The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) welcomes reports of Health Minister Tanya Plibersek’s $10m commitment to address the medical internship shortfall but warns there is still more work to be done.

AMSA President Mr James Churchill said it was a huge step forward to see Commonwealth investment into internships but that it was disappointing that the states had not stepped up to help.

“It’s promising that the Federal Government has committed funding to new internship positions in the private sector. This announcement makes it possible for 100 more medical graduates to be able to work as doctors in Australia’s communities,” Mr Churchill said.

“Unfortunately, even with this new Commonwealth support, there will be a shortfall of at least 80 internships. These positions are available and ready to be accredited, yet sadly, Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland Health Ministers have simply turned their backs on this important issue and have not provided the funding needed.

“After years of warnings and months of discussions, we still face a situation where graduate doctors are likely to be left unable to work in Australia’s healthcare system next year. The failure to create enough internships for Australian graduates represents a failure of leadership and coordination between the state and federal governments,” he said.

The Commonwealth funding is understood to be redirected from the Government’s Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP). AMSA has previously expressed support for PGPPP and emphasised the importance of continued strong investment in this program.

“It is also concerning that these new positions funded by the Commonwealth may be subject to conditions or requirements beyond those generally associated with internship positions. AMSA opposes ‘return of service’ arrangements for medical graduates,” he said.

AMSA is calling for state governments to end months of uncertainty and agree to the Minister’s proposal for internships for all Australian-trained applicants.

Media Contact

Zoe Stewart
0435 052 570
publicrelations@amsa.org.au

Press Release PDFs:

• $10m for medical internships a good start: AMSA (PDF)

AMSA Global Health Conference, Cairns, 16-19 September 2012 (Twitter: #GHC2012)

More than 500 medical students from around Australia and the Asia-Pacific are meeting in Cairns this week to discuss health issues of global significance at the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Global Health Conference.

AMSA President Mr James Churchill said that many medical students were passionate about contributing to positive changes in the developing world.

“Medical students across Australia want to be a part of the generation that ends social and health inequity,” Mr Churchill said.

The AMSA Global Health Conference will provide an opportunity for the next generation of doctors and public health advocates to discuss a diverse range of topics including the health effects of climate change, population growth, economic and social development, migration and refugees, rural and Indigenous health, and non-communicable diseases.

“Good health is underpinned by social determinants like education, food and housing.  It is critical that medical education includes a focus on these factors if we, as future doctors, are to have any chance of improving the health of people across the globe,” Mr Churchill said.

“Young people are a powerful resource and are effective agents of social change.  As medical students, we are in the unique position of being able to provide a fresh and innovative perspective, while also being able to offer an informed opinion on health issues,” Mr Churchill said.

Delegates will hear from a range of speakers including Prof Stephen Howes, Chief Economist at AusAID; Dr Mark Wenitong, Aboriginal Pubic Health Medical Officer at NACCHO; Mr Richard Towle, Regional Representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees; and A/Prof Linda Selvey, immediate past CEO of Greenpeace Australia.

The AMSA Global Health Conference has been organised by a team of medical students from James Cook University and will bring together more than 500 medical students in Cairns to discuss global health and development.  Recognising the health challenges in Far North Queensland, this year’s conference has a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific, tropical medicine, and rural and Indigenous health. For further information or to arrange interviews with the AMSA President, speakers or delegates, please contact Zoe Stewart on 0435 052 570 or publicrelations@amsa.org.au.

Media contact

Zoe Stewart
0435 052 570
publicrelations@amsa.org.au

Press Release PDFs:

• Medical students gather in Cairns to discuss global health and development

The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) is calling for urgent action to create and fund additional internship places before time runs out.

AMSA President, Mr James Churchill, said that with less than four months before 2013 internships commence, it is staggering that approximately 235 Australian-trained medical graduates are yet to gain a position.

“While Governments have publicly supported the idea of providing internships for all medical graduates and committed to move quickly to expand the number of intern places, time is running out to solve this internship crisis,” Mr Churchill said.

The Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils has recently issued a statement highlighting that a minimum of three months is required to accredit new internship positions, which is necessary to ensure doctors receive quality training in their first year of practice.

“With 2013 interns due to start work in January, this deadline is fast approaching. Yet to date there has been no announcement of where these positions will be created or who will fund them,” Mr Churchill said.

“A great deal of valuable teaching resources and public money is invested in each Australian-trained medical student and it would be a blatant waste of tax-payer dollars to see these medical graduates unable to work as doctors.

“It is madness that we have hundreds of medical graduates desperate to serve the community, and Australian communities so desperately wanting more doctors, but the Government is yet to commit to funding the necessary intern positions.

“The extent of the shortfall is known and the time for action is now. With each passing week, the chances of achieving a solution to this crisis become more remote,” he said.

AMSA calls for Governments to show leadership by committing the funding necessary for the creation of sufficient internships for all Australian-trained applicants.

AMSA’s web page on the internship crisis, available at www.amsa.org.au/internship-crisis, has received over 18 000 visits since June.

Media Contact

Zoe Stewart
0435 052 570
publicrelations@amsa.org.au

Press Release PDFs:

• Time running out for internships: AMSA (PDF)

The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) is deeply concerned by indications of Coalition support for university fee deregulation and Christopher Pyne’s public statements affirming the Coalition’s commitment to reintroduce Domestic Undergraduate Full Fee places if elected.

President of the Australian Medical Students’ Association, Mr James Churchill, said that student fee increases including the reintroduction of Domestic Undergraduate Full Fee tertiary places would be unacceptable.

“The recent Higher Education Base Funding Review indicates that many courses, including medicine, are chronically and severely underfunded,” Mr Churchill said.

“Universities clearly need more funding, but Australia’s students simply cannot afford to foot the bill.

“Domestic Undergraduate Full Fee tertiary places were abolished for good reason and the Coalition’s proposal to reintroduce them represents a huge step backwards for Australia’s university students.

“Increased student fees may deter students from disadvantaged backgrounds and undo the good work Government and universities are doing to improve equity of access.

“In addition, medical graduates with excessive debt upon graduation are more likely to enter high paying specialties and less likely to pursue careers in primary care as necessary to cater for Australia’s population health needs,” he said.

AMSA calls for domestic full fee places to be banned and for increased university funding from Government without increases in student fees.

Media Contact

Zoe Stewart
0435 052 570
publicrelations@amsa.org.au

Press Release PDFs:

• AMSA outraged by Coalition suggestion of increased student fees (PDF)