Encouraging a focus on workforce growth
AMA SA Committee of General Practice advocacy on supporting international medical graduates (IMGs) is among AMA SA members’ efforts highlighting the need for broad engagement in building a sustainable medical workforce.
IMGs critical to GP workforce
Lengthy discussion at the Committee of General Practice meeting on 19 February highlighted the critical role international medical graduates (IMGs) play in our rural GP workforce. Last week, AMA SA Council approved a motion from CGP to escalate to a broader public stage how important it is that IMGs choose to work in South Australia, that red tape doesn’t hamper their efforts to arrive here, and that the environment and working conditions they find here encourage them to stay. As its prominent position in our 2026 Election Priorities indicates, this is not a new area of advocacy for AMA SA and our efforts to increase both attention on the needs of IMGs and investment in supporting them will continue.
Read our 2026 Election Priorities
South Australia leads the country with autism strategy
The Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke, wrote to me as Chair of the CGP recently, outlining an Adult Autism Assessment Pilot Project aiming to support adults for whom an assessment for autism may be needed.
These assessments were announced publicly in a media release on 13 February.
In the release, the Minister pointed to activity including:
- The creation of South Australia’s first Autism Strategy 2024-2029, the Autism Inclusion Charter and the Autism Action Plan 2025-2029
- The establishment of the Office for Autism
- Funded access to an Autism Inclusion Teacher in every public primary school
- Creating the Autism Works in the Community Grants Program.
On 30 January, the Minister announced that South Australia would host the Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) in 2027.