Australian Medical Association

Australian Medical Association

Abbreviation	AMA
Motto	"pro genere humano concordes" (all as one for mankind)
Predecessor	British Medical Association
Formation	1962
Type	professional association
Purpose	representing medical doctors and students
Headquarters	42 Macquarie Street, Barton, Australian Capital Territory
President	Associate Professor Brian Owler MBBS BSc(Med)(Hons) PhD FRACS
Vice President	Dr Stephen Parnis MBBS DipSurgAnat FACEM
Subsidiaries	NSW Branch QLD Branch VIC Branch SA Branch WA Branch TAS Branch NT Branch ACT Branch
Website	ama.com.au

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is the professional association for Australian doctors and medical students. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Agency. The association’s national headquarters are located in Barton, Australian Capital Territory, in addition to the offices of its branches in each of the states and territories in Australia.

Aims and Objectives

The AMA has a range of representative and scientific committees and one of its stated aims is "leading the health policy debate by developing and promoting alternative policies to those government policies that the AMA considers poorly targeted or ill-informed; responding to issues in the health debate through the provision of a wide range of expert resources; and commissioning and conducting research on health issues.".^[1]

Organisation structure

The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.

The mechanisms that allow this include:

working with governments to maintain and increase provision of world-class medical care to all Australians;
tracking and reporting government performance on health;
challenging government on policy that potentially harms the interests of patients;
providing a resonant and authoritative expert medical commentary on health issues;
responding to issues in the health debate through provision of a wide range of expert resources; and
commissioning and conducting research on health issues.

The AMA supports patient care by serving the medical profession across a broad range of services, including:

protecting the academic, professional and economic independence and the well being of medical practitioners;
promoting and advancing ethical behaviour by the medical profession and protecting the integrity and independence of the doctor/patient relationship; and
preserving and protecting the political, legal and industrial interests of medical practitioners.

History

The entrance of BMA House at 135-137 Macquarie Street Sydney, home to the New South Wales Branch of the BMA and then the AMA from 1930 to 1980.

The British Medical Association, founded in England in 1832 to promote both the study of medicine and protection of the medical profession, established branches in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in 1879-80. The New South Wales branch, under its founding president Sir Arthur Renwick, replaced the earlier "Australian Medical Association" formed in Sydney by Dr William Bland in 1859.^[2] The BMA Branches of the Australian states and territories formally merged into the Australian Medical Association in 1962.^[3]

Presidents

Cecil Colville (1962–1964)
Angus Murray (1964–1967)
Clarence Rieger (1967–1970)
Roderick Macdonald (1970–1972)
Gavin Johnson (1972–1973)
Keith Jones (1973–1976)
Rupert Magarey (1976–1979)
Lionel Wilson (1979–1982)
Lindsay Thompson (1982–1985)
Trevor Pickering (1985–1988)
Bryce Phillips (1998–1990)
Bruce Shepherd (1990–1993)
Brendan Nelson (1993–1995)
David Weedon (1995–1996)
Keith Woollard (1996–1998)
David Brand (1998–2000)
Kerryn Phelps (2000–2003)
Bill Glasson (2003–2005)
Mukesh Haikerwal (2005–2007)
Rosanna Capolingua (2007–2009)
Andrew Pesce (2009–2011)
Steve Hambleton (2011–2014)
Brian Owler (2014–present)

Coat of Arms

Arms of Australian Medical Association
Notes The arms of the Australian Medical Association, granted by the Kings of Arms (and supporters by Garter) on 10 June 1963 (Earl Marshal's warrant, 30 July 1962), consist of:^[4] Crest On a Wreath Argent and Vert, a Kangaroo proper, holding between the fore paws a Sun in splendour Or. Helm Gules, doubled Argent. Escutcheon Argent, on a Cross formy throughout Gules, within a Bordure Ermine, a Rod of Aesculapius Or. Supporters On either side an Unicorn Argent, unguled armed and crined Or, supporting between the forelegs a Staff proper, flying thereon a Pennant per fess Argent and Vert charged with the Badge of the Australian Medical Association. Motto Pro Genere Humano Concordes

References

↑ "About the AMA - Advocacy". Australian Medical Association. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
↑ "BMA House". Heritage Council of New South Wales. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
↑ "About the AMA - History". Australian Medical Association. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
↑ Low, Charles (1971). A Roll of Australian Arms. Adelaide: Rigby Limited. p. 7. ISBN 0-85179-149-2. OCLC 246821.

External links

AMA – National site

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