Councils, Committees, and Working Groups 

Councils, Committees, and Working  Groups representing the views of AMA members.

AMA Councils

AMA Councils are responsible for the development of AMA policy and for ensuring the implementation of that policy.  

The AMA has five Councils:

Council of General Practice (CGP)  

The AMA Council of General Practice reflects the views of the AMA’s general practice members, including GP trainees. The Council develops policy focusing on general practice being properly recognised, remunerated, and integrated into the Australian healthcare system.

Council of Doctors in Training (CDT)  

The AMA Council of Doctors in Training (CDT) represents the views and concerns of the AMA’s doctors in training members regarding professional and workplace issues. CDT reviews and develops policy on the implications for doctors in training of legislation and government policies.

Council of Private Specialist Practice (CPSP)  

The AMA Council of Private Specialist Practice (CPSP) represents the views of medical practitioners working in private specialist practice.  CPSP develops and reviews existing policy on relevant issues affecting the delivery of medical services in private specialist practice and the operation of private specialist practice. The Council works closely with external organisations associated with the delivery of medical services in private specialist practice. 

Council of Public Hospital Doctors (CPHD)  

The AMA Council of Public Hospital Doctors (CPHD) represents the views and concerns of the AMA’s public hospital doctor members regarding professional, industrial, and workplace issues. CPHD looks at the implications for salaried doctors of legislation and government policies affecting salaried doctors issues. 

Council of Rural Doctors (CRD)  

The AMA Council of Rural Doctors develops new, and revises existing, policy on issues that relate to the delivery of health services and remote medical and workforce issues in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia.

Committees, taskforces, working groups

Ethics and Medico-Legal Committee 
Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee 
Fees List Committee
Medical Practice Committee 
Mental Health Committee 
Public Health Committee 
Taskforce on Indigenous Health

Taking part in AMA Councils and Committees

If you have just been appointed to an AMA Council or Committee, or are an existing member, congratulations and thank you for representing the professional interests of doctors and the healthcare needs of patients and communities.  

Our commitment to diversity 

The AMA is committed to achieving gender balance on all of its Councils and Committees and has set a target of 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men, 20 per cent flexible for all Federal AMA Councils, Committees and Boards, with a gender diversity target of women holding 50 per cent of Federal AMA representative positions overall, for attainment by 2024. 

The AMA has produced “A guide to gender balanced representation on AMA Councils and Committees,” with practical advice about how to encourage more women to take on representative and leadership roles within the AMA and more broadly. Click here to access the guide.  

The AMA encourages applicants with diverse lived experiences to apply for representative roles on its Councils and Committees including (but not limited to) Diverse Sexuality and Gender (DSG) people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

What to expect 

Council and Committee members can expect to work collaboratively under the guidance of the Chair to contribute to AMA policy and advocacy to advance AMA membership, the medical profession, and health of all Australians.  

Each Council and Committee is supported by an expert and dedicated AMA Federal Secretariat. 

Skill set required 

No previous AMA Committee or Council experience is necessary to take part in an AMA Council or Committee. However, the following attributes are desirable in supporting AMA Council and Committee work:   

  • Having a background and/or interest in the Council/Committee’s brief/subject matter;   

  • Previous experience in health policy or advocacy;   

  • Willingness and ability to contribute to professional discussion and debate;   

  • Ability to present the views and interests of doctors and the AMA;   

  • Availability for meeting attendance and associated Council/Committee work.   

Key accountabilities and tasks  

  • Participate in meetings and occasional out-of-session correspondence and policy development.   

  • Contribute to the development of AMA policy, advocacy, strategy and communications.  

  • Represent the views of the AMA membership to act in the best interests of AMA membership. 

  • Uphold AMA values and its Code of Conduct 

Opportunities 

  • Represent the AMA at meetings with external organisations, Government etc. 

  • Contribute to policy debate at AMA National Conference and other forums.  

Meeting schedules and time commitments 

  • Members can expect to attend each meeting of the Council or Committee they are members of – usually three or four a year.  

  • Meeting duration varies between two hours to a half-day. All face-to-face meetings will have the option for attendees to participate via videoconference if preferred.   

  • Members are expected to read meeting papers prior to each meeting.  

  • There is also occasional out-of-session work via email and/or social media channels including (but not limited to) the provision of feedback on submissions or external meeting papers (e.g., Government Committees and Advisory Groups), discussion on emerging issues, and development of AMA policy. 

Tenure and appointment   

  1. Committee members can hold their position for up to six years.  

  1. Committee members are appointed by the AMA President following each election cycle. Appointments consider the AMAs commitment to a target of 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men, 20 per cent flexible for all AMA Councils, Committees and Boards.   

  1. If any appointed member of a Council or Committee is absent from three successive meetings, that member will be deemed to have resigned their membership, unless in case of illness or for some other reason approved by the Chair of the Committee.  

AMA Committee policies 

As an AMA Council or Committee member, you are expected to follow the guidelines and policies in place to protect you and the organisation.  

We have created a dedicated area with all you need to know to support your participation – from disclosure of interests to meeting inclusions and allowances and childcare here. Click here to access the Member Only area content.