AMA (NSW)

16/12/2025

14/12/2025

TERRORIST ATTACK: Last night's devastating tragedy in Bondi has left us deeply saddened.
Our thoughts are with all those impacted, their loved ones and Jewish communities across our city, state and nation.
We would also like to acknowledge those health staff across our hospitals, NSW Ambulance doctors and paramedics and NSW Police who were faced with the unimaginable and stepped in to save lives, particularly those who treated patients while the shooting was ongoing.
We thank you for being there for those in need.
Hate and fear have no place in our society. The health of our communities lies in caring for one another, regardless of religion, race or creed.
Please look out for each other today and over the coming weeks.
If you are experiencing any distress, please utilise the support services below.
NSW Mental Health Line: Call 1800 011 511
Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat online.
Kids Helpline: Call 1800 551 800 or chat online.
Beyond Blue: Call 1300 224 636 or chat online.
1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online.
13 Yarn: Call 13 92 76.
MensLine Australia: Call 1300 789 978.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero (000).

14/12/2025

BONDI: If you're struggling after today’s events, please know that help is available 24/7.
NSW Mental Health Line: Call 1800 011 511
Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.
Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online.
13 Yarn: Call 13 92 76.
MensLine Australia: Call 1300 78 99 78.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero (000).

14/12/2025

MY WONDERFUL LIFE: Many Australians will remember the shocking murders of the journalists known as the Balibo Five in Indonesia in 1975.
For AMA (NSW) member and GP Dr Furio Virant, it’s more than a page in history.
He was serving in the Royal Australian Navy onboard HMAS Vampire at the time and sailed to Timor just after the incident to assist Australians trapped by the Indonesian invasion.
His time in the Navy gave him a lifelong passion for general practice and he has now notched up 47 years caring for patients in Fairfield in Sydney's vibrant west and 50 years as a member of AMA (NSW).
In 2022, Dr Virant was awarded a Medal
of the Order of Australia for his dedication to improving the health system for patients and doctors.
He established Divisions of General Practice in his area, joined the inaugural board of Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited, participated in the Professional Services Review Committee and the Medicare Participation Review Committee, worked closely with the Medical Benevolent Association to help doctors in need and assessed medical students across two major universities.
Somehow, throughout it all, he also managed to document and publish his memoirs in a book entitled My Wonderful Life.
But, like all those in the medical profession, he knows the value of loved ones.
“I’m lucky enough to have a very supportive wife who didn’t see too much of me because of all the different hats I was wearing, but made sure my bag was packed and I was ready to go.”
Thank you all our members for the work you do in making life better for others - and to those who quietly help you carry the world on your shoulders.

12/12/2025

NO DEAL ON FUNDING: Today, we saw health ministers fail to reach a new hospital funding agreement, and it is patients and healthcare staff who will once again pay the price.
As AMA federal has stated, this no-deal outcome condemns patients to longer waits, delayed surgery and worsening access to care, while public hospitals remain under pressure.
In NSW, we continue to see ambulances ramped outside emergency departments, patients stuck in hospital beds because aged care and disability supports are unavailable, and people waiting too long for planned surgery.
Hospitals cannot slow demand.
They cannot delay trauma care or tell sick patients to come back later.
Need is rising, and today’s failure only entrenches a system already stretched beyond capacity.
The Federal Government must stop kicking hospital funding down the road and honour its commitments.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says it will now be up to the premiers and Anthony Albanese to strike a national hospital funding deal after state ministers rejected the latest offer during high-stakes negotiations on Friday.

11/12/2025

LONG-TERM SUPPORT: She is a Dame, a Lady, a professor, the second longest serving Governor of NSW and an official Australian Living Treasure. But to many who are fortunate to have met her, she is known to prefer a simple “Marie”.
This week, the much-loved Dame Marie Bashir turned 95.
She joined AMA (NSW) in 1962 after graduating from the University of Sydney in 1956 as a medical practitioner.
Early in her career, she moved to Sydney’s western suburbs with husband and Wallaby Nicholas Shehadie to work as a general practitioner, but found herself drawn to adolescents and took up postgraduate studies in psychiatry.
Her gentleness and wisdom made her a perfect fit, leading to an extraordinary career that impacted so many across the state.
Thank you to all of our long-term members who have supported us for many decades. We are grateful.

09/12/2025

A SYSTEM IN PAIN: Today's Bureau of Health Information quarterly performance report paints another grim picture of a health system failing to meet demand.
We now have more than 94,000 patients waiting for elective surgery with more than 4000 waiting longer than clinically recommended.
These are not just numbers. They are the thousands of people adversely impacted every day. Some cannot work or care for their families, and their conditions often deteriorate while they wait.
What should be routine procedures can become complex, high-risk surgeries because of these delays.
We need an end to boom or bust funding and we need real investment in preventative health to stem the tide of patients presenting to hospitals.
Read our media statement here:
https://www.amansw.com.au/july-september-bhi-report/

08/12/2025

DEPARTURE: AMA (NSW) Chief Executive Officer Fiona Davies has resigned her position to spend more time with family.
Fiona has been with AMA (NSW) since 1998 and in the CEO role since 2008.
She will leave AMA (NSW) in July next year.
The Board has begun the process of appointing a new CEO and we will keep you updated.

07/12/2025

CALL TO FAST-TRACK FUNDING: This constant boom to bust style of hospital funding must stop. AMA has called for $34.7 billion of allocated hospital spending in the federal budget to be fast-tracked to ensure hospitals are equipped to deal with surging demand.
As AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen says in today's Daily Telegraph: "The reality is we will see patients waiting even longer, getting sicker and sometimes then not being eligible for the care they need because their illness has progressed too far."
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/ama-calls-for-347bn-funding-fix-to-help-public-hospitals-stretched-to-breaking-point/news-story/18b8b425ad85fd6e0f087b7c820661a4

07/12/2025

CONGRATULATIONS: Inverell GP Dr Cheryl McIntyre has been an AMA (NSW) member for 32 years.
She's also now the Rural Doctors' Association of Australia’s Rural Doctor of the Year for 2025 for her work in training the next generation of medical professionals.
In addtion to her clinical work, Dr McIntyre plays a key role in training future doctors as a senior lecturer in general practice at the University of New England and was instrumental in developing and delivering the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship program - part of the joint medical program between UNE and the University of Newcastle - which brings medical students to Inverell and other north-west towns for six-month placements.

05/12/2025

NO SPLIT: This week, AMA Queensland made the decision to split from federal AMA.
We would like to assure our members we have no plans to follow suit and will continue working for NSW doctors on state and federal issues to improve the health system.

04/12/2025

HERE FOR YOU: The AMA (NSW) team travelled to the University of Wollongong yesterday to meet medical students about to embark on their intern year.
It was another great opportunity to share information on the invaluable support AMA (NSW) can provide to those in the medical profession.
Thanks to all those who took the time to talk to us.