Media Releases.
Informed. Updated. Connected.
The latest news and reports from AMSA.
We Need More Medical Students, Healthcare Workers and Doctors with Disabilities
Disability in medicine is under-represented. As of 2018, 1 in 6 Australians have a disability – constituting 4.4 million individuals. In 2021, 4,153 students commenced a medical degree. The prevalence of disability in Australian medical students remains low, at less than 2%, when compared to similar programs worldwide. The Australian…
Australia’s Future Doctors Highlight Concerning Gaps in Women’s Pain Curricula Across Medical Schools
The Victorian government has launched a new inquiry into women’s pain, but there is nothing new about the gender pain gap. Rampant medical misogyny is deeply entrenched in how medicine is taught and practised. It is time to change this. The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA), the peak representative body…
Neglect of LGBTQIASB+ inclusion in the 2026 census will come at a cost to health outcomes for numerous years
The Australian Federal Government's hypocritical decision to exclude questions about LGBTQIASB+ Australians from the 2026 census contradicts its commitment to “include LGBTIQ+ Australians in the consultation and planning process for the 2026 Census; and… ensure that the 2026 Census gathers relevant data on LGBTIQ+ Australians”. Omitting these questions will harm…
Australia’s future doctors call for ongoing prioritisation of LGBTQIASB+ health issues during Pride Month
Better Together 2024 was Australia’s sixth national LGBTQASB+ conference hosted by the health promotion charity The Equality Project. It brought together health professionals and community organisations to explore pressing issues facing the LGBTQASB+ movement in the nation. “Our mission is to create spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer…
Future doctors support Australia’s consent campaign to reduce high incidence of sexual violence
The Australian federal government has launched the $40 million campaign, Consent Can’t Wait, to encourage parents to communicate to children about consent for sex. It comes in the wake of the alarming incidence of sexual violence in Australia, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men in…
Medical students’ placement poverty remains unaddressed in the federal budget
The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) commends the Federal Budget’s key investments into relieving student debt, establishing women’s health services and increasing mental health and suicide prevention services. However, AMSA continues to urge for greater investment in creating a diverse healthcare workforce, making the medical degree affordable and supporting medical…
Australia’s future doctors call for increased domestic violence training in medical schools
The Australian Medical Students’ Association welcomes the Australian Government’s $925.2 million funding commitment over the next five years to help address violence against women. This announcement comes following a surge in gender-based violence across the nation. The Australian Government called for an emergency National Cabinet Meeting this week, following tens…
Medical students call for increased education about sustainable healthcare and climate health risks
Australia put forward its first submission to the International Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC). The PHRC is an international student-driven initiative that evaluates planetary health education in medical schools and tracks institutional progress over time. This ensures the sharing of knowledge globally to help all universities improve together and to…
Australia’s future doctors call for integrating social prescribing into healthcare delivery
The Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE) hosted a Canberra roundtable marking world Social Prescribing Day. Dozens of healthcare and welfare organisations attended to call for investment and integration of social prescribing into primary healthcare. “Social prescribing charts a new way forward for healthcare that better connects…