AMSA Orange Guide 2021

AN AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION
OrangeGuide
2021
An introduction to
WHAT is AMSA?
WHAT’S ON IN 2021
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

Copyright 2021, Australian Medical Students’ Association
Publication Design Officer: Terra Sudarmana
Editors: Wendy Fang, Dhruvi Lathigara, Dalyia Abu-Ghazaleh
Digital Artist & Front Cover: Aditi Kamath
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to the contributors to previous Orange Guides on which this guide is based, and
to the following people and their teams who contributed to this year’s Orange Guide:
Contributing Authors: Jeremy Fernando (Advocacy), Fergus Stafford (Policy), Jack Bryant &
Mark Johnson (Vampire Cup), Sylviya Ganeshamoorthy (Mental Health), Kael Robas (AMSA
Queer), Lauren Wright Hill (Gender Equity), Guy Jeffrey (Global Health Projects), Gabby
Cullen & Pretashini Somasundra (Crossing Borders), Rachel Niessen & Jumpei Takeuchi
(Code Green), Emily Bruggemann & Nazli Bahtigur (Healthy Communities), Anna Shalit &
Andrew Downie (Sexual and Reproductive Health), Kira Muller (NLDS), Henry Lock (Convention),
Jana Crous (GHC), Terra Sudarmana (Publications), Jacqueline Bredhauer (Global
Health), Jelyn Thong (AMSA International), Jasmine Elliott (Rural Health), Jaidyn Muhandiramge
(MedEd) & Julia Liew (ISN).

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5
6
7
11
Welcome
Advocacy
Policy
Projects
Global Health
Projects
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
15
20
21
29
30
Events
Publications
Special Interest
Groups
National
Executive
AMSA
Representatives

