There will be an election to decide the next Federal AMA President, with two nominations for the position being received at close of nominations today.

The election will take place at the AMA National Conference in Canberra on Sunday, 29 May.

The candidates are current Federal Vice President and former AMA Victoria President, Dr Stephen Parnis, who is a Consultant Emergency Physician at St Vincent’s Hospital and John Fawkner Private Hospital in Melbourne; and current AMA WA President and AMA Federal Councillor, Dr Michael Gannon, who is Head of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, and the Lead Obstetrician of the Perinatal Loss Service at King Edward Memorial Hospital, both in Perth.

There will be an election for the position of Vice President. The candidates are Dr Brian Morton, a Sydney GP, AMA Federal Councillor, outgoing Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, and former AMA NSW President; and Dr Tony Bartone, a Melbourne GP, immediate past President of AMA Victoria, Federal Councillor, and Chair-elect of the AMA Council of General Practice.

Both AMA President and AMA Vice President serve a term of two years.

Final nominations are as follows:

President:

Dr Stephen Parnis (Vic)

Dr Michael Gannon (WA)

Vice President:

Dr Brian Morton (NSW)

Dr Tony Bartone (Vic)

This media release was sourced directly from the Australian Medical Association. 

AuSAE has welcomed new members from the following organisations this month.

Is your organisation on this list? If your organisation is on this list as an AuSAE organisational member but you are unsure if you are part of the membership bundle, please contact the friendly AuSAE team at info@ausae.org.au. 

Not on this list? To join AuSAE today please visit our membership information page here.

This month AuSAE welcomes Lea McLean of the Law Society of the ACT as our Member in Focus. Lea recently spoke with AuSAE about the Law Society of the ACT's membership strategies and their biggest challenges. Plus, exciting projects underway for the Society. 

Can you tell us a bit about the Law Society of the ACT and the goals they strive to achieve?

The Law Society exists to represent, advance, and defend the interests of an independent legal profession in the ACT. We strive to protect the public interest in the ACT system of justice through the efficient regulation of the profession in accordance with the Legal Profession Act and the Society's Rules for Solicitors.

Main activities include:

• Lobbying for "good law" and to reduce costs and improve conditions for members.
• Maintenance of professional standards and guardianship of the profession's public image and reputation.
• Business, professional and personal counselling, education and training.
• Information and communication.
• Spiritual, social and networking.
• Commercial services.
• Community services.

What are the Law Society's most successful membership strategies to increase engagement and membership retention? 

In the past twelve months the Society moved to premises that better suited the needs of the organisation – with meeting and training rooms that facilitate a better flow of members through the organisation. The Society now interacts with more of its members on a daily basis.

We tailor CPD events to best suit the needs of members – we now run a series of themed CPD afternoons for different areas of law. This has proven to be popular with members and allows us to specifically target particular membership sectors.

We continue to expand the use of technology – in terms of membership sign ups, membership renewals and later in the year, electronic voting at Council elections, as well as webinars for CPD topics.

New strategies to interact with our membership base have included the introduction earlier this year of a new look Ethos magazine and subsidised flu shots for sole practitioners.

What do you personally feel has been the biggest challenge that the Law Society of the ACT has overcome in your time with the organisation? 

The Society needed to improve the membership database system to reduce the duplication of data entry. To ensure a positive take up by members using online membership application, the Society enforced compulsory online applications and did not allow the option of paper forms. This was not only challenging for our members, but also required greater IT support to be provided by the Society over the phone. 

How does the future look for the Law Society of the ACT (or what exciting projects are underway at the Law Society of the ACT)?

Membership continues to increase which is pleasing. Government lawyers are a significant portion of the membership which places the ACT in a unique position.

The Society is looking to enhance a range of services to members in areas such as:

• CPD (in terms of range, quality and delivery methodologies). Later this year we will be hosting CORO, the Conference of Regulatory Officers, for the first time.
• Facilitating networking and social interaction between members of the profession.
• Working with government and our members to ensure they have a voice in law reform initiatives. This is particularly important this year where there is both a Federal and Territory election.
• The Society continues to monitor important developments within the legal profession - such as the uniform law – to ensure that the interests of our members are fully considered in deciding what position the ACT should adopt.

What would you say to someone starting out in the legal profession with a view to become a future leader?

The legal profession is undergoing significant change with the implementation of Uniform Law in NSW and Victoria and other jurisdictions looking closely at the changes that brings.

