Australian Medical Association (WA)

20/02/2026

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath spoke to Ten News about the State Government's announcement that it will offer free Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations for aged care residents aged 65 and over.

We see a lot of RSV in the community every year, and it's a leading cause of pneumonia and hospitalisation in people who are immunocompromised or elderly. Providing free vaccines to some of the most vulnerable members of our community should lead to a reduction in people with pneumonia and other complications in our public hospitals.

With the current challenges our health system is facing, any freeing up of beds is going to have a positive impact.

18/02/2026

Our refreshed CPD-accredited S*x, Substances and Safety workshop reflects current clinical practice, evolving youth behaviour, and the realities of time-limited consultations.

Led by experienced youth health clinicians Dr Alison Creagh and Dr James Edis, the session focuses on practical, evidence-based strategies you can apply immediately in practice.

The 2026 workshop has been updated to support more complex clinical decision-making and nuanced conversations with young patients.

📅 Thursday, Mar 19, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 9 pm AWST

🎟️ Get more details and book your spot here https://pulse.ly/0uqhireadp

Join us for a CPD accredited event aimed at enhancing your expertise in youth sexual health and substance use.

18/02/2026

The AMA (WA) invites Senior and Junior employed practitioners across WA Health to participate in one of our joint consultative committees (JCC) across WA Health HSP.

‼️ Nominations close this Friday 20 February 2026.

Under our Industrial Agreement, JCCs provide a dedicated forum for consultation on matters such as workload management; industrial issues; changes to work organisation and/or work practices; and implementation of recommendations from Government decisions, policies and initiatives.

Submit your nominations by completing the Expression of Interest form at https://pulse.ly/wqub19opuj

17/02/2026

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath and Vice President Dr Natalie Ferrington, along with senior AMA (WA) staff, attended a briefing on the Public Sector Wages Policy and Bargaining Processes Review delivered by Deputy Premier and Treasurer Hon Rita Saffioti MLA. It's an important forum, especially as we gear up for an Industrial Agreement for the State's hard working and dedicated public hospital doctors.

16/02/2026

The AMA (WA) is seeking input from private specialists to better understand the realities of private specialist practice in WA. Whether you are an AMA (WA) member or not, your perspective is important.

We have developed a survey to capture your experiences and the key challenges shaping private practice now and into the future.

Your responses will directly inform the AMA (WA)’s advocacy for private specialists, strengthening our evidence base with governments, hospitals, insurers and regulators, both now and in the years ahead.

Take the survey today and ensure your voice helps shape the future of private specialist practice in WA.

Survey closes 10 April https://pulse.ly/2ffvyl78ks

15/02/2026

Final Call for Entries: $3,500 Prize Pool Up for Grabs as Live and Work Rural Competition

🎥 Closes 1 March 2026 🎥

Final-year students completing a rural placement in WA, and health professionals currently living and working in rural WA (MMM 2–7), are invited to share their story by creating a short video showcasing what makes living and working in rural Western Australia unique, rewarding and inspiring, from career opportunities to community connection and lifestyle.

With a $3,500 prize pool on offer, the competition celebrates the people strengthening our rural health workforce.

The competition is proudly supported by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), reflecting a shared commitment to promoting and growing rural health across Western Australia.

Winners will be announced at the Rural Health West WA Rural Health Conference on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

For full details and entry information, visit:
https://pulse.ly/c5yzpwr3no

15/02/2026

On Friday, AMA (WA) spokesperson Dr David Mountain spoke to ABC Perth's Nadia Mitsopoulos about the growing number of aged care patients in our public hospitals - currently that number is 342, or about 5% of all our available beds, and probably more of the acute beds in acute hospitals.

This is a terrible block in our system that means 340 other patients who are stuck in emergency departments overnight, or who are stuck on ramps and waiting rooms, and unable to get the right treatment and care.

We need sustained investment from both Federal and State Governments to keep up with population growth, ageing and increasing illness in the population. Ad hoc investments aren't enough, when our public hospitals and aged care are continually operating at capacity.

14/02/2026

Don’t let the romance break the bank. 💝💕

The AMA (WA) has done the hard work of scouting the best deals so you can take all the credit. Explore exclusive savings on movies, gifts, and more.

View the full range of member benefits here https://pulse.ly/joqt2wntor

12/02/2026

In case you missed it, AMA (WA) President Kyle Hoath blogged about a new Productivity Commission Report on Government Services, which puts WA at the bottom of the nation for public hospital doctor attrition.

More than one in four WA doctors (26.4%) left the public hospital workforce in 2024. Separately from the report, we know that nearly 70% of emergency doctors are looking to reduce their hours over the next 10 years.

The wide-ranging report also shows that people are delaying or foregoing primary or mental healthcare because of the prohibitive costs.

Doctors are still just people at the end of the day, and they are proud of what they do. But they do it under such dire circumstances, under pressure, under-resourced, overworked, in facilities that aren’t up to scratch.

That’s only going to make this problem worse if we don’t do something to try and keep doctors in the profession.

Read the whole blog post here https://pulse.ly/pl8dhr4kdl

11/02/2026

WA’s Liver Cancer Collaborative (LCC) has been awarded almost $8 million in additional grant funding to extend its research program aimed at delivering earlier diagnosis, better treatments and improved survival.

The LCC, whose executive team includes AMA (WA) members Prof Peter Leedman and A/Prof Michael Wallace, will build on world-leading work already underway, including one of the largest tissue repositories of its kind.

Rates of the most common form of primary liver cancers have been increasing steadily in Australia by 4-5% each year for the past three decades and it is one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer-related deaths in the country.

The grant funding, $4 million from the Cancer Research Trust (CRT) and $3.8 million in partner contributions, means the “Defeating Primary Liver Cancer” program can run for another four years.

Read more at https://pulse.ly/0qlfqdwcdv

11/02/2026

Dr Letisha Carozza was recently awarded the AMA (WA) Gold Medal Prize for the Best Student in Year 4 at the The University of Notre Dame Australia School of Medicine.

Read more about Letisha's story here https://www.notredame.edu.au/news-items/notre-dame-student-wins-prestigious-ama-wa-gold-medal-prize2

🎉 Congratulations to Letisha Carozza! 🎉

We’re excited to share that Letisha was awarded the AMA (WA) Gold Medal Prize for the Best Student in Year 4 at Notre Dame’s School of Medicine!

The award was presented by AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath and recognises Letisha’s incredible academic achievements and dedication to her studies.

Big congrats Letisha! 🌟👏

Read more here: https://ow.ly/rjAo50YbpTW

10/02/2026

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath has urged the Cook Government to adopt a coordinated, long-term workforce strategy to ensure safe staffing levels and fair conditions, and keep doctors from leaving our hospitals.

Right now, 70% of doctors say they're considering reducing their working hours over the next decade.

“That’s only going to make this problem worse if we don’t do something to try and keep doctors in the profession," he said.

The AMA (WA) will continue to advocate for doctors, especially our junior doctors. Our members deserve to do their jobs safely, and be treated fairly at work.

Join now and be part of the conversation https://pulse.ly/ibb7jkb56w