Executive and Member Organisations

Website: www.ahpa.com.au

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) is the national peak body for major health professions other than medical practitioners and nurses. It works to represent the interests of the non-medical health professions sector, particularly to the Commonwealth Government; and to provide a vehicle for liaison and discussion between the professions themselves. Members of the AHPA are national organisations representing specific professions, with membership across Australia in both urban and rural areas. Collectively, they represent about 50,000 allied health professionals. Each has internal systems and networks for liaising with their members, ensuring that the AHPA has input from allied health professionals right across Australia who together provide a vast wealth of skills, experience and opinion.
Current membership of the AHPA represents the following professions:

· Audiologists

· Dietitians

· Occupational Therapists

· Orthoptists

· Orthotists and Prosthetists

· Pharmacists

· Podiatrists

· Psychologists

· Radiographers and Radiation Therapists

· Social Workers

· Sonographers

· Speech Pathologists

Audiology Australia (AA)

Monica Persson
Executive Manager
Suite 7, 476 Canterbury Road
Forest Hill VIC 3131
Phone: (03) 9416 4606
Fax: (03) 9416 4607

Email: ExecManager@audiology.asn.au
Website: www.audiology.asn.au

Audiology Australia (formerly the Audiological Society of Australia - ASA) is the peak body for the profession of audiology with over 1300 members comprising 95% of all audiologists practising in Australia. ASA's mission is to promote the knowledge and practice of Audiology and related areas of science and technology. The ASA's stringent Code of Ethics, Clinical Practice Standards and Clinical Certification Program, together with the ASA biennial National Conference, our quarterly magazine 'Audiology Now', the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Audiology and Continuing Professional Development Programs, ensure that Australians receive the highest standard of hearing health care from Audiologists with up to date professional knowledge and clinical skills. ASA's qualification and clinical standards are the benchmark for recognition as a "practicing clinical audiologist" within Australia.

Australian College of Midwives
Bethany Leditschke
Office Manager
Phone: (02) 6230 7333

The College is the peak professional body for Australian midwives, which strives to maximize the quality of midwifery and maternity care for Australian women and their families through:

· Providing a unified political voice for the midwifery profession

· Supporting midwives to reach their full potential

· Ensuring all childbearing women have access to continuity of care by a known
midwife

· Setting professional practice and education standards

Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
Locked Bag 4777
Strawberry Hills
NSW 2012
Phone: (02) 9310 4844 (Ext 211)
Fax: 02 9310 4822
Email: gregor@acoss.org.au
Website: www.acoss.org.au

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is the peak council of the community services and welfare sector. Established in 1956, ACOSS is the national voice for the needs of people affected by poverty and inequality. ACOSS's vision is a fair, inclusive and sustainable Australia where all individuals and communities have the resources they need to participate in and benefit from social and economic life. The aims of ACOSS are to reduce poverty and inequality by developing and promoting socially, economically and environmentally responsible public policy and action by government, community and business while supporting non-government organisations which provide assistance to vulnerable Australians.

Australian Healthcare Association (AHA)

Prue Power
Executive Director
GPO Box 578
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6162 0780
Fax: (02) 6162 0779
Mob: 0417 419 857
Email: ppower@aushealthcare.com.au
Website: www.aushealthcare.com.au

The Australian Healthcare Association (AHA) is the national industry body for the public and not-for-profit healthcare sectors including hospitals and other healthcare organisations, aged and extended care facilities, primary care and community health. Established in 1946, AHA is the ‘voice of public healthcare’ and has been a major contributor to Australia's health policy for nearly 60 years. AHA's members include the governing bodies of Area and District Health Services, Regional Health Authorities, Community Health Services and Hospitals as well as a number of associate and individual members. AHA is governed by a National Council. Councillors are senior health care executives, clinicians, academics and industry leaders from across Australia. AHA provides high-level advocacy and representation, publishes the Australian Health Review – a peer reviewed health policy journal and the Healthcare Brief newsletter. AHA also convenes an Annual Conference covering a broad range of health sector issues as well as other seminars and workshops on specific issues.

