AMA President - Dr. John Davis
I’d like to thank all members for their confidence in allowing me the privilege of a second term as President, it’s been a full on first two months in the job I think we have represented the AMA and its views well in the media. National Health reform seems to have been the main focus especially Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals. Basically we are still looking for the final details on how these will work and affect Doctors, patients and the precious relationship between them that we must protect.
The State Budget has been a disaster, we are still to be convinced that front line staff won’t be affected and rumours persist. How the Minister and the Treasurer are going to find $100 million dollars in 2011/12 and another $100 million the in following year is beyond me, as well as many others.
Having made an impact in the media and the bureaucracy we have found ourselves well and truly in demand. So I am putting a call out to all members to carefully consider becoming more involved in the AMA.
Besides the monthly Divisional meetings being held in the north and the south we need members to volunteer for places, representing the AMA, on many different committees and forums to ensure our message get’s across. Please call the CEO to discuss one of the many positions we need to fill. A list of some of our representations can be found at www.amatas.com.au/representations
On the 13th August the first ever Tasmanian Health Conference will be held at Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart, members are strongly encouraged to become delegates and attend the conference along with the dinner that same evening. Registrations are open and can be made at www.amatas.com.au/tasmanian_health_conference
We also have some vacancies on Branch Council. This is now an important opportunity for everyone as the new the constitution allows us to meet once every two months and focus entirely on policy, positions statements and our ever growing issues watch list. Operational and statutory obligations are now covered by the 5 person Board elected at the AGM.
In closing let me say we have a large job ahead of us on both the State and Federal Government fronts and we need all hands on deck. Please call me on 0488 142 033.
Dr. John Davis.
AMA TAS CEO - Tony Steven
On Saturday the 13th of August we are holding the inaugural Tasmanian Health Conference. A one day event at Wrest Point that will focus on health sector advocacy issues, session titles include Training and distribution of the work force, Health Reform and a unified approach plus Mental Health and how it fits in the health system. We have extended delegate invitations to the entire sector in order to ensure all viewpoints are covered and heighten interest. The AMA Tas Foundation Dinner will be held that evening which is included in the $199 registration fee. Go to our webpage page now to register.
Over the past 2 and bit years I have been privileged to have April Saccoccio as my assistant here at the AMA office. She is off to live and work in Queensland so will be leaving us later this month. I would like to thank April for all the work and support she has given us during this time.
We have also just taken on a new member benefit being the Entertainment book; $55 buys you a whole book full of discount vouchers and a gold card for restaurants, hotels and many other services around the state. Books are available for all other states as well. Go to the AMA website to find the link to the Entertainment Book and take advantage of this great guide to Tasmania’s social life and entertainment industry.
Telecom Australia, are now in a position to start offering great deals for members on phone, mobile and ADSL. Give them a call as well.
The 30th of June this year saw the end of the current Visiting Medical Offices agreement with the State Government. Negotiations will commence shortly for a new 3 year agreement, unfortunately we find ourselves in a slow economic period which will, no doubt, be used by the State Government to try to hold back reasonable contractual negotiations.
Deans Desk - Prof. Raymond Playford
I am delighted to have just taken up the role of Dean of the Faculty, replacing Professor Carmichael who has made significant contributions to the University overall as well as the Faculty in this position for the last 14 years. I would especially like to thank him for the warm welcome he has extended to me.
I thought it might be useful to briefly introduce myself, my background interests and my initial thoughts regarding the future. I graduated from St Bartholomews Medical School in London with a medical degree (MB, BS) and obtained clinical accreditation in general medicine and gastroenterology. I have particular clinical interests in inflammatory bowel disease, oesophageal reflux and Barrett’s oesophagus. I have followed a clinician scientist career, funded by both the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, obtaining a PhD, and a DSc. I continue to be an active researcher; examining how the body repairs itself and the role of growth factors in these processes. I am also interested in the link between food products (nutrition) and their use as drugs (pharmaceuticals) a research area known as (nutriceuticals).
I was previously Chairman of the Education Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology, a member of the Medical Research Council College of Experts and a member of the editorial board of the Journal, Gut. These additional roles have been useful in teaching me the importance of delivering a curriculum that is fit for purpose and that Research and Education are not separate activities. I consider a key role of our Faculty is to disseminate knowledge by providing inspirational and high quality teaching programmes to a diverse community of talented undergraduate and postgraduate students. The courses we deliver must provide our students with the most up to date information as well as teaching the method of self-directed learning. Equally important is to ensure that every curriculum being delivered enables our students to be ‘equipped for purpose’ when they leave us to pursue their chosen careers.
UTas is a research-led organisation and with the implementation of Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) now firmly embedded in Higher Education, we must ensure that our research strategy delivers high quality research of health relevance.
As the sole university for the state, we have a particular responsibility to ensure our local community is looked after and is also well represented on relevant National and International bodies. It is through systems such as these that our members of staff and students can provide leadership in areas of public interest.