Welcome to amsa
Welcome to the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA)! Whether you have just started medicine (in
which case, congratulations!) or if you’ve been around here a while, AMSA welcomes you with open arms!
Medical students are a diverse bunch - we’ve all got our own passions, interests and what we think we want to
get out of our degree. Whatever your interests are, the chances are high that the Australian Medical Students’
Association has a platform to help you pursue it.
Passionate about global health? Want access to more educational resources? Keen to meet new people at some
of the best student-run events in the world? Looking to learn skills in health policy? Keep flipping through to see
how we can foster your passions.
AMSA has a diverse range of opportunities set up to make your student experience the best one possible. Whether
you find something in AMSA that piques your fancy today or not, stay in touch with us through Facebook and
Instagram, and if you’d like you can sign up to become an AMSA member on our website!
/youramsa @youramsa amsa.org.au
What is AMSA?
The Australian Medical Students’ Association is the peak representative body for the 17,000 medical students
around the country. Our chief mandate is to represent, connect and inform medical students like you! We do this
through:
Advocacy - AMSA advocacy aims to provide all medical students with a voice on issues that matter
most to them; whether it be on medical student mental health, medical education quality and internship
availability or climate change.
Events and projects - Foster connections through our unique large scale events and create change in
the community through our impassioned projects.
Special interest groups - Nurture your specific interests in Global Health, Rural Health and Medical
Education through our national Special Interest Groups.
Publications and media - Stay informed and up to date on pressing issues, and on all of AMSA’s work
through our social media, guides and publications.
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advocacy
AMSA endeavours to harness the voice of 17,000 medical students to represent you at the highest forums and push
for change in order to make your medical school experience better! AMSA advocacy happens at multiple levels. At
the federal level, AMSA engages with the government and key medical stakeholders such as the Australian Medical
Association (AMA), the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand (MDANZ) and the Australian Indigenous
Doctors’ Association (AIDA); often working in concert to create a more powerful voice on issues requiring thought
and leadership from a federal voice.
At the state, university and local level, AMSA liaises closely with university medical societies (MedSocs) and state
Medical Student Councils (MSCs) to provide support and resources to advocate on issues relevant to your state
and university. These could include sexual harassment, mental health support systems, internship availabilities
and quality medical education placements and clinical schools.
2020 AMSA key advocacy milestones include:
» Bonded Medical Program reform with shorter return-of-service,
more flexibility and improved support
» $62.2 million in Commonwealth funding towards the National
Rural Generalist Pathway
» Advocacy on climate change: partnered with the Lancet
Countdown on Health and Climate Change and provided official
testimony to the WA Government Climate Change Health Inquiry
» Provided support to states and medical school societies to halt
the involuntary transfer of sensitive student records to hospitals
» Formation of the inaugural Indigenous Health Team in
collaboration with the AIDA Student Director
National Advocacy Priorities for 2021
1. Improving medical student mental health and wellbeing
2. Addressing bullying, discrimination, and harrassment in medicine
3. Indigenous health, including increased recruitment and retention
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students
4. Advancing gender equity within medicine for women, trans, and
gender diverse people; and more broadly in areas of public health
5. Reducing the health impacts of climate change through mitigation
and adaptation strategies
6. Promoting a sustainable training pipeline aligned with workforce
demand by preventing an increase in the number of medical
students and medical schools; and increasing intake into specialty
training programs, particularly in regional and rural areas
7. Advocating for the provision of quality internship positions to all
Australian-university trained medical graduates
8. Improving the quality and flexibility of medical education in Australia
9. Working collaboratively to minimise the health impacts of climate
change through mitigation and adaptation strategies
None
of this advocacy
is effective without
the contribution of medical
students like you! Talk to your
University’s AMSA Representative,
watch out for opportunities to get
involved in policy writing or get
involved with a special interest
group or projects focusing on
issues close to your heart!
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POLICY
Policy is the beating heart of AMSA’s advocacy, serving as a fundamental guide to how we represent Australia’s
17,000 medical students. Spanning a multitude of issues that affect medical students and the communities they
live in, AMSA policies combine the latest evidence with the views of medical students to codify our positions.
Each policy statement is written by a team of Australian medical students and voted on by your representatives at
AMSA National Council.
Apart from AMSA policy ensuring that we take robust and representative positions to external stakeholders, getting
involved in a policy team gives medical students a valuable opportunity to develop their policy skills. AMSA has a
proud history of providing medical students with their first start in policy and helping them develop the skills to be
the change-makers of the future.
In 2021, we will develop policies on diverse topics such as rural clinical schools, access to healthcare, and
termination of pregnancy. We will also be working hard to provide our members more opportunity to help shape
our policy base by giving their input during the review process and Council discussion.
Get Involved
Policies are written, reviewed and presented at AMSA National Council by medical students just like you! No
experience is required to be involved with AMSA policy. Here’s how you can get involved:
» Keep tabs on the AMSA Facebook page to respond to callouts to join a policy team in January, April or
August.
» Talk to your AMSA representative about how to get involved in policy review and ThinkTanks at your university.
» Head to AMSA National Council to get involved in the policy discussion.
» Check out our policy base on the AMSA website.
» Get in touch with the National Policy Officer, Fergus Stafford (fergus.stafford@amsa.org.au), to be added
to the policy mailing list, to suggest a new policy idea or to ask any questions you have about AMSA policy.
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Projects
AMSA Projects are here to educate medical students, advocate for marginalised communities, and work to reduce
social injustice within our world. Our projects are varied and wide reaching in their scope, and year to year, they
contribute greatly to the local and national work of AMSA. We have four varied National Projects including Vampire
Cup (our national blood drive competition), Gender Equity, AMSA Queer and Mental Health. We also have four
Global Health focused projects which include Code Green, Healthy Communities, Crossing Borders and Sexual
and Reproductive Health.
AMSA vampire cup
AMSA’s most heavily competitive initiative is back again for another massive year in 2021!
Facilitated by the Red Cross Lifeblood service, Vampire Cup is AMSA’s annual blood donation
drive that sees medical students and their local communities battle it out over 8 weeks to
see who can donate the most blood, plasma and platelets.
In a year unlike any other, 2020 saw the Vampire Cup
encourage a total of 3250 donations over the course of the
competition and inspire a whole new generation of avid
blood donors. ANU were once again unbeatable, storming
home to their 5th straight win. However, their competition is quickly catching up
and giving them a real run for their money with JCU taking out the Most Raw
Donations competition for the 3rd year running and strong showings from Griffith
University and the University of Newcastle. Stay tuned to see who will take out
this year’s title in what is sure to be the most hotly competed competition yet!
KEY Advocacy Priorities for 2021
» Partnering with the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry to help increase the number of potential donors
» Working with DonateLife to encourage students to sign up to the Australian Organ Donor Register
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
» Talk to your local representative
» Donate blood by booking an appointment at www.donateblood.com.au/
» Can’t donate? Don’t worry you can still get involved! Get a friend to donate
for you and look out for our exciting prize giveaways
Dates to look out for (keep an eye on Instagram):
» The Vampire Cup competition will be held between April 3rd to May 31st
2021. So be a blood donating superhero and donate between those dates.
@amsavampirecup
www.amsa.org.au/vampire-cup
vampirecup@amsa.org.au
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AMSA mental health
Medical students face one of the biggest burdens with regards to mental health. With
this in mind, AMSA Mental Health aims to help tackle several issues and serve as a
platform to support students across the country. We continue to educate students on
mental health, support those living with mental health conditions, and destigmatize
the struggle of living with mental illness. We advocate for student wellbeing on all
levels and aim to be a supportive arm when it comes to seeking mental health services.
Key advocacy priorities for 2021
» Increasing awareness of AMSA Mental Health throughout AMSA by boosting collaborations with other
committees within the organisation and being visible at a variety of events
» Integrating resources to help provide students with reliable information necessary to optimise their wellbeing
» Working together with other AMSA portfolios, AMSA Global Health projects
and SIGs to advocate and raise awareness for issues that are faced by individuals
of different communities
» Working with university Mental Health reps to bring AMSA Mental Health
updates closer to campus
» Continuing to raise awareness for a variety of mental health issues that can
impact students
» Continuing to support AMSA Mental Health projects that have been
successful in the past such as Humans of Medicine and Keeping Your Grass
Greener
» Keep giving out merch!
Dates to look out for (keep an eye on Facebook):
» June: Crazy Socks 4 Docs
» September: RUOK day
» October: Blue Month and Humans of Medicine Campaign
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
» We will be holding ongoing callouts for Humans of Medicine 2021 from all
AMSA groups throughout the year
» In addition to these, there will be additional callouts for spotlight issues
throughout the year. These will focus on the visibility of certain groups and
their mental health.
» Finally, JOIN OUR TEAM! Callouts will be announced and applications will be
open in mid-late January so keep an eye out on our AMSA Mental Health page
and through the AMSA Central page. If you are passionate about mental health
and want to help support other students around the country, this would be the
perfect opportunity for you!
/amsamhc @amsamentalhealth www.amsa.org.au/amsa-mental-health
sylviya.ganeshamoorthy@amsa.org.au
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AMSA gender equity
Key advocacy priorities for 2021
how do I get involved?
» Apply to become a member of the AMSA Gender Equity Team (dates below)
» Talk to your university’s gender equity officer (or equivalent) - they have a direct link to us at AMSA! If your
university doesn’t have representation on your MedSoc, email us at the email address provided below, and
we will help you to start advocating for gender equity within your university!
» Apply to become a mentor or mentee with AMSA Empowers Women in Leadership Program.
» Join the community of like minded individuals by following our facebook page (link below).
» Advocate for gender equity anyway you can! Continue to have those challenging conversations about gender
equity with your friends and family. Reflect on the content you’re being taught at medical school. Continue
to educate yourself on issues of gender equity by reading, watching documentaries and listening to people’s
lived experiences.
Dates to look out for (keep an eye on Facebook):
» AMSA Gender Equity Team applications open in early 2021
» International Women’s Day on March 8 2021.
» Women’s Health Week 6-10th September 2021.
AMSA Gender Equity is here to inspire, advocate and educate on all things
gender in medicine! Despite the fact that 60% of medical students in Australia
are women, we are still massively underrepresented, especially in surgery and
leadership roles, and unfortunately we continue to be subject to sexism and
sexual harassment. We also know that transgender, non-binary, intersex and
gender diverse people face different and often greater levels of discrimination,
both within our community and within the medical field. Our role in Gender
Equity is to advocate for change in these areas in order to improve the
culture of medicine for everyone in the workforce. We aim to break down the
stereotypes and barriers that exist and acknowledge the incredible work that
women and gender diverse people do as doctors both for their colleagues,
future generations following in their footsteps and for medicine itself.
» Increasing the visibility and reach of existing resources
» Reviewing the efficacy of existing policy
» Strengthening collaboration with AMSA Queer and other projects/external organisations
» Conducting a review of Australian Medical Curricula, looking at teaching of gender-specific medicine,
transgender and intersex health, and using this as the basis for a new stream of advocacy
» Responding to the national and international requirements of the year, as the field of gender equity advocacy
shifts significantly over time
» Making ALL AMSA events safe from sexism and sexual harassment
» Running some exclusive gender equity events in relation to the important international dates for women.
/AMSAGenderEquity www.amsa.org.au/amsa-gender-equity lauren.wrighthill@amsa.org.au
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global health projects
AMSA SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
At AMSA Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), we believe in all individuals’
right to a safe, healthy and enjoyable sexual and reproductive health journey
free from shame, stigma and violence.
In 2020, AMSA SRH was busy educating and advocating for all things sexual
and reproductive health, despite the challenges of a year trapped inside. Some
of the highlights of 2020 were webinars for sexual health September and many
advocacy and educational initiatives throughout the year.
