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The 2008 AMSA RACGP
National Leadership Development Seminar

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The AMSA National Leadership Development Seminar will be held from 1st to the 3rd of September 2008.

Applications are now closed. Applicants have been notified of the outcome of their application by email. If you applied for NLDS and have not received a response to your application please contact ico@amsa.org.au.

Held in our nation's capital and proudly supported by the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, delegates are provided with an opportunity to question parliamentarians about issues facing medical students and Australia's health system today. Attendees also participate in workshops designed to improve skills in advocacy, media and negotiation. This seminar is an opportunity for medical students to spend three days exploring the concept of leadership with prominent figures in Australian health and politics.

The cost of the 2008 NLDS is $450.00 (incl. GST) which includes the cost of flights, accommodation, meals and the academic program for the three days. For delegates from New Zealand who will have to arrange their own flights the cost is $350.00. In previous years the cost of registration for many delegates has been covered by local medical student societies or medical faculties. Get in contact with your local AMSA Rep to find out if your medical student society will support you to come to NLDS.

If you have any questions about the National Leadership Development Seminar please contact ico@amsa.org.au.

2008 NLDS Program

While the program for the 2008 NLDS is still being finalised, we have confirmed a number of speakers for the program this year including:

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing;
The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Federal Leader of the Opposition;
Dr Rosanna Capolingua, Federal President of the Australian Medical Association;
Rev Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia;
Prof John Horvath AO, Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government;
Mr Jeff Kennett, Chairman of the Board of Beyond Blue: The National Depression Initiative;
Mr Steve Herzberg, Managing Director of NRG Solutions;
Mr Don Palmer, Director of the Jimmy Little Foundation;
Dr Vasantha Preetham, President of the RACGP;
Mr Allan Turner, CEO of Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation; and
The Hon Dr Mal Washer MP, Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committe on Environment and Heritage.

Delegates are encouraged to do some pre-reading about the confirmed NLDS speakers. Biographies for each speaker will also be provided in the NLDS program.

We are also looking forward to hosting interactive panel sessions and workshops on Medical Education, Indigenous Health, Public Speaking, Dealing with the Media and Corporate Leadership. In addition, this year we are introducing the inagural AMSA Parliamentary Debating Series, to be held at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

2008 NLDS Pre-reading

The following documents have been provided for pre-reading for 2008 NLDS delegates. Pre-reading is not compulsory but should give delegates a more thorough understanding of the contemporary issues in Australian Health and Education which will be discussed at the Seminar.

Health Policy

Australian Policy Online- Summary of Australian Health Policies: An excellent, succinct summary of major Australian Health Policies from the 1940s to present.

Health and Dental Care Policies of the Australian Labour Party: Links to all of the recent health policy announcements of the ALP.

Health Policies of the Coalition: A compiled summary of the Coalition's helth policies prior to the 2007 Election.

Health Policies of the Australian Greens: A summary of the Health Policies of the Australian Greens.

Health Policies of the Family First Party: A summary of the values and policies relating to health of the Family First Party.

AMA Key Health Issues for the 2007 Election: A summary from the Australian Medical Association of the key health issues in the 2007 Federal Election, including the Association's policies on these issues.

Health and the 2008-2009 Federal Budget: An AMA commissioned report by access economics into the health spending in the most recent Federal budget.

AMSA Policies

Compiled Policies of the Australian Medical Students' Association: A summary of all of AMSA's standing policies, updated from the recent mid year National Council meeting. Take note of the recent policies on National Accreditation, Quality Clinical Placements and Training in Expanded Settings and of other relevant policies including Indigenous Health, increasing student numbers, internships and physician's assistants.

AMSA Submission to the Australia 2020 Summit: AMSA's 500 word submission to the Health stream of the Australia 2020 Summit. A succinct summary of AMSA's position on the future of the Australian Medical Workforce.

AMSA Submission to the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission: A solutions focussed summary of the key Medical Workforce issues which should inform the upcoming Australian Healthcare Agreements.

AMSA Briefing paper on National Registration and Accreditation: An outline of the Federal Goverment's proposed National Registration and Accreditation system, and AMSA's position on the issue.

AMSA Report into the LIME Conference Proceedings: A summary of the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Conference in late 2007, with key recommendations relating to Indigenous Health Education at Australian Medical Schools.

Seamless Medical Education: Report on Conference Proceedings AMSA Report from the MedEd 2007 Conference, covering key issues in Medical Education in Australia.

Medical Education and Workforce

Below are a number of articles from the Medical Journal of Australia discussing issues surrounding Medical Education and Workforce in Australia.

Medical Education in Australia: Changes are Needed

Riding the wave: current and emerging trends in graduates from Australian university medical schools

More students and less patients: the squeeze on medical teaching resources

Imperatives in medical education and training in response to demands for a sustainable workforce

Healthcare Reform

Beyond the blame game: The initial report of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission. Take particular note of the discussion on medical workforce, Indigenous health and access to health services in underserved communities.

Speech by Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to Australian General Practice Network: Transcript of the Federal Health Minister's speech to the AGPN Primary Mental Health Care Forum in June. An excellent summary of the Government's health reform agenda.

COAG Intergovernmental Agreement on National Registration and Accreditation: The Council of Australian Governments Agreement outlining the proposed National Registration and Accreditation System. Not exactly light reading but interesting for those wanting a more in depth understanding of the proposal.

A high quality workforce: UK National Health Service report into changes to training and vocational roles in response to the Modernising Medical Careers inquiry. An insight into some of the directions the Australian healthcare system may be heading under current reforms.

Medical News Subscription Services

6 minutes: Visit the 6 minutes website to subscribe to this short daily e-newsletter which discusses clinical and political issues arising in Australian Medicine.

AMA Media List: Click here to subscribe to receive media releases as emails from the AMA and AMSA.

Parliamentary Debating

The power of parliamentary debating: An opinion piece from a NSW MP regarding the role of Parliamentary Debating in Australia's democracy. Food for thought for our own Parliamentary Debates.

A video demonstrating some of the Parliamentary Debating tactics employed in Federal Parliament which you might like to emulate.