There are changes in the demographics of the profession with increased female graduates completing their degree. This requires the profession to consider the best way to mix career needs and personal needs. There are a number of organisations now looking at new innovations to service clients more broadly, with long held methodologies being challenged.

Graduates completing a law degree have a variety of options within the private and public sector. They should expand their interest groups and make the most of volunteer opportunities to broaden their horizons and take up any opportunities available with mentor programs.

Almost every Association runs a significant conference or meeting each year. As the Association for Associations we feel a sense of additional pressure to perform, to showcase innovate ideas, to inspire Associations and Association Professionals, to raise the bar.

The AuSAE Conference and Exhibition 2016 held in Canberra has been a huge success. From the AGM and welcome function on Monday evening through to the final presentation on Wednesday afternoon, ACE was filled with inspiration, learning, networking, business solutions and innovation.

My personal thanks go to all the delegates, sponsors and exhibitors for sharing the experience. 380 attendees, 60 exhibition booths, 37 presenters, 27 sessions, four key note presenters, two social functions, an unconference session, and one live streamed TV show. Special thanks to the amazing AuSAE staff for pulling it all off.

If you couldn’t make it this year, block out your diary on 11-12 May for ACE 2017 at the ICC in Sydney. ACE will be among the first conferences to be held in this wonderful new facility in Darling Harbour.

This year, AuSAE was at the Treasury Budget Lockup and are able to bring you a brief report.

The budget outlines a relatively soft economy over the forward estimates with long term growth and income projections being adjusted downward. However, since May 2012, employment has grown by over 500,000 jobs. The services sector has added 90% of these. The association sector is a part of that growth.

For the association sector (as distinct from the sectors served by associations), the budget was unremarkable. The strong features of this budget centre around superannuation, tax cuts for small business, jobs and innovation. The economic outlook remains soft as the economy transitions from mining establishment toward mining operations and the services economy.

Some small associations may benefit from the small business tax concessions where they rely on mutuality for tax exemptions and they have taxable non mutual income and may be able to access the immediate tax deductibility of assets up to $20,000 through to 30th June 2017 where that asset is used to attract non mutual income. There may also be some benefit for small to medium associations (under $10mil in turnover) from the simplification of GST administration which will be trialled from the 1st July 2016.

Associations may also benefit from the signing of free trade agreements with the USA and and China. The Federal Government is investing $1.8 million to expand the Open for Business Website which may offer associations opportunities for growth.

AuSAE Networking Lunches offer a great chance to get out of the office and meet new connections in the sector. Each lunch also features an insightful presentation on various topics of importance. Attending a lunch is a great chance to see what AUSAE really offers which is a place like-minded professionals can gather and share workplace challenges and achievements over a delicious two-course luncheon at a great venue. 

Auckland | RAW to ROAR on Monday 4 July

Rod Auton (CEO at Crane Association of New Zealand) will share his insights into how he converted the association from RAW to ROAR. To register click here.

Attending this AuSAE event is also a great opportunity to connect with leaders from associations, charities and other not-for-profits to discuss current workplace challenges and other issues of importance.

We’re changing the name to AuSAE LINC: AuSAE Leadership, Insights and Networking Conference. AuSAE LINC represents a stronger theme and alignment to the event in New Zealand.

We are also adding an exhibition component to this event to ensure delegates have the opportunity to engage with suppliers and establish strong business connections.

The date is now 10 – 11 October 2016 at the SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre, Auckland, NZ. Previously it was going to be held in mid-November

The AuSAE LINC Conference Committee is working on an exciting programme. Attendees will gain the insights, tools and motivation to more powerfully achieve the goals of their organisation through improved operational, management and leadership effectiveness.

Registrations will open mid-June and we look forward to seeing you at this important sector Conference.

AUSAE, and the Health and Safety working group have collated selective guidelines and forms, from the Health and Safety at Work Act which came into effect on April 4. These guidelines are for members to use and are on the following topics:

Workplace being anywhere an employee works:

• Working from home
• Vehicle
• Home visits
• Hotel room / other places an employee travels to

Event / Conference delivery:

• Health and Safety Action plan
• Sample Health and Safety Conference Manual
• Health and Safety Forms for you and your Contractor

Work done by Volunteer groups and other affiliated parties.

The documents above can be found on www.ausae.org.au/ohsnz or accessed through the Members Area via AuSAE Advantage.

Should you have queries or any suggestions for further documents, please feel free to contact, Brett Jeffery, General Manager New Zealand, brett@ausae.org.au or +64 27 249 8677.

