Organisational Structure

The AMA structure consists primarily of a council, executive, formal and informal committees and a paid secretariat.

Council

The AMA (WA) council is governed by its council which comprises a minimum of 14 members, consisting of:

• President
• Vice President
• Honorary Secretary
• Treasurer
• Immediate Past President,
• Six Committee Delegates
• Three members elected by the general membership.

Provision also exists to co-opt members and federal councilors. Council members are democratically elected on an annual basis and the council meets once a month. The council is the ultimate decision making authority in the organisation and is responsible for developing policy and overseeing all of the decisions made within AMA (WA).

Executive

The executive committee comprises the four office bearers, the immediate past president and two other members of the council who are elected by the council at its first meeting). The executive oversees organisational activities on behalf of council.

Standing committees

Much of the AMA (WA)'s work is conducted through a system of committees. Each committee considers issues which fall within their scope of reference to assist in advising and developing policies and positions for the council. Craft group and special interest committees play a pivotal and vital role in the formation of public health and hospital policy discussions to ensure that the AMA (WA) continues to be in a strong position to represent the needs of members and their patients.

The following are recognised as standing committees:

• General Practice
• Doctors In Training
• Inter Hospital Liaison
• Salaried Doctors
• Finance
• Ethics
• Public Relations

Working parties

From time to time working parties are formed to focus on very specific issues. Working parties report to the standing committees and are disbanded once the issue is concluded. Examples of a working party include:

• Fiona Stanley Hospital
• Clinical Academimcs

Secretariat

The day-to-day running of the organisation is carried out by a highly experienced secretariat headed by the chief executive officer. Senior members of the secretariat provide members with a wealth of expertise across a wide range of issues including industrial and workplace, medico-legal, government and state health policy.