AMA Council of Doctors in Training - AMA CDT

10/03/2026

AI is already reshaping healthcare — but how it is regulated, governed and trusted will define its impact.

At AMA26, hear directly from Professor Anthony Lawler, who will unpack the realities of AI, AI regulation, and misinformation in Australia’s health system.

Professor Lawler leads the group in the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing that oversees the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

He brings a rare national perspective on how innovation, patient safety and regulation intersect — and where the next challenges are emerging.

This is a must attend session for clinicians, leaders and policy makers navigating the future of healthcare.

📍 AMA26 National Conference | 28–29 August 2026 | Melbourne

Secure your place now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/585cuwky

05/03/2026

Celebrating Women’s History Month: AMA member feature

Throughout March, the AMA is recognising women who have shaped — and continue to shape — the future of medicine in Australia.

Today we’re proud to highlight Dr Vida Viliunas, AMA ACT member and Canberra-based anaesthetist.

Dr Viliunas is widely regarded as a leader in Australian medicine — respected by senior policymakers, admired by colleagues, and deeply valued by medical students. As President of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, she represents the profession at the highest national levels.

Her impact extends to medical education, having served as an examiner for 12 years with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and as a former Chair of the Final Fellowship Examination.

Within Canberra’s medical community, Dr Viliunas is known for her mentorship and support of women in medicine.

“Women have a different experience of medicine — that’s undeniable. We need to gather together and be at the table, helping to chart the path forward,” she says.

A remarkable leader, advocate, and mentor — and a powerful example of the contributions women make to our profession every day.

04/03/2026

Dr Hussain Khan — a leading sports and exercise physician with the Australian men’s cricket team, the Hawthorn AFL club and Melbourne Victory will be among the high-profile speakers at AMA26 in Melbourne.

Dr Hussain Khan is a specialist sports and exercise medicine physician. He is the Head of Medical Department at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre — the largest multidisciplinary sports and exercise medicine clinic in Australia with multiple campuses. Dr Khan is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Melbourne Victory Football Club, as well as a team physician for Hawthorn Football club AFL men’s team and one of the team doctors for Cricket Australia Men’s National team.

Dr Khan will join us for our Medical Leadership in High-Performance Environments panel, talking about leadership challenges in managing multidisciplinary teams, risk management and preventative care.

AMA members can take advantage of our limited early bird discount.

Find out more and register 👉 https://tinyurl.com/585cuwky

27/02/2026

Following our inaugural appearance at last year's Mardi Gras parade, we secured a parade spot again, providing a powerful opportunity to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to inclusive, respectful, and high-quality healthcare for LGBTQIASB+ people, including our members, colleagues, and patients.

Our 2026 float, Ecstatica Practitiona — Proud to Care, celebrates both the joy of community and the vital role doctors play in supporting health and wellbeing for all.

AMA participants will parade in rainbow-coloured medical scrubs, generously donated by Scrubs with Love, symbolising pride in our profession and solidarity with the communities we serve.
Keep an eye out for our float either at the parade or on the ABC TV tomorrow at 7.30pm. 😍🌈🩺

26/02/2026

𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 🏅

These awards recognise doctors and medical leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to medicine, patient care and the profession. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿?

If you know someone whose work deserves national recognition — or if you’d like to nominate a colleague — we encourage you to take part.

👉 Learn more and submit a nomination: https://www.ama.com.au/about/awards-and-honours

All awards will be presented at the upcoming AMA26 National Conference. Register now: https://ama.eventsair.com/ama26-national-conference/

26/02/2026

Australian Medical Association 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 🩺🇦🇺

On 21 February, we held our first AMA CDT meeting of the year.

A genuine thank you to everyone who gave up their Saturday to attend. I’m always energised by the enthusiasm, insight and professionalism of this committee. The quality of discussion shows how seriously we take representing doctors in training across the country 🙌

Here are some key highlights:

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Doctor Wellbeing & Cultural Reform
We made wellbeing our headline priority. We were fortunate to have Professor Leanne Rowe AM join us as a guest speaker to discuss workplace culture, bullying and harassment, and the implications of strengthened Work Health and Safety legislation.

The message was clear: psychological safety is not optional. Boards and health services have obligations, and cultural reform requires leadership, accountability and safe reporting pathways. CDT will continue to push for prevention, not just post-incident response.

💰 Transparency in College Fees
We progressed our policy on transparency in specialist college training fees. Rising and opaque costs affect equity, career decision-making and burnout. Trainees deserve clear disclosure of fees, off-book costs and how funds are used. This remains a strong advocacy focus for 2026.

