’ Compensation or Employers’ Indemnity insurance covers your workers when they are working for your business, and/or while acting under your instructions.

Now you know you have to have it, but what does it do?

Workers' compensation insurance protects employers from financial costs when a worker sustains a work-related injury or disease. It also protects injured workers, by providing weekly payments to cover loss of earning capacity, payment of reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses, and other entitlements.

To find out who needs to be covered as well as answers to frequently asked questions on workers’ compensation, please click here.

iHealth CardioLab: Track automatically. Know instantly.

AMA Medical Products is pleased to announce the arrival of a revolutionary Wireless CardioVascular Monitoring System that is available for the first time in Australia. 

Utilising Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity technology, the iHealth CardioLab allows you to Measure ABI and blood pressure directly from your iPad, enabling you to share results instantly. 
 

It also measures MAP, pulse pressure, stroke volume and cardiac output, records systolic/diastolic numbers, heart rate and pulse waves, and enables viewing of historical readings and WHO classifications through colourful, easy-to-read displays. 

For more information, please click here, or contact AMA Medical Products via email for a live demonstration.

Calling All Registrars!

Help the AMA to improve your training experience by completing the 2014 Specialist Trainee and GP Registrar Surveys.

The Australian Medical Association invites you to participate in a confidential online survey of hospital-based specialty trainees and GP registrars to hear what you have to say about the quality of your training experience.

The AMA survey is run only once every four years, so it’s vital that you take this opportunity to make your voice heard. The AMA believes your voice is vital is improving the quality of the training experience for vocational trainees.

Importantly, these two parallel surveys differ from other surveys that trainees complete, in being completely independent from Government, Health Services, Colleges and any other training providers. 

The survey should only take about 10 minutes to complete. Complete the survey by 31 May to go into the draw to win one of 10 iTunes or Google Play gift cards valued at $50 each.

Part-time positions for RMOs

The 2015 Centralised RMO Recruitment Process is now open and the Association will be keeping a close eye on proceedings.

The Co-Chairs of the AMA (WA) DiT Committee met with PMCWA prior to applications opening, and were pleased that PMCWA had taken on board many of the suggested changes advocated by the AMA following the 2014 application process.

The Association is keen to hear from those practitioners applying for part-time positions.

Please email nicola.roman@amawa.com.au to keep the industrial team updated on the progress of your part-time application.

Resident Medical Officers 2015: St John of God Health Care

Expand your skills, knowledge, and confidence at St John of God Health Care (Subiaco & Murdoch) with:

• Daily contact with many of Perth’s leading specialists
• Abundant opportunities to act as surgical first assistant
• Structured Medical Education – State BPT Lecture Series; Problem-based learning; “skills and drills”
• Research & Extracurricular professional opportunities – social justice activities

RMO positions will commence from 12 January 2015.

Applications are now open, and close on 20 June 2014.

For applications, please click here.

(The terms and conditions of employment are in line with the Department of Health Medical Practitioners (Metropolitan Health Services) AMA Industrial Agreement 2013)

For further information on SJGHC please click here. 

CV Writing and Interview Skills

This interactive workshop is designed to assist doctors who are contemplating applying for College Training Programmes and/or other medical positions within the health industry.

Once fully registered for this seminar prereading documentation will be provided for preparation of interview skills, application letter and Curriculum Vitae. This seminar will involve an interactive workshop that provides a simulated panel interview with feedback on performance.

Cost: Members: $50. Non-members: $250
Time: 6pm registration, 6:30pm start.
Venue: AMA (WA), 14 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands

For more information and registration, please click here. 

Ask the Experts

AMA Financial services provide a broad range of insurances and financial products and services.

From commercial covers for all forms of Medical Practices and other commercial covers along with personal covers for your home & contents and travel.

Not only that we provide a full range of Life and income protection covers and financial planning advice.

If you are considering or managing your own Self-Managed Super Funds, please feel free to call us on (08) 9273 3000 for a chat.

Great discounts available in this year's Entertainment book

Help us raise funds for the AMA (WA) Foundation by ordering the new Entertainment Book. By ordering through the AMA (WA), 20 per cent of your purchase will go towards the Foundation.

Great discounts are available on a range of products including restaurants, leisure activities, accommodation and much more.

Order online, or contact Louise at AMA reception on 9273 3000 or via email before 30 April 2014 to receive an extra bonus!

For more information, please click here.

Copyright © 2013 Australian Medical Association of Western Australia
14 Stirling Highway, Nedlands WA 6009. Ph (08) 9273 3000