Australian Nursing Federation (ANF)

Ged Kearney
Federal Secretary
PO Box 4239

Kingston ACT 2604
Phone: (02) 6232 6533

Fax: (02) 6232 6610

Mobile: 0417053322

Email: fedsec@anf.org.au

Website: www.anf.org.au

Established in 1924, the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is the national union for nurses in Australia with branches in each state and territory. The ANF is also the largest professional nursing organisation in Australia. The ANF's core business is the industrial and professional representation of nurses and nursing in Australia. The ANF's 145,000 members are employed in a wide range of enterprises in urban, rural and remote locations in the public, private and aged care sectors, including hospitals, health services, schools, universities, the armed forces, statutory authorities, local government, non government, offshore territories and industry. The ANF participates in the development of policy in nursing, nursing regulation, health, community services, veterans' affairs, education and training, occupational health and safety, industrial relations, immigration and law reform.

Australian Nurse Practitioners Association (ANPA)

Helen Gosby

President

PO Box 1720

Karaba NSW 2620

Phone: (02) 9845 2420

Email: heleng1@chw.edu.au

Website: www.nursepractitioners.org.au

ANPA represents nurse practitioners and those with an interest in the development of the nurse practitioner role in Australia. Membership is open to all individuals, groups and organisations with an interest and/or involvement in the provision of nurse practitioner services and care. We have about 200 members based in all states and territories of Australia and some members from New Zealand.

Australian Rural Health Education Network

Joy Burch
Executive Director
PO Box 242

Deakin West ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 6282 2166
Mobile: 0419 460 820
Email: joy.burch@arhen.org.au

Website: www.arhen.org.au

The Australia Rural Health Education Network (ARHEN) members are the 10 University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH) and the Monash School of Rural Health. ARHEN is the national secretariat and coordination conduit for its members. ARHEN became operational in June 2002 and was established to link and support the Network members. The UDRH program is focused on expanding the rural health workforce and their communities’ capacity to deal with rural health issues through education, research and service development. The Network has formed academic units that provide education and training opportunities for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals working in rural and remote areas and for students to practice their skills in that environment. They also conduct significant research and development work on rural health and workforce issues. ARHEN aims to strengthen and add value to the University Departments of Rural Health program, by providing co-ordination, assisting with the development of shared strategic directions, and fostering internal and external networks and collaboration between the University Departments of Rural Health, the Government and other key stakeholders.

Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (ASMOF)

Peter Somerville
Executive Director
LMB 13
Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: (02) 9212 6900
Fax: (02) 9212 6911
Mobile: 0417 047 764

Email: peters@asmof.org.au
Website: www.asmof.org.au

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation is the Australian trade union representing salaried doctors. ASMOF's objectives are: to promote the broad interests of salaried doctors; provide services to its members, including representation before industrial tribunals and in negotiations with employers; and advocate the provision and development of quality health services. ASMOF is a federation comprised of branches in all Australian States and Territories, including a Commonwealth branch. Membership includes all classifications of medical practitioners – interns, residents, registrars, hospital specialists, consultants, medical academics, career medical officers, medical administrators and salaried doctors generally. The Australian Council of Trade Unions recognises ASMOF as the principal union for salaried medical practitioners.

Australian Wound Management Association

Jenny Pilgrim, Secretary

6/3 Jessop Street

Greensborough VIC 3088

Mobile: 0410 561 438
Email: secretary@awma.com.au

Website: www.awma.com.au

The Australian Wound Management Association is the national peak body for health professionals with an interest in wound management, wound research and related issues. It represents the interests of the public/consumer/health personnel and end users of wound care products and devices to ensure best practice principles are achieved in the delivery of wound care in Australia. Wound care, wound prevention, wound research and wound education are all driving forces behind the association. There are sub committees producing NHMRC- accredited guidelines for the prediction and prevention of pressure injuries and lower leg venous ulcers. There is a standards committee responsible for the maintenance of the Standards of Wound Care booklet, a resource widely accepted in aged care settings but equally in all healthcare areas. Other subcommittees include education, wound infection, fundraising and our Wound Awareness Campaign (WAC). A short term goal of the Association is provision of modern, advanced wound care dressings and devices on a wound access scheme so all Australians are able to continue to afford best practice care with the best products for them. Members of the association consist primarily of nurses, General Practitioners, Geriatricians, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Occupational therapists and Podiatrists. Current national membership is 2,800.

