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Structure

Legal Basics

AMSA is a public company limited by guarantee. It consists of an AMSA Board, the National Executive and Members of the company. Board Members are Directors of the company, and the Members of the company are the AMSA Representatives from each Medical School.  

The AMSA Board

The AMSA Board is comprised of ten directors: four executive directors and six elected directly by Members at Council meetings. The Board is composed of various medical students as well as professionals in a range of fields, who maintain broad oversight of AMSA's operations and direction. AMSA's Board has a responsibility to ensure AMSA is run sustainably, in line with its strategic goals and in the interests of its membership.

As at July 16th 2017, membership is as follows:

  • Chair: Tom Morrison, Board member until council 1 2018
  • Robert Thomas, executive director until December 2017, AMSA President
  • Tarren Zimsen, executive director until December 2017, AMSA Treasurer
  • Sid Narula, executive director until October 2018, National Convention Convenor
  • Gowri Shivasabesan, executive director until October 2017, Global Health Conference Convenor
  • Jacqui Loveridge, Board member until Council 1 2019
  • Gavin Wayne, Board member until council 3 2019
  • Victoria Berquist, Board member until Council 3 2017
  • James Lawler, Board member until council 3 2018
  • Monica Schlesinger, Board member until council 3 2019

The board also has several subcommittees:

  • Audit and Risk Committee:
    • Chair: Jacqui Loveridge
    • Members: Victoria Berquest, Tarren Zimsen
    • Observer: Roger Buckley
  • Nominations Committee:
    • Chair: James Lawler
    • Members: Victoria Berquest, Scott Ashby
    • Observer: Roger Buckley

On top of this the company has an executive officer, Roger Buckley. As the only paid employee of the company Mr Buckley is of critical assistance to the functioning of the board room, the treasury, the national executive and the maintaining the important ties between AMSA and the AMA. 

National Executive

AMSA as an organisation is overseen by the National Executive, recruited from medical schools across the country. The National Executive is responsible for maintaining the organisation on a day-to-day basis and coordinating both with AMSA reps at each university, as well as with many outside committees to make sure that your voice as a medical student is heard loud and clear. The AMSA Executive is elected annually by the AMSA Representatives from each medical school at Second Council. Individual positions within the Executive are not voted upon, rather votes are cast for a whole team.

The National Executive meets fortnightly and is present at all of AMSA's events. Our goals are to ensure AMSA runs in a way that benefits every medical student and to provide support and resources for every AMSA volunteer. 

The National Executive is led by the President, who is the external face of the organisation and sits on the Board of Directors.

  • The Vice-President (External) oversees the advocacy portfolio and conducts meetings with external stakeholders. 
  • Our Vice-President (Internal) looks after the wellbeing of the entire AMSA family, and also oversees the internal management of the organisation.
  • The Treasurer is responsible for AMSA's long-term financial security of and also manages our day-to-day budgeting
  • Our Public Relations Officer acts as our external conduit for media enquiries and prepares our media releases. 
  • The AMSA Policy Officer is responsible for AMSA's broad, evidence-based policy base and manages our policy teams with the authors.
  • AMSA's National Co-ordinator functions as the connection between AMSA's representatives from across the country and the Central National Executive. They are also responsible for organising the three annual AMSA Councils, which features delegates from every Australian medical school.
  • The Events Co-ordinator facilitates communciation between AMSA's many event teams and the National Executive and Board of Directors.
  • AMSA's Project Officer co-ordinates all of our Projects teams, including Vampire Cup, the AMSA Mental Health Campaign, AMSA Academy, and the LGBTIQ Health and Gender Equity portfolios.
  • The Student Engagement Officer is responsible for maintaining our social media platforms, consistent branding and oversees promotions across all AMSA branches. The SEO runs our merchandise program, and membership benefits, and answers membership enquiries. 
  • Our Publications Officer is responsible for publishing our monthly Embolus newsletter as well as our annual Orange Guide, Internship and Residency Guide and bi-annual Panacea.
  • The Information Technology Officer is responsible for AMSA's IT infrastructure, including our website and membership system. The IT Officer also manages internal communcations within the organisation.
  • The Sponsorship Officers work as a team to manage sponsorship across AMSA through the Sponsorship Resource Group and maintain relationships with our valued partners. 

The office holders and contact details for the 2017 National Executive can be found here.

The bid process for the National Executive is as follows:

  • Find a team of suitable people to fill the Executive positions
  • Notify the AMSA President and Company Secretary of your intention to bid
  • Compile a bid document and submit it to the current Chair of Council (council.chair@amsa.org.au)
  • Prepare a 20 minute presentation introducing your team and outlining your bid, to be delivered at the Second Council meeting, or if the bid process dictates, the Third Council meeting
  • Liaise with the National Coordinator (nc@amsa.org.au) regarding your attendance at Council (please note that individual bid teams are required to fund travel and Council sitting fees)

For further details on the 2015 AMSA Executive Bid process, including deadlines and bid document requirements, please see the attached document.

Representatives and Council

The AMSA Council is made up of an AMSA Representative from each medical school. The Executive and MedSoc Presidents also attend AMSA Council. Council is the chief decision-making body of the Association and all official public policy are ratified by this body. Council convenes three times per year and generally lasts for three days: usually First Council is in March, Second Council in July, and Third Council in October. First and Third Councils take place in the home city of the Executive; the July Council occurs on the weekend prior to the National Convention in the respective city. Each AMSA Representative is elected by their respective MedSoc as part of its internal election process. AMSA Representatives have the important role of acting as a conduit between AMSA and local medical students. Through their local AMSA ThinkTanks, they bring the concerns, issues and opinions of medical students at their medical school to AMSA Council and the Executive. AMSA Representatives also promote AMSA at their local level, facilitating grassroots engagements with students.  

AMSA Committees

AMSA Committees report directly to the AMSA Council. Committees are responsible for directly administering aspects of specific operations. Committees are headed by a chair and currently consist of:

  • AMSA Global Health 
  • AMSA Medical Education 
  • AMSA Rural Health 
  • AMSA International Students' Network
  • AMSA History Committee

 Medical Societies

Each medical school around Australia also has its own Medical Student Society, fondly known as a MedSoc. Click on the links below to see the websites of AMSA's Constituent Societies, and get in touch with your local MedSoc today. Australian National University | Bond University | Deakin University | Flinders University | Griffith University | James Cook University | Monash University | University of Adelaide | University of Melbourne | University of Newcastle | Univeristy of New England | University of New South Wales | University of Notre Dame Fremantle |University of Notre Dame Sydney | University of Queensland | University of Sydney | University of Tasmania | University of Western Australia | University of Wollongong | Western Sydney University