AMA NT Welcomes new President

Dr Zorbas, a Specialist Emergency Physician and Intensive Care Physician at the Royal Darwin Hospital, is also former AMA (WA) Junior Doctor of the Year, former Chair of the AMA Council of Doctors in Training, and former AMA NT Vice President.

Dr Zorbas, who takes over as AMA NT President from Dr Robert Parker, said he was proud to be elected as the AMA NT President and would continue to advocate for the Territory’s doctors and patients.

"We work in one of the most challenging environments in Australia, and constant advocacy is required by doctors in the NT to ensure the needs of our patients and our staff are met,” Dr Zorbas said.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us and I am proud to be leading such a talented and diverse council." Dr Zorbas brings a wealth of experience to his role having served in several roles in the AMA in the WA, NT and Federal branches. He also continues in his roles as Staff Specialist Representative on the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) NT Council, and as a Practitioner Member on the Medical Board of Australia NT.

Dr Zorbas has been heavily involved in workforce modelling and planning, previously serving in representative roles for both the Department of Health and the medical colleges. He has been instrumental in bringing the voices of trainees to the forefront, having established the first AMA Hospital Health Check in 2013, and the inaugural MBA Medical Training Survey in 2019.

As President of AMA NT his priorities are to ensure a greater connection with members in the Territory and to ensure the Federal and Territory governments are held accountable for the chronic underresourcing of healthcare in the NT. Dr Zorbas honoured Immediate Past President Dr Robert Parker, who served as AMA NT President for 11 years, noting his many important contributions to Northern Territory healthcare as AMA NT President.

"Dr Parker has been at the forefront of some huge health challenges here in the Territory, especially involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," Dr Zorbas said.

"In 2016 Dr Parker brought the issue of a syphilis epidemic, primarily among young Aboriginal people, and focused the AMA NT on developing a position advocating for a national Centre for Disease Control to better co-ordinate epidemic responses.

"Dr Parker was similarly involved in the NT Covid response and helped shape culturally-safe care for Aboriginal patients in Alice Springs.

"As a member of the AMA Indigenous Health Task Force Dr Parker persuaded the Task Force to report on the epidemic of Rheumatic Heart Disease, which had been 20 times more prevalent in the Indigenous population. This reporting and subsequent advocacy, including lobbying by Pat Turner, saw the federal government provide $35 million for the development of a potential vaccine, which is now at the testing stage." 

Fiona Crombie
08 8981 7479
fcrombie@amant.com.au