Hopefully with in person events back on in 2021, you can catch us at the Global
Health Conference and Global Health Forums throughout the year!
Key advocacy priorities for 2021
» Updating AMSA’s Access to Safe Termination of Pregnancy policy
» Working with other AMSA projects to give many different perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
» Increasing abortion content in university curricula and aiming to release certified educational modules
covering medical and surgical options for termination of pregnancy
Get Involved
» If you are passionate about global health, reproductive rights, sexuality and sexual health, then AMSA SRH
is the place for you!
Here’s what you can do:
» Apply to be part of the AMSA Access to Safe Termination of Pregnancy policy team when callouts open in
January (keep an eye on the AMSA FB page)
» Join the Global Health Group at your uni, and get in touch with your AMSA Global Health Representative and
your Sexual and Reproductive Health Representative (if you have one!)
» Sign up to the AMSA Global Health Bulletin via our website (globalhealth.amsa.org.au)
» Come to an AMSA Global Health Forum
» Come find us at AMSA Global Health Conference, refer to AMSA Global Health page 21 for more dates
/AMSASRH
@youramsasrh
srh@amsa.org.au
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code green
Highlights from 2020
From seemingly never-ending bushfires across Australia to a global pandemic, 2020
has provided many Australians with firsthand evidence of climate change. As medical
professionals of the future, we cannot ignore the devastating impact that this global
threat could have and already has had on the health of our patients. AMSA Code Green
is an Australia-wide platform for medical students that advocates for the mitigation
of the causes of climate change and the adaption of our health care systems to meet
the changing health demands caused by climate change. We see climate change not
as some impending doom, but as an actionable health-care priority to meaningfully
improve health outcomes for all communities.
» Greening Hospitals Online Hackathon, an Australia-wide event (one of the
largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere) with participants from a
plethora of sectors designing solutions to improve the sustainability of
hospitals
» AMSA declaring a climate emergency, joining other leading medical bodies
such as the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian
Medical Association to recognise the profound impact global warming has
on patients’ health
» Initiation of our partnership in the RUN project by the Climate and Health
Alliance, to conduct research into the manner in which the health impacts
of climate change are communicated with the intention to further develop
health professionals’ skills in this area
Key advocacy priorities for 2021
» Finalise the Divestment Guide and run workshops that cover accessible
topics with real, measurable impact on climate change
» Complete and publish Code Green education resources
» Research the current climate change education provided in the medical
curriculum
How do I get involved?
» Join the AMSA Code Green subcommittee! Callouts will open in February!
» Look out for opportunities to join your university’s movement, whether that be part of your Global Health
Group or local Doctors for the Environmental Australia (DEA) student group!
» Join the Code Green Facebook page and mailing list (https://amsa.co/2WoIyaH), and keep in contact with
your Code Green representative (or apply for the position), to hear about our exciting 2021 opportunities!
» Sign up to the AMSA Global Health Bulletin via our website (globalhealth.amsa.org.au)
» Come to an AMSA Global Health Forum
» Come find us at AMSA Global Health Conference, refer to AMSA Global Health page 21 for more dates
/AMSASCodeGreen @amsacodegreen codegreen@agh.amsa.org.au
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healthy communities
Healthy Communities is the newest member of AMSA Global Health Projects. We advocate for the reduction of
unhealthy environments within our communities to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
2020 was a huge year for us (we don’t just mean that because of COVID). We started 2020 off with an exercise
competition ‘May-Day Bootcamp’, encouraging everyone to get on their feet and move around despite the lockdown
restrictions. Another win for Healthy Communities included the updating of the AMSA Food and Nutrition policy
by the wonderful policy team. This has resulted in the inclusion of more information relating to the 2019 EAT-
Lancet report. Throughout the year ‘Meatless Mondays’ and ‘Seasonal Eating’ were promoted via our Instagram,
giving you sustainable (and delicious) recipes that fit into the Planetary Health Diet. We finished off the year with a
step competition and wrote a draft of an open letter to NHMRC calling for the
inclusion of sustainability in the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
In 2021, we will continue to focus our advocacy efforts on the Planetary
Health Diet, in particular its inclusion in the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Continuing on the topic of nutrition, a Culinary Medicine module has been in
the works and we are hoping to be able to make this available to students as
soon as we can. As well as nutrition and exercise, we are hoping to expand
the breadth of Healthy Communities to address more factors that contribute
to healthy lifestyles and NCD prevention. We look forward to continuing to
educate, advocate and run various projects to work towards building healthier
communities!
How do I get involved?
There are several positions available on the Healthy Communities
subcommittee so keep an eye out for callouts. Otherwise follow us
on social media and keep up to date with our projects. We would
love for everyone to be involved!
Here’s what you can do:
» Join the Global Health Group at your uni, and get in touch
with your AMSA Global Representative and/or Healthy
Communities Representative
» Like and keep an eye on our Facebook page, as well as the
AMSA Global Health Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages
» Sign up to the AMSA Global Health Bulletin via our website
(globalhealth.amsa.org.au)
» Come to an AMSA Global Health Forum
» Come find us at AMSA Global Health Conference
» Refer to AMSA Global Health page 21 for more dates
/youramsahc @youramsahc healthycommunities@amsa.org.au @youramsahc
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crossing borders
AMSA Crossing Borders represents a community of medical students fighting for equality, human rights and
proper health care for refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants worldwide, particularly those in
indefinite or offshore detention within Australia. The Australian government continues to ignore its international
humanitarian responsibilities by turning away those in need, denying necessary health care, basic living conditions,
and compromising the human rights of individuals seeking refuge. AMSA unites passionate medical students and
encourages them to use their voice to fight for a better, more just future for those who cannot do so themselves.
highlights from 2020
» AMSA members being present at Palm Sunday Rallies in all major cities under the united message of
“Detention Harms Health”
» Open letter in support of the Medevac legislation reached more than 1,500 signatures and drew the attention
of the MJA and a tweet from Dr Karen Phelps herself.
SOME OF OUR KEY ADVOCAcY PRIORITIES FOR 2021
» Representation: Continue to be the voice of medical students regarding Australian refugee and asylum
seeker policy in the political sphere, particularly concerning the cessation of offshore processing practices
and indefinite detention in Australia
» Volunteering: Encouraging and facilitating medical student involvement in grassroots organisations related
to refugee and asylum seeker health advocacy and volunteering at a local and national level
» Education: Ensuring comprehensive refugee and asylum seeker health education is available for all medical
students through university curricula as well as online content such as academic symposia, educational
modules/workshops and infographics.
How do I get involved?
Here’s what you can do:
» Apply to join our team: 2021 Subcommittee callouts in February and 2022 Management Team/Executive
callouts in August-September
» Apply to be your university’s Crossing Borders Representative
» Join the Global Health Group at your uni, and get in touch with your AMSA Global Health Representative and/
or Crossing Borders Representative
» Like and keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages
» Sign up to the AMSA Global Health Bulletin via our website
(globalhealth.amsa.org.au)
» Come to an AMSA Global Health Forum
» Come find us at AMSA Global Health Conference.
Dates to watch out for (keep an eye on Facebook):
» Palm Sunday Rally: 28th March
» AMSA Crossing Borders Representative callouts: March-April
» Refer to AMSA Global Health page 21 for more dates
/amsacrossingborders @amsacrossingborders gabby.cullen@amsa.org.au
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EVENTS
AMSA events are renowned for their unique blend of educational talks, social nights and skills development. They
will provide valuable experiences and equip you with skills that will last you beyond your medical degree!
National Leadership
Development Seminar (NLDS)
Canberra
Late August/ Early September
National Convention
Adelaide
June 28 - July 3
Global Health Conference (GHC)
Perth
August 5 - August 9
Rural Health Summit (RHS)
Location TBA
Date TBA
National Councils 1, 2 and 3
Council 1: March 26 - 29, Brisbane
Council 2: June 25 - 27, Adelaide
Council 3: TBA
National council
AMSA National Council convenes three times each year and brings together representatives from all the Australian
medical schools to engage in various facets of AMSA. This year’s Councils will provide numerous opportunities
to: network with like-minded medical students; be upskilled through mentoring programs and multiple breakout
sessions; debate on policies that will directly affect the medical student experience; and hear about all of AMSA’s
advocacy, events, projects and committees happening across Australia.
AMSA Council is open to all medical students and generally lasts for three days. It provides medical students with
the opportunity to inform and direct the function of the Executive and to help set the advocacy agenda.
Council is a great way to begin or continue your AMSA journey, offering exposure to all of the wonderful opportunities
that AMSA has to offer. All information regarding Council and how to get involved will be shared through the AMSA
Facebook page or via your local AMSA Rep. If you are interested in attending, simply register when registration is
open, and have a chat with your AMSA rep if you have any questions!
When?
Council One: March 26 - 29, Brisbane
Council Two: June 25 - 27, Adelaide
Council Three: TBA
upasana.pathak@amsa.org.au
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NLDS
The National Leadership Development Seminar (NLDS) is the premier leadership and advocacy event in the
AMSA calendar. Bringing together 100 medical students in Canberra, the political heart of our country, NLDS is a
sensational platform for fostering world-class skills in medico-political advocacy and health leadership.
NLDS is a four day conference featuring an array of speakers and workshops, thought provoking discussions,
unparalleled networking opportunities and an all-around great time. In 2021, through a rigorous delegate selection
process, approximately 100 delegates from all across Australia will gather to foster expertise in Communication
in Leadership.
NLDS21’s theme is Across the Aisle - Communication in Leadership. . Whether it’s tackling Australia’s public health
crises in the medico-political sphere, or telling your registrar that you disagree with a clinical decision they have
made – crossing the aisle to negotiate with someone you disagree with is a fundamental skill in health leadership.
Through the health and economic crises of 2020, we have further developed an appreciation for people of different
professions, opinions, and political leanings, who are all working together towards the common goal of saving
lives. Come to NLDS21 to further develop your strategic communication and negotiation skills, get your foot in the
door in the medical leadership space, and make friends for life!
When?
Late August/ Early September, Canberra
/NLDSAustralia
kira.muller@amsa.org.au
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National convention
We welcome both the new ranger and seasoned con-veteran to Adelaide in
2021 for AMSA National Convention where you can rediscover your passions,
reimagine your future in Medicine, and rejoice in forging new bonds.
We can’t wait to bring you a stellar academic program full of amazing speakers
from medicine and other fields. Additionally, we will reinvent your experience
by bringing you networking sessions with speakers and other delegates, as
well as incredible workshops and breakout sessions.
With inspiring themes and exhilarating activities, you won’t forget our Gala
Ball and social nights! And for those who wish to revel or retreat, we will celebrate new friendships in an inclusive
and safe environment.
A reinvigorated sports and wellbeing program will pit student against student in exciting competitions, together
with activities to recharge your mind, body and spirit.
Next year is a fresh start, so where better than Adelaide for Reinvention 2021? We can’t wait to see you there!
Where/When?
28th June – 3rd July 2021, Adelaide
/amsaconvention
https://reinvention2021.com
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global health conference
Now, more than ever, the concept of global health has captured the world’s
interest, and GHC21 is the perfect opportunity for you to dive in and explore
all there is to this MASSIVE topic. After a long year of living through one
of the biggest global health crises to hit our planet (What even was
2020!?), we are thrilled to bring to you in 2021 an unforgettable global
health event. GHC21 will open your minds to the important and exciting
ways that YOU can make positive changes in this field, both locally
and globally. GHC21 aims to connect hundreds of medical students
from all over Australia to the broader picture of global health through
5 days of challenging talks and stimulating discussions, 4 unforgettable
social nights, and countless opportunities for hands-on engagement. And
what better place to host GHC21 than in WA – Australia’s very own idyllic
sanctuary!
Our overarching vision for GHC can be boiled down to 3 words – Seeds for Change. We firmly believe in the saying
that “from little things, BIG things grow” and that to start cultivating the considerable changes required in the
vast field of global health we need to start from its humblest beginning – the seed. GHC21 will seek to plant the
seeds of awareness, inspiration and innovation for global health within the hearts of our delegates, nurturing their
understanding and amplifying their passion. We wholeheartedly believe in the importance of taking a break from
the books (as much as we love Talley & O’Connor

