AMA Welcome guide

6 AMA VICTORIA AMAVictoria members have a unique opportunity to actively shape public health policy, influence doctors’ work conditions and improve the quality of patient care. This work is undertaken through subdivisions, interest groups, government advisory groups, consultations, media and events. The best way to start your involvement in advocacy is to participate in your subdivisions. Subdivisions There are two types of subdivisions — geographic and vocational. Geographic subdivisions support members in local areas to connect and network with each other. Vocational subdivisions, introduced in 2020, connect members from right across Victoria who are at similar career stages or have similar career directions, similar types of employment or who work in particular sectors. Grouped together, these members are able to meaningfully discuss their areas of interest or concerns. Issues raised at these grass-roots subdivision meetings can be escalated for broader discussion and debate at the AMA Victoria State Council level or where appropriate, raised with AMA Victoria management for immediate attention. For more information on how to get involved in your subdivisions, visit: https://amavic.com.au/about-us/ subdivisions AMAVictoria advisory and interest groups AMA Victoria provides trusted representation to the Victorian State Government on issues affecting medical practitioners. There are a range of opportunities for interested members to be involved in special interest groups, working groups, committees and government advisory groups to influence policy, drive reform and improve the health system for all Victorians. There are also opportunities to be involved at a federal level. We strongly encourage you to register your particular interests and expertise with AMA Victoria to ensure you can have your say in matters that arise that are relevant to you. Email [email protected] to register your interests and expertise. Furthermore, AMA Victoria always stands ready to advocate on behalf of members. Email [email protected] to raise a policy or advocacy issue you are experiencing and which you’d like to bring to our attention. AMAVictoria’s public affairs team has two objectives: to strengthen its engagement with members and to build a more strategic and proactive approach to AMA Victoria’s advocacy campaigns. These aims have been achieved with a good deal of success over the past two years, particularly in our proactive media coverage. Continued improvements across these areas will be an ongoing focus for the future, including work to improve member engagement in policy development and the creation of more relevant policy and advocacy content for members — especially through digital communication channels. The next Victorian election will be in November 2022. Engagement will be undertaken with members to establish our key advocacy priorities in the lead up to the state poll. At the last election, AMAVictoria’s Priority Goals for Victoria’s Health System was produced — a document that articulated our advocacy priorities: mental health, rural and regional health, public hospital culture, partnerships and infrastructure, the reduction of alcohol and drug harm and establishing Victoria as an international leader in high quality end-of-life care. Sustained advocacy and strong media coverage generated by AMAVictoria achieved some significant results. The establishment of a Royal Commission into Mental Health in Victoria was a strong outcome. We have repeatedly drawn the government’s attention to the need for substantial further investment into the mental health sector. We also strengthened ties with strategic stakeholders in the mental health sector so that we were better positioned to recognise and grasp opportunities to combine our voices and strengthen our lobbying efforts. Other notable advocacy achievements following media campaigns in the last few years included the investment of $1.5 billion by the Victorian Government into the redevelopment of Footscray Hospital, a commitment to continue the trial of the medically supervised injecting facility in North Richmond and a renewed focus on the prevention of bullying and harassment of medical staff. Throughout the election campaign, AMA Victoria also highlighted the central role that rural and regional GPs play in our healthcare system. A key focus for AMAVictoria will be to continue to advocate for significant action from both state and federal levels of government on this important area of public health to better support our members and communities in regional and rural Victoria. AMA Victoria members have a unique opportunity to actively shape public health policy, influence doctors’ work conditions and improve the quality of patient care. This work is undertaken through subdivisions, interest groups, government advisory groups, consultations, media and events. AMA VICTORIA MEMBERSHIP GUIDE 7 Advocacy and Influence $1.5b State funding to redevelop Footscray Hospital A state government commitment to trial a mendically supervised injecting facility Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health