AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen provides an update on the past week at the national AMA.
Hello, and happy Friday from Perth!
I'm wrapping up an incredible week here in Western Australia this morning joining our GP specialist members here in Perth for a breakfast before visiting more hospitals and practices (and the RFDS headquarters!) throughout the day.
It's been a huge week, starting last weekend with a meeting of our Council of General Practice (CGP) where the Strengthening Medicare announcement and its effects on general practice were discussed. CGP members spoke of the need to keep advocating for reform to MBS items to support longer consultations, and to ensure the new workforce measures place GPs where they are needed most. Improving healthcare for older Australians in aged care is another key area of focus for CGP this year as it explores best models of care which will attract and support GPs to work in this space.
I went straight from our CGP meeting to our AMA NSW office to join in the fun creating material for our first ever entry in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras!
It was an absolute thrill to be joined by members from AMA NSW and AMA Queensland, AMA ACT, AMSA, as well as AMA staff from across the country at this historic occasion.
The response from the crowds was amazing, it was an electrifying event and a joy to be able to publicly show the AMA's support for inclusive LGBTQIASB+ healthcare and solidarity with LGBTQIASB+ healthcare workers. A massive thanks go to our policy team, especially Sally Witchalls and Jay Zanesco, for the behind-the-scenes work for almost two years to get this all happening. I can't wait to do it all over again in 2026!
I spoke with ABC Radio National on the weekend regarding the federal government's announcement of funding for more urgent care clinics and why this is the wrong approach to solving problems in patient access to care when they need it. I told Radio National listeners "we continue to see investment in the same Band-Aid solution without progress towards the underlying reforms that we need to improve general practice and pressures on hospitals". Instead, we need to see meaningful reforms such as the costed proposals we've put forward in our Modernise Medicare campaign, including longer consultation items and funding for after-hours care.
It's been a packed dance-card here in Western Australia for our President's Roadshow with visits to public and private hospitals, practices, events with AMA members including GPs and other specialists and doctors-in-training, launching our budget submission on private health and making a call for improvements to the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP).
It has been so wonderful to hear from doctors here about the issues unique to WA, as well as those which are being felt right across the country. There is a strong sense that we're on the right track with the pressure we're applying to the federal government to pay their fair share of public hospital funding, sort out the private health sector with a new authority, properly resource the complex care in general practice, and deliver meaningful health workforce planning so we have doctors for the future.
St John of God Murdoch doctors with Dr McMullen
A/Prof Julian Rait, Dr McMullen, CEO of St John of God Murdoch, Ben Irish, AMA CEO Ms Natalia Centellas
AMA WA President Dr Michael Page and Dr McMullen
Looking ahead, Saturday is International Women's Day. Women's rights are at a critical point worldwide. While significant progress has been made, gender inequity remains deeply entrenched in many aspects of life. Around the world, and even here in Australia, women continue to face barriers to healthcare, economic opportunities, and personal safety. We celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 - a day to reflect on the progress and recognise the challenges ahead. This year's theme is "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment", which serves as a powerful reminder of the need for systemic change to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
I'm off to Melbourne next week where I'll be speaking at St Hilda's College for International Women's Day, and back to Canberra later in the week for our first Federal Council meeting for 2025. There's been no shortage of work coming out of our councils and committees to discuss, and I look forward to sharing with you more following that.
Of course, we're all thinking of colleagues in Southeast Queensland and Northern NSW this weekend - I'm on my way home from Perth tomorrow but my husband has sandbags at the ready and the practice is furiously preparing to switch to telehealth for the remainder of the week (as I write this on Thursday). Thank you to AMAQ and AMANSW who have been sharing disaster management advice with practices. We will continue as always to ensure patients and communities are not left behind, and liaising with government to make sure medical services and medical professionals are prioritised in any recovery efforts.
Stay safe, and you'll be hearing from me again next Friday.
