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Opinion
What’s a WAMSS?
by Benjamin Host
President, Western Australian Medical Students’ Society
The Western Australian Medical Students’ Society (WAMSS)
has come from humble beginnings. In 1946, some 65 years
ago, the first Medical Students Society was created, “with
its prime aim and first action to agitate for the foundation
of a Faculty of Medicine at UWA”. 1 Ten years of hard work
and lobbying saw the achievement of this primary goal with
the creation of the Faculty of Medicine in 1956. The society
then underwent a change of name and constitution in order
to better represent the students of this new faculty. Their
mandate became to advocate for and support those medical
students who were forced to spread their studies between Perth
and Adelaide, the only available option at the time. WAMSS
was born.
Since then, there have been hundreds of people involved in
the leadership and activities of WAMSS. All of our
predecessors have contributed to the evolution
of our society into the highly regarded
and successful body that it is currently.
When you look back through the
records at those who have been
involved over the years, it becomes
abundantly clear – we really are
standing on the shoulders of giants.
Today, WAMSS provides
representation and support for
UWA medical students in all
their endeavours. This is achieved
through our 60-strong committee,
numerous subcommittee members,
and countless others who contribute in an
unofficial capacity. It is through this incredible
engagement with those we represent that WAMSS
is able to deliver amazing programs and events from our
diverse range of portfolios.
Academic events such as Student Grand Rounds, advanced
clinical skills workshops and our Emergency Medical
Challenge are highlights of the year for any academic-minded
medical student. (Aren’t we all?) Our commitment to social
justice encompasses our wellbeing campaign, the Students
Passionate About Mental Health program, our environmental
officer and LookOut, WAMSS’s charity arm. Through these
undertakings we are able to raise money and awareness, and
provide education about these important issues.
Our suite of sporting events helps to provide an outlet for
the healthy competitive spirit within all medical students.
Our interyear, interfaculty and intervarsity sports programs
WAMSS provides
representation and
support for UWA
medical students in
all their endeavours
provide something for every sportsperson and fan. The
WAMSS social calendar is unrivalled at the university,
including our river cruise, cocktail party and quiz nights. This
culminates in our annual medical dinner, a glittering affair to
celebrate our graduating sixth-year students.
Our global health portfolio, Interhealth, directs a multitude
of projects with an international perspective. From providing
much-needed medical supplies to far-flung areas through the
LINCS and Zonta Birthing Kit projects, to aiding refugees
and asylum seekers with our new Crossing Borders for Health
initiative, and raising money and awareness for HIV/AIDS
victims in southern Africa through our (now-national) Red
Party, our reach is truly global.
In addition to the fantastic programs and events
we deliver, most important is our advocacy
for all UWA medical students.
Through our education portfolio,
we provide representation at all
levels. Educational issues and
improvements in teaching,
medical workforce concerns,
student professionalism and
wellbeing, as well as the
formulation of policy are but
a few of the areas of focus for
WAMSS’s actions on behalf
of our members. WAMSS is a
part of governance within the
faculty and university, sitting on
Faculty Curriculum and Development
Committees, the Faculty Board, as well as
the UWA Guild Education Council. We have
clout at a local level, but our impact is far more widereaching.
Our work in association with the AMA (WA) as part
of the AMA Council and Doctors in Training Committee, as
well as the Australian Medical Students’ Association, allows us
to take our advocacy to a national level.
The weight that the voice of student doctors carries is
clearly apparent and does not go unnoticed. Throughout
all our efforts, WAMSS will continue to provide the
representation and support that all medical students deserve.
Reference:
1. Taken from the first WAMSS Secretary report, 1957.
42 MEDICUS May