Centre for Health Services Research

George Rubin
c/- Sydney West Health
PO Box 533
Wentworthville NSW 2145
Phone: (02) 9845 6677
Fax: (02) 9689 1049

Email: grubin@med.usyd.edu.au

Website: www.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/services/dco/chsr/

Based at Westmead, staff of the Centre for Health Services Research conduct epidemiologic, health services and public health research; teach epidemiology, evidence-based medicine and public health; supervise Masters and PhD students; and provide direct support to clinicians and population health professionals and managers. Recent projects have included a state-wide survey to underpin NHMRC guidelines on transfusion practices, a qualitative and quantitative study of day of surgery theatre cancellations, evaluations of the safety of cardiac surgery and neuroradiologic procedures, evaluation of the NSW Health Chronic Care Collaborative at 20 hospitals across the State and a Towards a Safer Culture project evaluation (both at the request of the Clinical Excellence Commission).

CHOICE

Gordon Renuf
57 Carrington Road
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: 02 9577 3374
Fax: 02 9577 3377
Email: mjohnson@choice.com.au
Website: www.choice.com.au

CHOICE lobbies and campaigns on behalf of consumers to promote their rights, to influence government policy, and to ensure consumer issues have a high priority in the public arena. With over 150,000 subscribers to our information products, it is the largest consumer organisation in Australia. CHOICE is a non-profit, non-party-political organisation. CHOICE receives no government funding. Neither does it receive money from industry, manufacturers, unions or another groups, and does not accept advertising in any of its publications or its website. All income is generated through the sale of products and services, such as CHOICE Online, magazines and books.

Continence Foundation of Australia

The Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA) is the national peak body for continence management, promotion and advocacy. With branches or representatives in each State and Territory, the CFA aims to:

· Assist people with incontinence, their families, carers and health professionals in understanding and managing incontinence.

· Improve public awareness of incontinence.

· Promote the development of accessible continence services throughout Australia.

· Support the establishment of centres from which people can obtain direct help and information relating to their problems.

· Promote the development of self-help groups within the community.

· Promote and fund research on the causes, prevention, management and other aspects of incontinence

The CFA also manages the National Continence Helpline (Free call 1800 33 00 66) funded by the Australian Government. The Helpline is staffed by a team of continence nurse advisors who provide free, confidential advice on bladder and bowel control problems, plus local referrals, brochures and product information. There are CFA Resource Centres established in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. They are staffed by qualified continence health professionals who offer information, advice and referral to clinical continence services. They provide health professional and community education, networking opportunities through special interest groups, and are a resource to the public, health professionals and the Australian government on a range of incontinence issues.

Country Women's Association of Australia (CWAA)

Myra Pincott
National President
24 Lyndhurst Ave
Emu Park
QLD 4710

Phone: (07) 4938 8099
Fax: (07) 4938 8836
Email: myrapincott@bigpond.com.au
Website: www.cwaa.org.au

The Country Women's Association of Australia contains over 40,000 members scattered across Australia. There are seven totally autonomous Associations: NSW; Queensland; Victoria; SA; WA; Tasmania and NT, each of whom may affiliate with the National Association. They are a very rich source for gathering the view, needs and wishes of women, their families and communities. We have been considered for many years to be an Association of great integrity, and as no funding is received from State or Federal Government for our operations and administration, our independence is assured. The Association is consulted on many issues, and provides advice to many Government Agencies and Consultative Councils. The issue of health related services provision in rural, regional and remote areas has always been a major target for our concerns, and was in fact the main contributing issue for the formation of the two oldest Associations, NSW and Queensland, both of which commenced in 1922. Our basic philosophy, “Improving the Welfare and Living Conditions of Women and their families, especially in the country”, has stood the test of time, and is relevant today as it was eighty three years ago.

The Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia (CRANA)

PMB 203 Alice Springs, NT 0872

Web www.crana.org.au
Bush Crisis line: www.bcl.org.au

CRANA is the peak national body for Remote Area Nurses. CRANA strives to improve the health of
Australians living, working and travelling in remote areas of Australia. It does this by promoting a comprehensive primary health care approach, advocating for a multidisciplinary team approach to health care delivery, and by promoting a cultural safety. The vast majority of our membership lives and works in Aboriginal communities scattered across Australia. We also have members in mining communities, farming communities, fishing hamlets, off shore drilling rigs and islands. CRANA manages a number of premier national programs including the First Line Emergency Care Program, which includes the Remote Emergency Care (REC) and Maternal Emergency Care (MEC) courses, the Bush Crisis Line (BCL) and also assists in the ongoing development and delivery of a suite of degrees in Remote Health Practice delivered by the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs. This course resulted from curriculum development work initiated and undertaken by CRANA in 1998. CRANA has also produced the National Clinical Procedure Manual, an invaluable clinical text assisting remote health
practice.

Doctors Reform Society (DRS)

Dr Tim Woodruff
President
PO Box 59 Rydalmere BC
Rydalmere NSW 2116
Phone: (02) 9613 8305
Fax: (02) 9613 8305
Website: www.drs.org.au

The Doctors Reform Society (DRS) is an organisation of doctors and medical students supporting health care reforms to ensure justice, equity and quality care for all regardless of social or economic status.
The DRS believes that health is a fundamental human right which has as its prerequisites social justice and equity and that health care should be available to all, free at the point of delivery, and funded by progressive general taxation. The DRS pursues its aims by promoting informed debate in the community and among doctors, by publications including the journal NEW DOCTOR and by participation in the democratic processes of Australian society. It is independent of government and all political parties and is self funded.

Health Consumers Network (HCN)

Kathy Kendell
Network Coordinator
9 Dylan Ct
Sandstone Pt QLD 4511
Phone/Fax: 07 5497 5786
Email: kathykendell@aapt.net.au

Health Consumers Network is non party political, grassroots, unfunded and community based. We provide a consumer perspective on health policy, planning and service delivery. HCN was initially launched by Consumers’ Health Forum in the early 1990's and has continued the original concept, operating at different levels of activity since that time, completely by volunteers.

We lobby on behalf of health consumers to media, government, health professions, and the wider health system. We come together and work with other organizations to promote our key project areas: safety and quality in the health system; enforceable health rights; patient centered compassionate care; and a sustainable universal Medicare system. We are in contact with numerous consumers of health services who assist in providing us with vital information about the issues which are most important to the users of health services. We take a partisan position on the side of health consumers.

Health Consumers of Rural and Remote Australia

Marg Brown

National Chairperson

PO Box 120

LAMEROO SA 5302

Mobile: 0419 859 886

Fax: (08) 8577 4044

Email: strathwood@internode.on.net

Health Issues Centre (HIC)

Level 5, Health Sciences 2
La Trobe University VIC 3086
Phone: (03) 9479 5827
Fax: (03) 9479 5977
Email: t.mcbride@healthissuescentre.org.au
Website: www.healthissuescentre.org.au

The Health Issues Centre works to ensure that consumers' perspectives are included and valued in the health system, and thus that health outcomes will be improved, especially for those from disadvantaged populations. It collaborates with consumers and health care providers in Victoria, and health policy makers at all levels, to achieve this. It undertakes research, policy analysis, information provision and training and support. The Centre has been an independent, not-for-profit organisation for over 20 years.

Health Reform South Australia (HRSA)

Anne Magarey
Coordinator
c/- SACOSS
1st Floor Torrens Building
220 Victoria Square
Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8226 4111
Fax: (08) 8226 4144
Mobile 0418 841 545

Health Reform South Australia (HRSA) is a coalition of 27 organisations that sit outside of government. HRSA formed in 2003 around a shared commitment to promote and implement the health reforms proposed in the recommendations of the Generational Health Review (GHR), Better Choices
Better Health, April 2003. HRSA provides a platform for the non-government sector to negotiate
with Government to achieve a truly integrated population health system that delivers community benefit.

