The Australian Medical Students’ Association’s (AMSA) primary role is to represent all Australian medical students at a national level. Its 14,000+strong membership is derived from the nation’s nineteen medical schools.

Once you’re enrolled as a medical student at the University of Newcastle you are automatically a member. On UNMS’s membership sign up forms you have to opportunity to have AMSA’s publications sent directly to your email inbox or post box. But if you didn’t tick that box you can subscribe here- http://amsa.org.au/forms/subscribe-amsa.

AMSA is your peak medico-political organisation, with a strong focus on advocacy. AMSA has representatives sitting on dozens of committees within the health sector, AMSA fights for the rights of all medical students and contributes to policy formation in order to maintain fair and equitable treatment of it members within the medical industry.

AMSA is governed by its National Council, comprising AMSA Representative from each of Australia’s Medical Students’ Societies (MedSocs). There are three national council meetings a year for the entire committee to meet and discuss relevant issues and form important policy (which can be seen here- http://www.amsa.org.au/content/official-policy).  The inaugural UNMS AMSA Sub-committee to be formed this year will allow you to have direct input into the formation of AMSA’s policy and how it runs. For info on the sub-committee look out for posters around the PBL rooms and the UNMS e-news or email your AMSA Rep- Steve Hurwitz (steve.mate)

The AMSA executive is hosted annually by any university or group of universities represented by the association. Each year’s executive is decided by bid process culminating in a national council vote at the final Council meeting of the year before. This year the Executive is based in Adelaide, lead by President Ross Roberts-Thomson.

Aside from advocacy, AMSA strives to keep its membership informed of current issues through coordinated updates to its contingent MedSocs via local AMSA reps as well as through its publications Panacea, Embolus and AMSA Exposed. It also connects MedSocs and students across the country through various national events such as the highly popular National Convention (http://convention2010.amsa.org.au/) and Global Health Conference (http://ghc2010.amsa.org.au/). It’s other events can be viewed here http://www.amsa.org.au/content/events

It maybe hard to believe but this is only the tip of the iceberg. AMSA does heaps more including, providing opportunities for scholarships, travel overseas and ways to help out your community. The best way to keep up to date is to check out the website (http://www.amsa.org.au/content/events) and join the UNMS AMSA Sub-committee!