Welcoming today’s release of the Pathology Australia report on the community health benefits, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of Australia’s pathology sector, the AMA is again calling on the Government to abandon its planned cuts to bulk billing incentives for pathology services.

AMA Vice President, Dr Stephen Parnis, said the report confirms the efficiency and quality of the pathology sector in Australia, and the value for money it provides to Australian taxpayers.

“Australia’s high quality pathology services are vital to the work of GPs and surgeons who consult patients and conduct surgery every day across the country,” Dr Parnis said.

“We have a highly efficient pathology sector that provides affordable services to the Australian community."

“It is irresponsible to disrupt this core element of the health system."

“Today’s report is further conclusive evidence that the Government should abandon its ill-conceived cuts to the bulk billing incentives, which will have a direct harmful impact on patients."

“These incentives support patient access to essential services without any out-of-pocket costs.

“They provide greatest benefit to the poorest and sickest in the community."

“If the cuts go ahead, pathology providers will have no choice but to pass on costs to patients.”

Dr Parnis said the report demonstrates that the pathology industry has already increased productivity and efficiency to maintain high bulk billing rates, enabling high levels of access to these services.

The analysis undertaken in the report is based on reliable and official data sources. The key findings are that:

• Australia is a leader in delivering value for money pathology services while maintaining quality of services, when compared internationally;
• the increase in government-funded pathology expenditure has been driven by growth in the Australian population, and ageing and increased referrals, not by pathology services prices. Prices have actually fallen overall in the last 15 years; and
• around 17 per cent of pathology tests are provided free to the Australian community, providing savings to the Australian Government of around $450m last year.

The Pathology Australia report is available here.

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

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.