AMA Tasmania CEO Lara Giddings has provided an update on the 2024 merger.
This time twelve months ago, members of AMA Tasmania resoundingly voted to amalgamate (96 per cent) with Federal AMA, becoming the first ever branch of the Australian Medical Association. With the passing of the first-year anniversary of that historic plebiscite, was the journey worth it?
From the perspective of the member the answer would be "nothing has changed!". From the perspective of the staff, it is an absolute, screaming from the mountain tops, yes! Both perspectives are exactly what we aimed to achieve.
Why did the Tasmanian Board vote itself out of office? Because they knew the future of AMA Tasmania depended on it. We were slowly dying even with increased membership. Put simply, our costs were outstripping our income, and we were essentially relying on the goodwill of staff to keep the organisation going. In all ways, it was simply unsustainable.
Amalgamating with Federal was all about ensuring we could keep doing what we do best - supporting our members and advocating for Tasmanian doctors - while also ensuring we were sustainable into the future.
Critical to the decision to amalgamate was ensuring the Tasmanian voice would not be lost; that we could continue to advocate on state matters and have the space to hold a counter view to our federal colleagues, if need be, in the interests of our members.
So, what has changed you may ask?
It has been 10 months since the branch was formed, and one of the best parts of this amalgamation is the enhanced support structure our staff now have. With access to Federal AMA's finance department, HR and legal experts, health economist, and IT team, we can provide even better services to our members.
Our staff are now compensated fairly, which has boosted morale and retention. Our communication officer is no longer on call 24/7 and instead has joined the weekend roster with a broader media team. And, with fewer administrative tasks, our team can focus on higher-value tasks that directly benefit members.
Joining a larger organisation has also improved our operational capacity.
We now have access to professional development opportunities, and stronger collegiality among team members. And, we are growing by one new role, we could never have afforded in the past, which will only improve member services on the ground.
Throughout this transition, our focus on member experience has remained unwavering. Membership fees have stayed stable, ensuring that members aren't financially burdened by these changes. Our advocacy capabilities are intact, and local meetings and state council functions continue as usual.
Would we do it again? Absolutely!
