UNMS Initiatives

UNMS hosts a selection of initiatives throughout the year, from sporting activities for members to have fun, get fit, and meet other med students; to UNMS’s Community initiatives, like the Teddy Bear Hospital which connects medical students with the community; and our Wellbeing initiatives like Blue Week, which aims to remind med students to always take care of themselves and each other.


Learn more about our initiatives below!

AMSA (Australian Medical Students' Association) Logo

UNMS is one of 22 proud members of the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA). AMSA is the peak representative body for all 17,000 medical students across all 22 medical schools in Australia and aims to connect, inform and represent Australian medical students through advocacy, events and programs, and publications. AMSA advocates for medical students through policy development, advocacy campaigns and representation to governments, universities and relevant medical bodies. Its advocacy efforts also include areas of global, rural and Indigenous health. AMSA also hosts a world-renowned student-run conference, along with 3 other events, such as the Rural Health Summit. Get in touch with our AMSA representative at amsa@unms.org.au to learn more about how UNMS and AMSA work together.

AMSA Convention is in Sydney for 2025! Check it out now! →

Connect

AMSA hosts three world-renowned entirely student run conferences a year: Convention, Global Health Conference and the National Leadership Development Seminar. Each conference provides an entirely unique flavour and provides an opportunity to meet medical students from other universities across the country.


Inform

 AMSA Policy is the foundation of AMSA’s advocacy campaign. Policies are discussed and voted upon at Councils by AMSA Reps and direct AMSA’s efforts toward the best interests of medical students. Any medical student can participate in the writing of policy, and should contact their AMSA Rep to find out how.

Represent

AMSA represents its members through multiple platforms. Notably, AMSA runs Council three times a year to discuss issues affecting Australian medical students, with AMSA Reps and MedSoc Presidents from each medical school present to represent the views of their members and take part in the discussions.

UNMS Publications

The UNMS Publications Team work throughout the year to put three publications together: the Introductus - UNMS’ Official Freshers’ Guide, and two editions of Ductus - UNMS’ Official Magazine. UNMS’ publications provide essential information to JMP students, while showcasing the writing talents of medical students. For those who enjoy writing, the Introductus and Ductus are outlets to get creative and an opportunity to get published. The Publications Team is always on the lookout for up-and-coming writers. If you are one of them, send an email to the Publications Officers at publications@unms.org.au.

Indigenous Representation

The UNMS Indigenous Representatives aim to help blend Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture into the medical society and to bring Indigenous and Non-Indigenous medical students together through clinical teaching nights and other activities. In addition, the UNMS Indigenous Portfolio also works with University of Newcastle's Wollotuka Institute to run events and ensure adequate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical student representation to the School of Medicine and the Faculty. To get in touch with the UNMS Indigenous Representatives, feel free to email indigenous@unms.org.au.

International Students

The BMed and MD Program at Newcastle attracts students from all across the world and these students have only added to the already rich and diverse quality of the JMP cohort. The UNMS International Portfolio provides representation and a voice for international medical students at Newcastle. It's a forum for international students to raise any issues or concerns, and liaises with the faculty to coordinate events and initiatives to assist International students in integrating into university life in a foreign country. To get in touch with the International Representatives, feel free to send an email to  international@unms.org.au.

UNMS Charity

So you say you would like to help people… or at least you that’s what you told your interviewer about why you wanted to do medicine. But if you really meant what you said, UNMS Charity is a platform for medical students to give back (and have fun in the process) through multiple events across the year. These events range from the annual UNMS Charity Trivia Night, UNMS Charity Movie Nights, ye ol’ faithful Bunnings BBQ, and for those crazy enough to call exercise fun, through the Hill to Harbour, Bondi to Bronte and Nobbys to Newcastle Runs. For more information on UNMS Charity, feel free to email the Charity Officers at charity@unms.org.au.