ural health summit
The AMSA Rural Health Summit (RHS21) unites over 170 medical students from across the country with a common
interest in rural health. RHS is quickly becoming an integral part of AMSA’s rural health initiatives.
You will be inspired by leaders, skilled clinicians, and creative innovators in rural health through a series of keynote
presentations, breakout sessions, skills workshops and the Rural Rescue Challenge.
Previous guest speakers have included Professor Paul Worley, Dr Amanda Cohn and many more! The event also
boasts numerous social events, which are fantastic opportunities to connect with like-minded delegates and
alumni.
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publications
Each year, AMSA releases numerous publications to keep you in the loop, provide you with plentiful resources and
showcase the works of medical students like you!
Our National Publications Subcommittee, Global Health team and Rural Health Committee work tirelessly to
research, write, design, format, edit, and release publications that are not only visually engaging but also useful for
our readers. See our guides, journals and magazines below - you will surely find one that appeals to you!
AMSA Journal of Global Health
AJGH is our unique bi-annual Global Health Journal that publishes peer-reviewed articles on various global health
topics.
Embolus
Embolus is our e-newsletter providing updates on all you need to know from advocacy successes, call-outs, and
more! Sign up when you register for AMSA.
Panacea
Panacea is AMSA’s student magazine which showcases a large range of creative and academic pieces from
medical students around Australia.
Frontiers
Frontiers Magazine is our annual Rural Health magazine, released in September. Read for a variety of pieces on
rural health issues and academics in addition to creative pieces.
Starting Med Guide
Starting Med Guide is our concise guide on how to kick off your years at medical school.
Internship Guide
Internship Guide is our most popular guide which provides up to date information on internship numbers for the
upcoming year.
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Special INTEREST GROUPS
AMSA GLOBAL HEALTH
Want to save the planet? Passionate about refugee health or
reproductive rights? Then AMSA Global Health is the new med fam
you’ve been looking for. We’re AMSA’s largest special interest group
and we engage, represent and empower medical students to take
effective action on global health.
Since 2005, we’ve been connecting like-minded students and getting them ready to be the global health leaders
of tomorrow. Our members have represented Australia at UN forums and the World Health Assembly; organised
rallies across the country; written submissions to parliamentary inquiries; appeared in national media — and made
friends for life while doing so!
AMSA Global Health Key Milestones in 2020
» Connected 90+ like-minded volunteers across 22 Australian medical schools
» Engaged 500+ students in our online activities including competitions, rallies, webinars and conferences
» Drove the review and adoption of global health focused AMSA policies: Climate Change, Food and Nutrition,
Pandemics & Epidemics, Vaccinations, Blood Donation Deferral, Racial Discrimination and Cultural Diversity
» Contributed to advocacy across our four project groups: climate change (AMSA Code Green), refugee rights
(AMSA Crossing Borders), NCD prevention (AMSA Healthy Communities) and sexual and reproductive health
(AMSA SRH)
» Instigated a COVID-19 Taskforce to respond to the pandemic by creating bi-weekly summaries of key news
items, and delivering two webinars discussing overlooked issues in the context of the pandemic - refugees
and homelessness; and domestic and family violence
20