Member organisations include community sector peak bodies such as COTA, SACOSS, SADI, SACHA, RASA, MHC etc., training and research agencies such as Flinders University, UniSA., professional groups such as RACGP, RCNA, ACM etc. consumer and carers groups such as HCA, HR&CA, Carers
Association of SA, and unions among others.

Maternity Coalition Inc

Justine Caines
National Policy Director
PO Box 105
MERRIWA NSW 2329
Phone: (02) 65482248
Fax: (02) 65482902
Email: justine.caines@bigpond.com
Website: www.maternitycoalition.org.au

Maternity Coalition is Australia’s national maternity consumer advocacy organization, and is committed to all Australian women having choice in childbirth, particularly the care of one known midwife. Maternity Coalition strives for safe and sustainable maternity care (particularly in rural areas). Maternity Coalition believes that pregnancy and childbirth are not illnesses and as such are not automatically medical events. The promotion of a wellness model we believe is central to positive outcomes, particularly in early parenting. Maternity Coalition promotes care where women are central to service delivery; where maternity health resources are appropriately used with midwives recognised as specialists in normal pregnancies and birth and procedural GP’s and specialist obstetrician¹s acknowledged for their expertise in abnormal and complicated pregnancies and births.

National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID)

Jim Simpson
Senior Advocate
131 Bilga Crescent
Malabar NSW 2036
Phone: (02) 9345 5504
Fax: (02) 9345 5504
Email: jcsimpson@optusnet.com.au
Website: www.ncid.org.au

The National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID) is the national association representing people with intellectual disability and their families in Australia. It was established over 30 years ago by parents and friends to make the Australian community one in which people with intellectual disability are involved and accepted as equal participating members. NCID is a federation of groups representing states and territories.

National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA)

Gordon Gregory, OAM
Executive Director
Level 2, 10 Campion Street
Deakin ACT 2600
Tel: 02 6285 4660
Fax: 02 6285 4670
Email: nrha@ruralhealth.org.au
Website: www.ruralhealth.org.au

The NRHA is a collaboration of 24 national bodies working for better health for people in rural, regional and remote Australia. Its members represent both the providers and consumers of health services. With core financial support from the Australian Government, the NRHA works with its Member Bodies to collect and organise information, and to disseminate and apply it in ways that will help governments, professions and communities to improve the health and well-being of people who live and work in non-metropolitan Australia.

NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA)

Kathryn Sullivan
Government and Community Relations
PO Box 40
Camperdown NSW 1450
Phone: (02) 8595 1234
Fax: (02) 9550 3667
Email: ksullivan@nswnurses.asn.au
Website: www.nswnurses.asn.au

The New South Wales Nurses' Association (NSWNA) is the industrial and professional body that represents over 51,000 nurses in New South Wales. The membership of the Association comprises all those who perform nursing work, including Assistants in Nursing, Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses at all levels, including management and education. The members of the NSWNA are also members of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), a federally registered industrial organisation, and form the NSW Branch of the ANF.

Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)

Michael Moore
Chief Executive Officer

PO Box 319
Curtin ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 6285 2373
Fax: (02) 6282 5438
Email: mmoore@phaa.net.au
Website: www.phaa.net.au

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) is a forum for the promotion of public health. It is a membership organisation for over 40 different professions, all of which deal with public health issues. The PHAA provides opportunities for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on public health and actively undertakes advocacy for public health policy, development, research and training. The PHAA currently has approximately 2,000 members. It is a not-for-profit, non-party political organisation. The PHAA does not receive any core funding from government, but occasionally receives one-off grants for activities such as bringing speakers to conferences. The PHAA’s core funding comes from its members and from its activities.

