Federal Council

The Federal AMA is governed by its Federal Council, a body of 34 Board members who represent Craft Groups, Special Interest Groups, Areas and States/Territories.

The primary function of the Federal Council is the formulation of policies on issues of concern to the profession and governance of the Association.

The Federal Council comprises:

• The Office Bearers – President, Vice President, Chairman of Council and Treasurer (each elected for a term of one year at the Association’s annual National Conference.  The President is elected for a one year term with a maximum of three consecutive years)
• One nominee from each State/Territory AMA (nominated for periods at the discretion of the State/Territory AMA)
• One nominee from each of the six geographic areas – NSW/ACT, VIC, SA/NT, WA, QLD, TAS (each elected for a term of two years)
• One nominee from each of thirteen Craft Groups – Anaesthetists, Dermatologists, Emergency Physicians, General Practitioners, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Ophthalmologists, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Paediatricians, Pathologists, Physicians, Psychiatrists, Radiologists and Surgeons (each elected for a term of two years)
• One nominee from each of two Special Interest Groups – Doctors in Training and Salaried Doctors (each elected for a term of two years)
• One nominee from the Australian Medical Students’ Association (nominated for a term of one year).

Federal Council meets four times a year to define AMA policies and to determine principal activities.  Between meetings of Federal Council, the Executive Council (comprising the Office Bearers, plus two Councillors elected by Federal Council) manages the Association’s affairs.

The AMA Federal Council’s democratic, representative structure ensures that it is constituted appropriately to deal with the concerns of the entire profession and to undertake advocacy on its behalf.

Committees

Committees are formed by and report to Federal Council.

The primary function of committees is to develop policy for consideration by Federal Council. 

• Standing Committees relate directly to the internal corporate governance of the Association.  The following are recognised as Standing Committees:

• Audit Committee
• Finance Committee
• Constitution and Policy Review Committee
• Fellowship Committee
• Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee

• Other Committees are formed from time to time and relate to issues affecting members of the Association.  Other Committees include, but are not limited to, working parties, task forces and coordinating councils.  Following are some of the current Committees:

• AMA Council of General Practice
• AMA Council of Doctors in Training
• Economics and Workforce Committee
• Public and Preventative Health Committee
• Child and Youth Health Committee
• Therapeutics Committee
• Committee for Health Ageing
• Taskforce on Indigenous Health
• Rural Medical Committee
• eHealth Committee