AMSA Global Health’s Key Advocacy Priorities for 2021
» A healthy, inclusive, green recovery from COVID-19
» Sustain attention on global health following the COVID-19 pandemic
» Action on: climate change, the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, NCD prevention, and sexual and
reproductive health.
how do i get involved?
Whether you’re a passionate advocate, an IT whiz, a social media superstar or an events guru — or just really keen
on saving the world — we’d love to welcome you to the AMSA Global Health family.
Here’s what you can do:
» Apply to join our team: 2021 subcom callouts in February and 2022 Management Team/Executive callouts
in August-September
» Join the global health group at your uni, and get in touch with your AMSA Global Representative
» Keep an eye on our Facebook page
» Sign up to the Bulletin
» Come to an AMSA Global Health Forum
» Come find us at AMSA Global Health Conference.
Dates to watch out for (keep an eye on Facebook and our Bulletin):
» AMSA Global Health subcommittee callouts: February
» AMSA Global Health Forums: March and September
» AMSA Global Health Conference: August
» AMSA Global Health Management Team and Executive callouts: August-September
/AMSA.global.health
https://globalhealth.amsa.org.au/
21
Visit
https://www.
facebook.com/
AMSA.global.health/
app/100265896690345
to sign up to our
monthly bulletin!

AMSA international
Want to be the next Dr. Tedros? Work with the WMA, WHO, UN or MSF?
Passionate about meeting the next generation of global leaders from
around the world? Then AMSA International is the new med fam you’ve
been looking for. We are excited to provide you with a unique platform to
access opportunities on an international stage!
AMSA international Key Milestones in 2020
» Visited Rwanda and represented Australia for the International Federation of
Medical Students (IFMSA) March General Assembly
» Represented Australia online for the IFMSA August Assembly!
» Commissioned policies for the IFMSA March and August General Assembly
» Led small working groups for the IFMSA policies, with these policies contributing
to our representation at the World Health Assembly and the WHO Executive
Board Meeting
AMSA International’s key advocacy priorities for 2021
» Representing AMSA’s interest in the IFMSA Asia Pacific region
» Representing our policy base on the IFMSA policy stage
» Advocating for our member’s access to all international opportunities, be it from
the World Medical Association, World Health Organisation, or the United Nations
How do I get involved?
We’d love to welcome you to the AMSA International family.
Here’s what you can do:
» Apply to join our team: 2021 team callout in January
» Join the AMSA international opportunities group on Facebook to get involved
with those opportunities
» Keep an eye out for our up and coming Facebook and Instagram pages
Dates to watch out for (keep an eye on Facebook):
» AMSA International committee callout round 1: January
» WHO Executive Board meeting: February
» AMSA International committee callout round 2: March
» IFMSA General Assemblies: March and August
» World Health Assembly: May and November
/AMSAinternational
22
Coming Soon!

