AMSA gears up for February Council

The Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) is preparing for its first National Council meeting for 2009. National Council, which is held in February, July and October of each year, sees Presidents and AMSA Representatives from Australia’s 19 medical schools convene for three days to discuss the important issues affecting Australia’s medical students.

Medical society representatives will descend on Sydney for February council, which is home to this year's AMSA Executive.

The National Executive is a committee that is elected each year to reside over the day to day running of AMSA. Victorian students have played a prominent role in the recent history, hosting both the 2006 and 2007 National Executives.

However, it is the council of representatives from each medical school that form the actual decision-making body of the association when it comes to policy.

The three days of council are often scenes of fiery debate on topics such as student numbers, bonded medical places and physician assistants.

Council also provides a medium for engaging with other committed medical students from around the nation.

A great “melting pot” of ideas is shared and created, giving medical societies the ability to transfer knowledge on projects and campaigns they are running.