In the biggest event of its kind, Rotorua will host 600 TRENZ delegates, including hundreds of the world’s most influential travel and tourism buyers, to an afternoon of activities, ranging from exhilarating mountain biking to a rejuvenating spa.

TRENZ is the $30 billion tourism industry’s premier international trade show. The 2016 event (10-13 May) is being hosted by Destination Rotorua and will be attended by 350 international tourism and travel buyers and representatives from around 300 of the country’s leading tourism operators.

“On Thursday afternoon, 12 May, hundreds of TRENZ delegates will take a break from their business meetings to experience first-hand some of the world-class visitor activities on offer in Rotorua,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) which manages TRENZ.

“They will discover a part of the country that has something for every type of visitor from authentic cultural experiences, adventure, and spas to geothermal, eco-tourism and luxury, always infused with warm hospitality."

“This time away from scheduled TRENZ meetings is also an opportunity for delegates to network informally, make new contacts and potentially identify new business opportunities.”

Destination Rotorua General Manager Oscar Nathan says the activity afternoon features around 30 different options and will showcase the diverse range of world-class activities Rotorua offers international travellers, along with some of the innovative new products that have come on stream recently.

“Activities range from plunging down the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall to a wine-matching session and an exploration of a living Maori village."

“Delegates keen to get close to the natural wonders of the region can walk amongst the Redwoods high above the forest floor, fly over an active volcano or tour an otherworldly geothermal field.”

Mr Nathan says TRENZ and the activity afternoon are a valuable opportunity to highlight to influential international travel and tourism buyers why Rotorua is New Zealand’s coolest hotspot.

This media release was sourced directly from Scoop Independent News.

A long, warm summer has seen the number of guests staying in New Zealand's commercial accommodation continue to increase.

Statistics New Zealand's Accommodation Survey shows that national guest nights for February were 7 per cent higher than in February last year.

The survey collects data for guests staying in hotels, motels, backpacker accommodation, and holiday parks each month.

Statistics New Zealand business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said guest nights had been rising for about two years.

The extra day for the leap year and warm weather contributed to the increase in February, which had followed a record high in January, he said.

All 12 regions saw more guest nights for February and all four accommodation types had more guests.

Compared to last year, North Island guest nights in February were up 6.5 per cent, and South Island guest nights were up 7.8 per cent.

Domestic guest nights were up 6.1 per cent, and international guest nights were up 8 per cent.

For the year ended February, national guest nights had increased 5.2 per cent from a year earlier.

Tourism Industry Association chief executive Chris Roberts said the trend in commercial guest nights reflected growth in the tourism sector.

The association's figures showed March would also be a strong month, easily surpassing guest night numbers for last March, he said.

The tourism industry was making a large contribution to the New Zealand economy and it needed to respond to growth.

"We need to plan with how we can cope with growth in the long term," Roberts said.

There needed to be more investment to maintain the level of growth expected and this included building hotels, he said.

"However, it is important this is done at the right time. We don't want a cycle of boom and bust. We want supply to stay just ahead of demand."

Holidaymakers flocked to the capital in record numbers this summer, which looks set to pave the way for more hotels.

The region hosted 960,000 commercial guest nights between November and February.

This was an increase of 8 per cent on the previous summer, which grew by 5.6 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

Domestic guest nights increased 14 per cent from November to February, which Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency chief executive Chris Whelan said was a tremendous result for businesses in Wellington's visitor economy.

The visitor economy's strong performance was making an attractive case for further hotel development in the region, he said.

"Hotels in Wellington averaged more than 80 per cent occupancy during the summer period. These results, and more importantly, the solid longer-term trends, have seen investment in Wellington hotel development increasing, and we're working to ensure our visitor demand continues to support new capacity in the sector."

The results suggested New Zealanders were seeking more from summer than just beach resorts and demonstrated the impact of a successful major events programme, he said.

The single biggest driver of visitation to Wellington was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which brought about 45,000 thousand people to the region.

"Add to that a series of big concerts, sporting events, Chinese New Year and Te Papa's popular Dreamworks: The Exhibition and we had the foundation for a strong summer season."

Wellington businesses and agencies were focused on promoting major events and exhibitions, packaging a Wellington destination experience.

"With such variety throughout the region, and exceptional walkability for event attendees in the city, Wellington delivers on this promise, and we're seeing positive numbers as a result."

This article was originally sourced from Weather Watch and was written by WW Forecast Team.