From patient flow improvements and training incentives to stronger vape law enforcement, our advocacy efforts are delivering real wins for members and patients across Queensland.<\/p>\n
Since our last update, we have held a few fantastic events for the wider medical community to come together to network, learn and share practical insights to support their careers and businesses.<\/p>\n
Advocacy effortsState budget outcome<\/p>\n
AMA Queensland has been championing priority areas for reform and investment to improve health access and equity for all Queenslanders for some time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In early March, we released our Budget Submission 2025-26 detailing these priorities, and in the lead-up to this year\u2019s state budget, we ramped up our advocacy efforts to urge the LNP Government to invest in them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our calls were heard loud and clear, receiving strong media coverage across the state.<\/p>\n
The budget was handed down on Tuesday 24 June and we were pleased to see a record investment in health. This includes funding for initiatives to improve patient flow and utilise private hospitals to reduce elective surgery backlogs, which were key recommendations in our Surgical Wait List Roundtable Action Plan.<\/p>\n
While it is a relief to see health remains a high priority, the government must now show how and when this funding will be delivered.<\/p>\n
Learn more about our campaign.<\/a><\/p>\n Read our response<\/a><\/p>\n Support for medical students<\/p>\n The Commonwealth Prac Placement offering nursing, teaching and social work students support while they\u2019re undertaking mandatory placements commenced on 1 July.<\/p>\n With medical students excluded from the program despite lengthy mandatory placement requirements, AMA Queensland Committee of Doctors in Training Chair Dr Emma Hodge spoke with ABC Radio Brisbane about the challenges they face in balancing unpaid placements, study commitments and the need to earn an income.\u00a0<\/p>\n She emphasised that the argument that medical students will \u2018earn well later\u2019 doesn\u2019t help those who are struggling now.<\/p>\n At present, only those with financial support from family or savings can comfortably manage the demands of medical school placements, meaning we are likely not getting the diversity of students we need to serve our diverse community.<\/p>\n We continue to advocate for the inclusion of medical students in this program to help ensure we graduate the doctors we urgently need.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n New vape and tobacco enforcements<\/p>\n The state government recently announced the employment of 43 new enforcement officers to strengthen compliance with vaping and tobacco laws across Queensland.<\/p>\n AMA Queensland has consistently called for stronger enforcement, particularly in response to the alarming rise in youth vaping, with reports of children as young as 10 using vapes at school.<\/p>\n We welcome this initiative as a long-overdue step in the right direction.<\/p>\n We hope these new measures will help protect young Queenslanders from the harms of nicotine addiction and crack down on the black market for illicit vaping and tobacco products.<\/p>\n This is a critical move toward safeguarding public health and ensuring vaping laws are properly enforced across the state.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n Medicine in the age of AI<\/p>\n As advanced technologies like artificial intelligence become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, AMA Queensland Committee of General Practice Chair Dr Lee Jones has explored what this could mean for the future of medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross regional Australia, doctors and healthcare workers are choosing not to stay. Many are retiring, burning out or quietly leaving the system. We have no sustained workforce strategy for these towns. No long-term plan for who will remain,\u201d Dr Jones said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there is a solution, and it\u2019s not wishful thinking. It\u2019s artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n \u201cAI systems, deployed responsibly, could provide immediate diagnostic support, reduce dependence on overstretched staff, extend specialist care into the most remote communities and give patients real-time guidance when no clinician is physically present.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will not replace human care, but it may be the only way to preserve access where human clinicians can no longer stay.\u201d<\/p>\n The full article is available for AMA Queensland members on our website.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n Investment in active travel\u00a0<\/p>\n We recently welcomed the Queensland Government’s $19.1 million investment in walking and cycling infrastructure as an important step towards improving community health and reducing the impact of climate change.