AMSA rural health
AMSA Rural Health is the peak representative body for rural origin students, rural clinical
school students, and for the world health interests of medical students across Australia.
Our key goal is to advocate for equality when accessing healthcare and equal health
outcomes for rural and remote Australians.
To do so, AMSA Rural Health supports and facilitates medical students’ engagement
with rural health and advocates for students regarding rural issues. We also partner
with key stakeholders to advocate for the stability and support of the future rural health
workforce.
AMSA Rural Health Key Milestones in 2020
» Developed and proposed the Australian Rural Clinical School Support Survey (ARCSSS)
» Collaborated with AMSA Indigenous on the In My Blood It Runs Q+A Webinar
» Hosted and assisted with several breakouts and sessions across AMSA’s online events
» Engaged with numerous stakeholders, including the AMA Council of Rural Doctors, the Rural Health
Commissioner and the Bonded Implementation Working Group
AMSA Rural Health’s Key Advocacy Priorities for 2021
» Rural clinical school student support
» Postgraduate rural training pathways
» Ensuring students under new end-to-end programs are well-supported
» Assisting the transition of the bonded scheme return of service system
/yourAMSArural
How do I get involved?
@yourAMSArural
@yourAMSArural
www.amsarural.org.au
rural@amsa.org.au
Although our full committee has already been selected, there are several ways to get involved in the rural health
space in 2021! Through our events, projects and other initiatives, we aim to educate students (yes, you!) at a
grassroots level about the unique opportunities and challenges related to rural practice, equipping you with the
skills to shape Australia’s future rural health workforce. We do this through events (promoting and collaborating
with external events or hosting our own!), projects, publications, and social media.
Here’s what you can do:
Keep an eye on our Facebook page and other socials for more info about the below opportunities!
» Get involved in our publications as a writer, photographer/artist or as a member of our Frontier editing team!
» Participate in ARCSSS if you’re a rurally-placed student in 2021 (around August)
» Stay tuned for more information about the Rural Health Summit
23