Public Hospitals, Health and Medicare Alliance of Queensland (PHHAMAQ)

Beth Mohle
Project Officer (Queensland Nurses’ Union) and PHHAMAQ Secretariat
C/- QNU GPO Box 1289 Brisbane Q 4001
Phone: (07) 3840 1437 (direct) (07) 3840 1444 (switch)
Fax: (07) 3846 7409
Email: bmohle@qnu.org.au

Website: www.qnu.org.au

The Public Hospitals Health and Medicare Alliance of Queensland (PHHAMAQ) is a non-party political organisation broad coalition of consumers, community groups, health service providers and trade unions who share a common concern for the future of the Australian health system. The Alliance was formed in early 1998. The purpose of this Alliance is to: share information about issues of concern to Alliance members; and raise awareness within the community and with all political parties about health matters.
The Alliance is to be inclusive, including state and national bodies, which may join on invitation or by self-nomination if they endorse the PHHAMAQ Statement of Principles including:

· Health care is a right that should be based on need and not on ability to pay.

· Healthy citizens are the most valuable resource of any society.

· The best and fairest way of achieving this is through Medicare, Australia’s universal tax-funded health insurance system.

· Medicare is the fairest way of meeting people’s needs while containing costs.

· Medicare compares favourably with health systems in other OECD countries.

· Medicare provides a common good for the benefit of all Australians.

· The provision of private health services is and should only ever be complementary to the maintenance of a viable and effective public health system.

The Alliance focus is to on national issues of concern in relation to public hospitals, health and Medicare.

Redcliffe-Bribie-Caboolture Division of General Practice (RBCDGP)

Doug Welch
Executive Officer
PO Box 258
Margate Beach QLD 4170
Phone: (07) 3284 5155
Fax: (07) 3284 5877
Email: rbcdgp@rbcdgp.com.au

Website: www.rbcdgp.com.au

The Division is the peak body representing GPs in the Redcliffe-Bribie-Caboolture area on the northern fringes of Brisbane. It has around 150 general practitioners covering around 55 practices. The Division is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The Division has been active in health futures running and participating in a number of conferences.

Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

Gary Disher
Director, Policy and Communications
145 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9256 9604
Fax: (02) 9256 9610
Email: Gary.Disher@racp.edu.au
Website: www.racp.edu.au

First incorporated in 1938 the College has evolved over its history to bring together many different groups of physicians who share common ideals in medical practice. The College represents over 7,000 Fellows who include Fellows of the College (physicians and paediatricians), its Faculties of Public Health Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Occupational Medicine and its Chapters of Palliative Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Community Child Health and Sexual Health Medicine. The Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine is part of the College and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. In addition, the RACP encompasses a range of associated Specialty Societies representing the spectrum of practice in Internal Medicine and Paediatrics across 23 sub specialties. The core business of the College is clearly focused in four areas:

· Promoting professional standards and patient safety through the broad areas of training and assessment;

· Promoting the maintenance of professional standards among physicians through education;

· Promoting the knowledge base of physicianly practice and the science of medicine through research and dissemination of new knowledge and innovation to the profession and in the community;

· Promoting the health outcomes of all people through the development of health and social policy and advocating it in partnership with health consumers.

Royal College Nursing, Australia (RCNA)

Debra Cerasa FRCNA

Chief Executive Officer

1 Napier Close

Deakin ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 6283 3411
Website: www.rcna.org.au

Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is Australia’s peak professional organisation for nurses. RCNA works to promote professional excellence in nursing through a series of innovative professional development and continuing education opportunities, and is also a voice for the nursing profession in policy development at both state and national levels.

RCNA represents a broad cross-section of the Australian nursing workforce and supports nurses at all stages of their careers.

Rural Doctors Association of Australia

Susan Stratigos
Policy Advisor

Phone: (02) 6273 9303
Fax: (02) 6273 9308
Email: policy@rdaa.com.au
Website: www.rdaa.com.au

The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) was formed in 1991 to give rural doctors a national voice. RDAA comprises the Rural Doctors Association of each state and the Northern Territory, representing rural and remote doctors from right around the country. RDAA seeks the ongoing provision of high-quality medical care to the people of rural and remote Australia. It strives for adequate training, remuneration and professional and social supports for rural doctors, to achieve a skilled, motivated and sustainable rural medical workforce. By working closely with its members and key stakeholders such as the Australian Government, RDAA provides support, policy development, research, submissions and strategic advice on relevant issues. In 1996, RDAA created the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), a separate organisation to look after standards, training and continuing medical education for rural doctors.