📣 Engagement as a Core Pillar
We formally embedded engagement as a priority this year. That means better communication with doctors in training, stronger collaboration with AMSA, improved member orientation, and more visible national advocacy. If trainees don’t know what we’re doing, we’re not doing it well enough.

📚 2026 Operational Plan
We approved our 2026 operational plan across four pillars: progression through training, workforce, wellbeing and engagement. This will guide our national advocacy and policy work for the year ahead.

We’re looking forward to publishing the operational plan soon, keeping you updated on the national meetings and reform processes we’re involved in, and making our advocacy more visible.

𝗗𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲
Chair, AMA Council of Doctors in Training

10/02/2026

Haven’t booked your AMA26 ticket yet? Early-bird registrations are now on sale!
Join us on 28–29 August 2026 at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park as we explore Leading Change in a Connected World — inviting innovation, leadership and collaboration across our profession.
Register now 👉 https://ama.eventsair.com/ama26-national-conference?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=AMA26&utm_content=Buy%20tickets%20now&utm_term=AMA26

30/01/2026

Excellent advice from the Chair of Doctors in Training Council Sanjay Hettige

To the interns starting work in 2026 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Thousands of interns are stepping into hospitals across the country this month, officially starting their medical careers. It’s exciting, daunting, exhausting, and meaningful, often all in the same shift.

As you become core members of your teams, I wanted to share a few things that genuinely helped me when I started, and a few things I wish I’d taken more seriously earlier.

1. Look after the basics (seriously)
Internship is a steep learning curve and the pace can be relentless. Adrenaline will carry you for a while, but it’s not a long term strategy. Sleep when you can, drink water, eat actual meals. You don’t need a perfect routine, just aim to get the basics right most days. That alone will make you a better doctor and a safer one.

2. Have your own GP
You are not immune to getting sick, burnt out, or overwhelmed just because you’re wearing a lanyard. Having a GP you trust is essential during internship. AMA NSW keeps a list of GPs who are happy to see doctors as patients, which is a great place to start:
https://www.amansw.com.au/doctors-for-colleagues/

3. Use your people
Internship is not a solo sport. Lean on your family, friends, and the people who know you outside of medicine. Build connections with your fellow interns, they will become your lifeline. And don’t forget that registrars, fellows and consultants have all stood exactly where you are now. Most are very happy to help if you ask.

4. Ask the questions you think you should already know
This is the one I wish I’d done more. Internship is the time to ask questions, not later, when expectations are higher and the stakes are bigger. No one expects you to know everything. What matters is that you’re curious, safe, and willing to learn.

5. Use the AMA Intern Guide and join the AMA
The AMA has released its 2026 Intern Guide, which is packed with practical advice on starting work, workplace rights, wellbeing, and navigating your first year as a doctor. It’s a genuinely useful resource and worth bookmarking early:
https://www.ama.com.au/articles/ama-2026-intern-guide

Being part of the AMA also means having an organisation in your corner that can support you with workplace advice, career guidance, advocacy, and connection, so you can focus on learning and looking after patients. You’ll see your state AMA at orientation events, so have a chat, ask questions, and get involved.

You’ve earned your place. You won’t feel ready, none of us did, but you are more capable than you think.

Welcome to the profession.

Congratulations to our 2026 Interns on reaching this next stage of your medical career. Our 2026 Intern Guide provides essential support and guidance to help you navigate your first weeks as an intern and begin your career as a doctor.

29/01/2026

Our member only launch offer for AMA26 ends Saturday.

Our doctors in training members can get conference tickets for just $399, saving 40 per cent off the price of a general pass.

Book now and save: https://tinyurl.com/585cuwky

28/01/2026

Got FOMO from missing out on attending the Australian Open?

Hear from the very inspiring, Jelena Dokic, in person at our national conference, AMA26, in Melbourne this August.

Our huge 40 per cent AMA member discount on ticket ends Saturday.

Don't miss out. Register now https://tinyurl.com/585cuwky

27/01/2026

🚨 𝟰 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁! 🚨
Our exclusive member-only offer ends this Saturday, 31 January 2026.
Don't miss your chance to save 𝟰𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 off your AMA26 registration.
Secure your spot now 👉 https://ama.eventsair.com/ama26-national-conference?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=AMA26&utm_content=Buy%20tickets%20now&utm_term=AMA26

23/01/2026

The AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship is a fantastic initiative that has been running for many years. But timing is running out to apply for 2026!

If you know someone who might be interested in applying, please share it with them. 🩺

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽! 🩺

The scholarship is provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students who demonstrate a commitment to their community and to medicine.

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a medical degree at an Australian university and have completed at least their first year of medicine.

If this is you, it's time to apply now! 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟭 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

🎓 Information on how to apply: https://www.ama.com.au/about/indigenous-medical-scholarship