<\/p>\n Recognising the significant health benefits of walking and cycling, we have been advocating for transport systems that support active travel.<\/p>\n In our recent Budget Submission 2025-26, we focused these calls on the need to reduce the impact of climate change and ensure health care services are sustainable.<\/p>\n This funding will help more Queenslanders make healthier choices and contribute to reducing our carbon emissions. However, sustained and long-term investment is essential to ensure real and lasting change.\u00a0<\/p>\n We are pleased to see the government take this step and hope it is part of a broader solution to make active options like cycling and e-mobility devices safer and more accessible for all.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n NewsMOCA 7 update<\/p>\n Medical Officers\u2019 Certified Agreement No 7 (MOCA 7) negotiations are still ongoing, and the expiry date for MOCA 6 is fast approaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n In preparation for a possible escalation in negotiations, we have asked all members to ensure their details are up to date.\u00a0<\/p>\n This includes, contact details, employment location (which hospital), classification with Queensland Health, and ASMOFQ member status.<\/p>\n As an ASMOFQ member, you will be supporting our work to achieve the best MOCA outcome and by providing your current details, we will be able organise meetings and co-ordinate action if and\/or when needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Please visit the\u00a0AMA Queensland Member Portal<\/a>\u00a0to update your details.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you have colleagues who wish to join AMA Queensland and ASMOFQ, please refer them to this page:\u00a0https:\/\/www.ama.com.au\/qld\/join<\/a><\/p>\n We also encourage you to share our ready-made social media resources with your colleagues. You can find this on our Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n AMA Queensland Digital Upgrade<\/p>\n There is action aplenty behind the scenes at AMA Queensland, as we work to upgrade our website and database. This will provide the most up-to-date, secure and user-friendly experience for our members.<\/p>\n We recognise our responsibility in keeping members personal details confidential, and this transition enables us to implement the latest security features.<\/p>\n We will be reaching out to our members when actions are required or if access becomes limited while changes are underway.<\/p>\n Get ready for a modern new look and feel, and a more streamlined member experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n CampaignsAMA Queensland Foundation reaches EOFY fundraising target<\/p>\n It came down to the wire, but we were thrilled to see AMA Queensland Foundation just ticked over its $30,000 goal for its End of Financial Year Tax Appeal!<\/p>\n It means the Foundation will be able to award scholarships to another three Queensland medical students in 2026 to support them in continuing their medical studies and pursuing their dreams of becoming doctors.<\/p>\n If you missed out, never fear! You can get in early on next year’s tax appeal by donating now – everything over $2 is tax deductible.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n EventsPrivate Practice Refreshed<\/p>\n AMA Queensland\u2019s first Private Practice Refreshed event kicked off in Brisbane on Friday 20 June, bringing together members keen to grow and future-proof their private practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n Attendees enjoyed a team-building sushi-making experience before diving into expert-led sessions on business structuring, legal frameworks, cyber protection, insurance costs, and real-world challenges facing GPs and specialists.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you to our sponsors and speakers for making this a valuable and engaging event.<\/p>\n We look forward to bringing it to Townsville and the Gold Coast in the months to come.<\/p>\n See gallery<\/a><\/p>\n Upcoming events<\/p>\n Are you based in North Queensland? Townsville doctors, we have the perfect weekend of networking and insightful discussion planned for you this July. Join us, your colleagues and other local doctors for our Member networking event<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on a Friday evening, before celebrating women supporting fellow women and our male allies at our Women in Medicine Breakfast<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Join AMA Queensland and the\u00a0Australian Senior Active Doctors Association<\/a>\u00a0(ASADA) for our engaging and inspiring one-day\u00a0Senior Doctor Conference<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0tailored to senior active and retired doctors this August.\u00a0<\/p>\n Are you thinking about travelling overseas this year? Join us for our\u00a0Annual Conference 2025<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in Vancouver, Canada to\u00a0earn CPD points and learn key issues facing the profession while immersed in a unique tourism destination.<\/p>\n We can’t wait to see you at one of our 2025 events!<\/p>\n