AMSA MED ED
AMSA Med Ed is the branch of AMSA that is dedicated
to producing high quality, free resources that are
accessible to all medical students across Australia.
Although we are a relatively new part of AMSA, we have
made a range of achievements with more planned for
next year! Med Ed has two main divisions:
Resource division
Med Ed Resource is involved with the production
and provision of credible open access educational
resources to medical students. In 2020, Med Ed
drastically increased the number of peer reviewed
resources available for free on the AMSA Med Ed
Moodle (http://amsamoodle.org.au).
There are four branches of AMSA Med Ed Resource:
» AMSA Question bank: the first national question
bank created by Australian medical students,
with hundreds of available MCQs and quizzes.
» AMSA Factsheets: succinct summaries
of conditions and Australian management
protocols.
» AMSA Academy: an online learning platform
consisting of modules and professional
development courses across multiple
disciplines.
» AMSA OSCEs: consists of OSCE scenarios and
marking guides.
Research division
Med Ed Research is for students interested in
conducting and producing credible research on topics
related to medical education in Australia to supplement
AMSA’s and local Medical Societies’ advocacy to
improve medical education. Med Ed Research also
works with the advocacy team to produce research
to reinforce AMSA’s stand on various non-educational
issues. Currently, Med Ed Research is undertaking
projects to assess the Psychiatry Curriculum outcomes
of medical graduates in Australia, intimate partners
violence education, and medical specialty selection
pressures. Our newest research team is looking at the
effects of COVID-19 on medical students.
In 2021 we also formed a new team called Research
Resources, which creates simple How-to-guides on
the basics of research and conducting research.
24

events
AMSA Med Ed has recently expanded to host events related to medical education. In 2019, we had our first poster
competition at AMSA Convention. In 2020, we hosted the inaugural MCQ Cup, where medical students around
Australia competed by answering MCQ questions over a two-week period - and had over 1000 responses! In 2021,
we plan to host even more events including an OSCE Night and Research Symposium.
How do I get involved?
Whether you enjoy quizzing your friends, enjoy making absolutely ACE notes, want to nurture the inner multimedia
geek in you, or want to get involved in research, AMSA Med Ed has a role for you!
Here’s what you can do:
» Apply to join our team: team member callouts will open in February 2021
» Check out our resources and see what we do at amsamoodle.org.au
» Like our Facebook and Instagram pages
» Come find us at the 2021 AMSA National Convention
Dates to keep an eye out for:
» AMSA Med Ed team member callouts: February 2021
» AMSA Med Ed Research Symposium: TBC (likely April/March 2021)
» AMSA Med Ed OSCE Night: TBC (likely June/July 2021)
» AMSA Med Ed MCQ Cup: September 2021
/yourAMSAMedEd @amsameded www.amsamoodle.org.au
25

AMSA international student network
The International Students’ Network serves as a powerful
advocate for matters pertaining to international students in
Australian medical schools. In Australia, 1 in 5 medical students
are from overseas, and the ISN strives to represent every one of
these students as effectively as possible. We provide a voice for
international medical students at a national level. The goals that
have been set out as foundations for the ISN include:
1. To advocate for all international medical students studying in Australia
2. To provide support for graduating international students seeking internship in Australia
3. To develop an inclusive and engaged international student community
4. To connect current and future international medical students and to inform them of the issues currently
facing international students in Australia.
AMSA International students network Key Milestones in 2020
» Secured the successful refunding of the Commonwealth Medical Internship
programme by the Department of Health
» Worked closely with AMSA Central, medical students’ councils in individual
states and the Department of Health to maximise internship opportunities for
international medical graduates
» Supported graduates who didn’t receive a round 1 job offer by keeping them
informed of opportunities all around Australia
» Assisted international students with their return to Australia in the midst of
the pandemic
» Hosted an inaugural JDTP information session night for upcoming interns
» Organised an information seminar with Greenslopes Private Hospital
AMSA international students network’s Key Advocacy Priorities for 2021
» Producing a detailed Internship Guide
» ISN visa review and ongoing support for Commonwealth Medical
Internship
» Ongoing policy writing in collaboration with AMSA Central
» Collaborating with relevant organisations, to address the mental health
issues experienced by many international medical students.
» Establishing a strong foundation for the North American Subcommittee
which will be in its first year of running
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
If you are interested in joining our fantastic team and representing international students at a national level, stay
tuned for our recruitment announcements towards the end of the year! Join our Facebook group to receive updates
on internship situations, working visas and anything related to international students.
/ISNAMSA
26