South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA)

Andrew Murray
Senior Industrial Officer
PO Box 64
North Adelaide SA 5006

Phone: (08) 8267 5151
Fax: (08) 8267 1891
Email: andrewm@sasmoa.com

SASMOA is an industrial organisation (union) representing employed doctors in South Australia. Its membership of approx. 1000 is predominantly employed in the public-sector. It is the State branch of Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF). Its activities involve the representation of both individual doctors and groups of doctors in a range of matters including rights and entitlement disputes, as well as the lobbying of industry bodies and Government with regards to a wide range of issues about the medical workforce.

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Inc (SARRAH)

Rod Wellington

Chief Executive Officer
PO Box 74

Deakin West ACT 2600
Phone: 0418 374 105
Fax: (02) 6285 4670
Email: rod@ruralhealth.org.au
Website: www.sarrah.org.au

SARRAH is a grass roots organisation recognised as a national peak body representing rural and remote allied health professionals. SARRAH membership comprises individuals across a range of disciplines within the allied health umbrella. SARRAH has established extensive networks of allied health professionals at regional, state and national level. It works to reduce the professional isolation and to develop and provide services to enable Allied Health Professionals who live and work in rural and remote areas of Australia to confidently and competently carry out their Professional duties in providing a variety of health services. SARRAH manages the Australian Rural and Remote Health Professional Scholarship Scheme – a postgraduate program providing scholarships for ongoing professional development activities. SARRAH convenes the biennial National SARRAH Conference – the only national agenda informing conference for rural and remote allied health professionals. SARRAH is a member organisation of the National Rural Health Alliance.

Tasmanian Medicare Action Group

Kath McLean
PO Box 1126

Sandy Bay TAS 7006

Phone: (03) 6231 0755

Fax: (03) 6223 6136
Email: kath@tascoss.org.au

The Tasmanian Medicare Action Group (TasMAG) was formed in November 2003 and is a loose coalition of individuals and organisations concerned about the erosion of Medicare and about the parlous state of our healthcare system. The goals of TasMAG include:

· Maintenance of the principles on which Medicare is based: universality, equity, efficiency and simplicity;

· The redirection into the public health system of the tax rebate for private health insurance;

· The restoration of Medicare, including the extension of bulk billing and the consequent need for a Medicare ‘safety net;

· The extension of Medicare benefits to include dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy, nursing and other essential healthcare services;

· An increase in the number of trained health professionals working in Tasmania;
- Increased funding for the public health system, and

· A commitment by state and federal governments to appropriate reforms to ensure that health spending is adequate and well targeted.

Victorian Medicare Action Group (VMAG)

Rod Wilson
Convenor
283 Church Street
Richmond VIC 3121

Phone: (03) 9420 9114
Mobile: 0419 313 239
Email: mmurray@iechs.org.au

The Victorian Medicare Action Group is a coalition of over 300 members including Women’s Health Victoria, Doctors Reform Society, Health Issues Centre, Victorian Council of Social Services, consumer groups, community health centres, local government, religious and welfare organisations throughout Victoria. The Victorian Medicare Action Group aims to campaign for a strong and sustainable universal health system (through Medicare) by pursuing the following objectives:

· Working as a coalition of groups to advocate for the future of Medicare.

· Providing a forum for discussion about Medicare, bulk-billing and other issues such as access to after-hours primary care.

· Raising awareness and encouraging community debate about issues relating to Medicare and bulk-billing.

· Disseminating information about current trends in bulk billing.

· Advocacy at a local, state and national level for stronger universal health system.

· Supporting research and analysis into the impact of changes to Medicare on the broader community and particular groups such as low-income earners and rural communities.

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