Asbestos-Related Diseases Compensation Legislation for Tasmania – Expressions of Interest sought for Respiratory Impairment Assessors
Interested medical practitioners will have the opportunity to take an important role in the assessment of claimants under legislation to be introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament shortly. The legislation seeks to redress the difficulties with providing equitable compensation under the Workers Compensation Act due to the long latency period for asbestos-related disease by providing a “no-fault” statutory system of compensation.
The Asbestos Unit at Workplace Standards has announced that they are seeking expressions of interest from medical practitioners interested in becoming an assessor in respiratory diseases with the proposed Asbestos Compensation Board.
A free training day at a venue to be confirmed will be run on Saturday 6th August 2011. The morning session is for potential assessors without previous experience in impairment assessment while the afternoon session will cover the details of respiratory impairment assessment. Expressions of interest close on 30 June 2011.
For further information go to:
http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/safety_comply/asbestos/permanent_impairment_training
Under the proposed legislation claimants with asbestos-related disease diagnosed by their own medical practitioner will be referred to an accredited respiratory impairment assessor. If confirmed that there is 10% or more whole person impairment they will be eligible for consideration for compensation, determined by a medical panel of Respiratory Physicians who in turn refer their determination to the Asbestos Compensation Board.
For further information contact Dr Peter Sharman, AMA contact on 0419881519 or peter_sharman@me.com
or
Ms Karin Renetzeder at Workplace Standards on 03 62365523 or Karin.Renetzeder@ justice.tas.gov.au
Finlease finance brokers picking up where the banks are leaving off.
The use of specialist finance brokers by small to medium sized business operators is becoming an increasing trend. Some see this as a changing of the guard where banks are tending to leave the client service and all the associated paperwork to business finance specialists. Or is there more to this trend than meets the eye?
Some business operators who need finance less frequently are asking, what is the role of a finance broker? Surely if banks are servicing the needs of small business, why do they need a specialist broker to handle equipment finance, fleet leasing or other business finance needs? That is precisely the point, the needs of small businesses aren’t being adequately serviced by the major banks.
Recent research has indicated that one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the growth of small business after the global financial crisis is access to finance. Banks have tightened up lending practices and typically it’s the small businesses that are missing out. They’re also neglecting to provide adequate service to small business operators in helping them access the right finance solution to suit their needs.
So who can small business operators turn to for help?
Specialist business finance brokers can source funds from a wide range of financial institutions all around the country and often with more understanding of small to medium sized businesses. The broker, who typically has or will have a long term relationship with the client, has or will develop an in depth understanding of the client’s business. That enables them to prepare each finance application in a manner which best represents the client’s case to a prospective lender. So the broker serves as the advocate for a small business. Not a ‘devil’s advocate’ which is a term we may be more familiar with. The broker takes the more positive ground, showing the business operator in a balanced ‘best light’ to lenders.
In this way, brokers like Finlease are able to give banks and other financiers greater insight and resultant confidence in that business. Finlease typically present the client in a manner which provides not only a concise financial and operational summary of the client’s business, but give a reason why they are seeking the additional finance.
As Dale Archer the Principal of Finlease Tasmania confirmed “most clients have already approved the purchase of the additional equipment in their own heads. They know why they are buying it, what income gains or expense reductions it will achieve and how much it will cost. Our job is simply to extract that information from the client, put those thoughts into “financier speak”, wrap a concise and compelling finance submission around it and present to the best lender available on the market for that client. Simple if you say it fast!
Spreading loans across different financiers is also important, as a business shouldn’t be too geared with a particular lender, which can restrict access to funding in the future. Additionally, a broader spread of lenders means that if the answer is no from one, it may well be yes from another.
A finance broker can save business operators time, freeing them up to do what they do best – running their businesses. Once a broker has an understanding of a client’s business they can represent the client to a wide range of lenders. Any decent broker will have 10 – 20 year relationships with their clients, which means no more revolving doors of account managers from the banks who may only meet the client 2 – 3 times before disappearing, only to be followed by another in quick succession.
Funds can often be sourced at better rates and at more flexible terms because of the finance broker’s advocacy skills, spread of lenders and buying power. It’s also nice to have a long term associate/mentor in your small business journey. A capable broker will have a clear perspective on your business, challenges and opportunities as they spend their lives assisting SME clients.
Finally, as the broker’s income is paid for via the lender and absorbed within the overall funding costs, similar to an insurance broker, all of the assistance from your long term finance broker comes at minimal and often no additional cost to the client.
Entertainment Book now available for members
AMA Tasmania are selling the 2011/2012 Entertainment Books, with $11 from every purchase benefiting our fundraising! Each EntertainmentTM Book contains hundreds of 50% off, 25% off or 2-for-1 offers from many of Tasmania's finest restaurants, arts, attractions and leisure activities and hotel accommodation nationwide. The books are $55 and only need to be used twice and they've paid for themselves. View the book online by clicking here.
Purchase your book online by clicking here.
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