AMSA indigenous Health
AMSA Indigenous is a key special interest group (SIG) within AMSA that represents and connects with Indigenous
identifying medical students across Australia, and increases the opportunities available to them. Our team is led
by Indigenous and non-Indigenous medical students, advocating for improved First Nations health outcomes and
a culturally safe healthcare system.
AMSA Indigenous provides invaluable advocacy guidance and contributions on topics pertaining to First Nations
health and people. To reflect these priorities, our team consists of a: national coordinator, education officer,
research and publications officer, events officer, policy officer, and general member.
AMSA Indigenous health's key advocacy priorities For 2021
In 2021, AMSA Indigenous will continue expanding their successful initiatives including AMSA policy writing and
review, and hosting informative Q&A panel nights. This will continue to engage Indigenous medical students with
AMSA and ensure that our policies are truly robust and representative.
27

AMSA queer
AMSA Queer is here to represent the interests of every queer medical student
and promote Queer Health education across all Australian medical schools.
Whether you are in the classroom or on the wards, we want to support you
in expressing who you are.
In 2020, AMSA Queer Team collaborated with SOGICE and Equality Australia,
sent submissions for Census Inclusion and the Religious Discrimination Bill,
and began work on a Curriculum Reform Guide for medical students wanting
to create change within their medical courses. They also created the AMSA
Queer MedEd Survey, a survey on LGBTQI+ education in medical courses
across Australia. In the social sphere, they ran a Pride Month Campaign and
a Leadership Showcase, and highlighted days of awareness through their
public Facebook page, as well as maintaining a private Facebook group for
queer med students.
Key advocacy priorities for 2021
» Continuing to advocate for queer students
» Creating queer spaces in medicine
» Promoting Queer Health education
» Continuing to create resources for medical students
across Australia
» Running workshops and educational sessions
» Connecting queer medical students across Australia
» Working with other AMSA Projects and initiatives
to ensure that queer students feel welcome in all
spaces
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
» Join our Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/QAMSA
» Watch out for us during Pride Month in June and important days of awareness and remembrance throughout
the year as well as at major AMSA events
Dates to look out for (keep an eye on Facebook):
» Pride Month in June
/amsamhc www.amsa.org.au/amsa-queer-project queer@amsa.org.au
28

AMSA national executive
Allen Gu
Secretary
allen.gu@amsa.org.au
Sophie Keen
President
sophie.keen@amsa.
org.au
Alex Ho
Treasurer
alexander.ho@amsa.org.au
Erica Mustgrove
Vice President (Internal)
erica.mustgrove@amsa.
org.au
Jeremy Fernando
Vice President (External)
jeremy.fernando@amsa.
org.au
Olivia Lindsay
Events Coordinator
olivia.lindsay@amsa.org.au
Jasmine Davis
Projects Offier
jasmine.davis@amsa.org.au
Anthony Copeland
Public Relations
Officer
anthony.copeland@amsa.
org.au
Fergus Stafford
Policy Officer
fergus.stafford@amsa.org.au
Deyan Momirovski
National Coordinator
deyan.momirovski@amsa.
org.au
Christian Mich
Sponsorship Officer
christian.mich@amsa.org.au
Richard Song
Sponsorship Officer
richard.song@amsa.org.au
Terra Sudarmana
Publications and
Design Officer
terra.sudarmana@
amsa.org.au
Abhishekh Srinivas
Information Technology Officer
abhishekh.srinivas@amsa.org.
Elizabeth Hu
Student Engagement Officer
elizabeth.hu@amsa.org.au
29

AMSA representatives
Australian National University
Abigail Slater
amsa@anumss.org
Bond University
Albertine Tan
mssbu@student.bond.edu.au
Curtin University
Emily Burgis
19766029@student.curtin.
edu.au
Deakin University
Ellie Damianos
amsa.clinical@medusa.org.
au
Griffith University
Samantha Norris
amsa@gums.org.au
Flinders University
X
amsa@fmss.org.au
James Cook University
Tanish John
tanish.john@my.jcu.edu.au
Macquarie University
Sai Yerra
sai.yerra@students.mq.edu.
au
Monash University
Jessica Yu
jessica.yu@amsa.org.au
University of Adelaide
Raffaela Skourletos
amsa@amss.org.au
Universirty of Melbourne
Jared Tan
amsa@ummss.org.au
University of Newcastle
Andrew Li
amsa@unms.org.au
University of New England
Akhilesh Ayalasomayajula
amsa@unemsa.org
University of New South
Wales
Felix Jay Altit
amsa@medsoc.org.au
University of Notre Dame
(Fremantle)
Nick Peh
amsa@msand.org.au
University of Notre Dame
(Sydney)
Janet Mirzaei
amsa@mandus.org.au
University of Queensland
Kate Neufeld
amsa@uqms.org
University of Sydney
Leo Dunstan-Potter
amsa@sydneymedsoc.org.au
University of Tasmania
Lucy Southcott
amsa@tumss.org.au
University of Western
Australia
Aarohanan Raguragavan
amsa@wamss.org.au
Western Sydney University
Matthew Xu
amsa@wsms.org.au
30
University of Wollongong
Kieren Richards
kieran@uow.edu.au

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