AMA (WA) President discusses Parliamentary report on Alternate Approaches to Reducing Illicit Drug Use

AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller spoke with ABC Radio this morning on the recent release of the Final Report of the Select Committee into Alternate Approaches to Reducing Illicit Drug Use and its Effects on the Community.

Dr Miller said the State Government should consider decriminalising the possession of some illicit drugs for personal use. 

The segment has now been uploaded to our website and can be listened to online here. 

AMA (WA) President joins Channel 7’s Flashpoint to discuss medicinal cannabis

AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller appeared on Channel 7’s television program Flashpoint earlier this month alongside Health Minister Roger Cook. The episode looked at access to medicinal cannabis and the changes to access announced by the State Government.

Missed the episode? You can watch it online on the Channel 7 website.

Telehealth services for patients in rural and remote areas

On 1 November 2019, new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items were introduced to allow GPs and non-specialist medical practitioners to provide services by video conference to patients living in rural and remote areas. The new MBS items are designed to help to ensure that people living in rural and remote locations receive timely primary care services that support the established clinical relationship between the patient and his/her usual doctor.
 

Only patients living in Modified Monash Model (MMM) 6 and 7 areas will be eligible for the new service. The AMA (WA) has already been contacted by rural GPs expressing surprise and concern at being excised from MMM6. The Association is working to seek a review and change to those towns to ensure that the expected access becomes available. Those members who believe their practices and patients are affected by this change are invited to contact Michael Prendergast at the AMA (WA) on (08) 9273 3008.

Climate and Health in WA: Risks and Opportunities – Forum invitation

Thursday 5 December | 4.30pm – 6.30pm

Doctors for the Environment Australia WA are co-hosting a forum with the Climate and Health Alliance. 

The forum has been coordinated to run alongside the official proceedings of the Climate Health WA Inquiry and will outline the current status of climate and health policy, advocacy and research in Australia and internationally, and includes a presentation on the legal responsibilities of public authorities to manage the risks of climate change.

The presenters include:

• Fiona Armstrong, Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA)
• Dr Kingsley Faulkner, Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA)
• Carolyn Dearing, Watershed Legal
• Professor Tarun Weeramanthri, former Chief Health Officer
• Jaime Yallup-Farrant, Climate Justice Union (CJU)

The forum will be held at The Niche, 11 Aberdare Road, Nedlands.

For further information or to register, please visit the eventbrite website. 

Dr YES team participating in Perth Pride Parade this weekend!

Tomorrow, Saturday 30 November, will see the celebration of 30 years of Pride in Western Australia! Around 25 of our Dr YES volunteers and coordinators will be participating in the Pride Parade to show their support for the LGBT+ community. 

The parade will commence at 8.00pm in Northbridge and will head down Aberdeen Street and James Street before finishing on Francis Street. We would like to wish our Dr YES team all the best for the evening!

It's time to renew your membership!

Renew your membership now to ensure you continue to receive representation and access to member benefits and services.

Renewing your membership is easy. You can renew online or call (08) 9273 3055.

If you wish to check your membership category or haven’t received your invoice, please contact the AMA (WA) membership team on (08) 9273 3055 or email membership@amawa.com.au.

We look forward to continuing to support you and the profession in 2020 and beyond.

Catch-up super contributions

For the first time this financial year there is a new opportunity to save for your retirement by making catch-up super contributions using the ‘carry forward’ rule.

From 1 July 2017, employees, as well as the self-employed, can claim a tax deduction on personal super contributions.

To continue reading, please visit the AMA Financial Services website.

Applications open for 2020 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship

Applications are now open for the 2020 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship, a program that has supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study medicine since 1994.

The successful applicant will receive $10,000 each year for the duration of their course.

AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said that previous recipients have gone on to become prominent leaders in health and medicine, including Associate Professor Kelvin Kong, Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon.

“Latest records show that there are fewer than 500 Indigenous doctors in the medical workforce, which is about 0.4 per cent of the workforce. To reach population parity of 3 per cent, the number should be closer to 3500,” Dr Bartone said.

For further information, please visit the AMA website. 

AMA Recruit seeking GP for established Fremantle practice

Would you like to work in trendy Fremantle? AMA Recruit has an exciting opportunity for an experienced GP to join an established GP practice in Fremantle located just 700m from the renowned café strip.

• Take over a patient load in an established WAGPET practice
• this practice, is part of a successful, GP led, small group;
• the practice holds AGPAL and WAGPET accreditation, with an emphasis on GP training.

For further information or to apply, please visit the AMA Recruit website.

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