AMA's Constitution
The AMA’s Constitution outlines how the AMA is structured and governed and its main activities. It also explains the roles, responsibilities and powers of the Board, directors, Federal Council, management, and members.
At the AMA’s Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2024 members voted on changes to the Constitution. In total five resolutions to change the Constitution were passed with an overwhelming majority. Read a copy of the updated Constitution
Read a message from AMA President Professor Steve Robson about the changes
AMA Federal Council
The AMA Federal Council meets quarterly and is the AMA’s main policy-making body. It is a forum to identify and debate emerging issues of relevance to the membership.
Learn more about AMA’s advocacy
The Federal Council’s primary role is to:
- form the policy of the AMA
- propose changes to existing policy; and
- elect representatives to roles and committees.
Meet the AMA's Federal Councillors
One of Australia’s most highly-qualified doctors, Professor Steve Robson has been practising medicine for 35 years.
A Professor at the Australian National University Medical School, Steve works in both public and private practice in Canberra.
He grew up in small regional towns in Queensland and was the first member of his family to attend university.
Before training as a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, Steve served as a Medical Officer in the Royal Australian Navy and has medals and a citation for war service.
Trained in Australia, the UK, and Canada, Steve is a Fellow of learned colleges in the UK and the US, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He was also President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In addition to these roles Steve currently works with the NHMRC and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and has been a part of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on out-of-pocket costs, the National Endometriosis Taskforce, and the Australian Medical Council. He is one of the authors of the Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and has authored more than 200 research papers and articles and two other textbooks.
Steve is passionate about equitable access to healthcare , the economics of preventive care, and the mental health and wellbeing of doctors. He holds two research doctorates and master’s degrees in public health and genetics. He is currently researching the effects of socioeconomics on access to healthcare.
Steve is currently completing a Master’s degree in Health Economics. He is a member of the Economic Society of Australia, the Australian Health Economics Society, and the International Health Economics Association.
Professor Robson first joined the AMA in 1984 as a medical student in Queensland. He has served as ACT President and is in his fifth term on the AMA ACT Board and is a Federal Councillor. He has also been President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Dr Danielle McMullen is the Vice President of AMA and a GP in Townsville. She is the immediate past president of AMA NSW and has been involved with AMA at state and federal levels since 2011. She is a director of Drs4Drs, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was a member of the Commonwealth Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, and also provides expertise to the TGA Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling. Danielle has a strong interest in good governance processes and building member engagement with the AMA.
Tasmania By Laws
Following extensive consultation with our members in Tasmania and nationally, AMA Tasmania members voted in support of future proofing and agreed to close AMA Tasmania and transfer its assets to the Australian Medical Association on 31 May 2024.
Starting 1 June 2024, Tasmania commenced operating as a branch of the Australian Medical Association.
These new by-laws officially reflect those changes and establish it as a branch of the Association from that date.
AMA state and territory organisations
The AMA is a federation and doctors in local states and territories play a key role in creating our policies.
State and territory AMA's are dedicated to providing members with representation on a variety of medical issues, professional services and commercial benefits.