AMA (NSW)

11/09/2025

NEW TO***CO LAWS: Good news today with the NSW Parliament passing new laws to crack down on illegal to***co.
The changes will see those selling illegal to***co facing fines of up to $1.5 million; prison terms of up to 7 years; and closure of their businesses.

09/09/2025

STATEMENT: Today's BHI quarterly performance report makes it very clear we need more doctors in the public health system to meet the needs of patients. And the data needs to presented in a universal, clear manner each time.

09/09/2025

SELF CARE: Thanks to AMA (NSW) councillor and GP Dr Anju Aggarwal for these important messages in staying healthy.

08/09/2025

ON THE FAIRWAYS: The weather gods delivered a beautiful day today for the annual AMA (NSW) and Medical Golf Association of Australia competition at St Michael’s Golf Club in Little Bay.
Forty-six people hit the greens to connect with colleagues and friends – and chase a little ball around the grounds.
First prize - and our 90-year-old trophy - went to Luke Kane, with Dr Andrew Pennington taking home second prize.
Ben Leach took out the sponsor prize and nearest to the pin went to Dr Chris Smith.
A huge thanks to sponsors MGAA, Miga and Doctors’ Health Fund.

07/09/2025

COUNTRY CALL OUT: General practitioner Dr Elizabeth Farrell's ancestors were ship doctors arriving here almost 200 years ago.
She now works in the same practice as her father, Patrick, in Albury in southern NSW, continuing the family tradition.
But she's feeling crippled by her HELP debt due to Albury's MMM2 classification.
"Medicine is in my blood and this land is home. If a home-grown country doctor doesn't qualify for rural return incentives, who does?," she writes.
If you would like your letter to the editor published in NSW Doctor, please send no more than 200-250 words to news@amansw.com.au
You can read the latest edition of the magazine here: https://www.amansw.com.au/the-nsw-doctor-winter-2025/

05/09/2025

TEN DAYS TO GO: It’s almost time again for our annual Hospital Health Check where we survey doctors-in-training across NSW to ensure hospitals are supporting them to be the best they can be.
The survey opens on September 15 and will run for five weeks.
We’ll keep you updated.

03/09/2025

NEW EDITION: The latest edition of our NSW Doctor magazine is out now.
In this edition, we look at how the unification of the health and disability portfolios at a federal level might impact doctors and patients; we talk to the NSW Young Woman of the Year Dr Jessica Teoh; and we explain how AMA (NSW) played a vital role in the recent Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding, the first significant review of the public health system since the Garling Inquiry in 2008.
Policy Assistant Sophia Murphy and Workplace Relations Advisor Isabella Eliasson were quick to get their hands on one of the first copies but you can read it here: https://www.amansw.com.au/the-nsw-doctor-winter-2025/

03/09/2025

MEDICAL STUDENT BOOST: This week’s announcement that there will be additional Commonwealth-supported places for Australian medical students next year and beyond is “welcomed with open arms”, says AMA (NSW) president Dr Kathryn Austin.
“We have been calling for a boost to the medical workforce and a commitment to workforce planning for some time to ensure NSW can provide the very best care to patients in a timely manner well into the future,” Dr Austin said.
“Demand for care is constantly growing and NSW needs more doctors – both in hospitals and in the community because we know that more doctors means better patient outcomes.
“It is pleasing to see this initiative will have a strong focus on growing our general practitioner workforce which is desperately - particularly in our regional and rural areas. With more GPs, we can ensure patients receive the care they need in the community and are better able to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.”

The Australian Government is strengthening Australia’s home-grown doctor workforce, with additional Commonwealth supported places available from 2026.

02/09/2025

THE FORTUNATE ACCIDENT: Some of life's most extraordinary moments are born from serendipity.
And few compare to the morning Alexander Fleming returned to his London laboratory after a holiday - 97 years ago tomorrow - to find something that would change the future of the world.
He noticed mould growing in one of his Petri dishes containing colonies of Staphylococcus, known to cause boils, sore throats and abscesses.
But the area around the mould was clear of any bacterial colonies, resulting in him famously commenting "that's funny".
Inadvertently, he had discovered penicillin, which would save more than 500 million lives.

02/09/2025

REFORMS WELCOMED: As of today, some general practitioners can provide ongoing ADHD medications.
This is a welcome reform and well within the scope of general practitioners.
However, it is important the messaging is made clear to the public that not all GPs will have the training to do so and not all patients will be bulk billed.
AMA (NSW)’s Council of General Practice chair Dr Kenneth McCroary, based in Campbelltown, told The Medical Republic today he still held concerns about access.
“Out here, we’ve had 56 practices close since the election before last, which is really frustrating. If 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the population have ADHD, we’ve got 60,000 to 120,000 residents, minimum, with the disease. I really struggle to see how I’m going to get them to get diagnosed and commenced on therapy, because they can’t afford to."

Beginning this week, GPs in New South Wales can write continuation scripts for patients with ADHD.

29/08/2025

EMERGENCY DEMAND: Dr Michael Bonning joined Triple M to talk about the ongoing pressures on our health system and why investment in infrastructure means little without the workforce to deliver care.
In the first quarter of this year, there were more than 785,000 episodes of care in NSW emergency departments.
We must retain the staff we have and build the workforce we need for the future, or the system will continue to struggle to meet the community’s needs.
Urgent Care Centres and telehealth play an important role, but they can’t replace proper investment in frontline healthcare.

28/08/2025

EXPERTISE: Yesterday, 66 AMA (NSW) members joined our latest webinar on managing bullying and harassment complaints in private practice – an issue which can cause significant strain in a workplace.
Running a private practice can be challenging.
In addition to caring for patients, doctors must be across employment law, staff contracts, staff management, WHS obligations and more.
Our regular webinars, run by our expert Workplace Relations team, provide comprehensive advice and support on these issues, making it easier for doctors to focus on patient care.
Thanks to all those who tuned in.
To join AMA (NSW), please visit https://www.amansw.com.au/join-the-ama/