From the President
As the end of the year approaches it is a great pleasure to be able reflect on another year for the ANZSGM.
The Society has been busy on many fronts including further appearances before the Aged Care Royal Commission, making our case with the Medicare review with regard to the future of the CGA item numbers, understanding the work being undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists with regard to developing perioperative medicine and continuing to work with our various other colleagues to ensure we can all continue deliver quality goal orientated multidisciplinary care to geriatric patients. The proposed changes to arrangements for Aged Care Assessment (ACAT/ACAS) in Australia has also been a major focus of attention in our dealings with government and other stakeholders.
The Society continues to grow as do our own expectations as to how the ANZSGM can contribute. The addition of Jo Dunlop as Communications Officer has significantly enhanced our capacity to respond more robustly and cohesively to the extensive range of consultations to which we have the opportunity to contribute. With Jean Hannan and Lynda Donaldson in the office we have an excellent team behind us.
In addition to the above at our most recent Council meeting we spent significant time discussing our own governance and internal processes with the assistance of the Associations Forum. Given our relatively rapid growth over the last several years and a general increased understanding and expectation of what good governance looks like this was a timely discussion. This included discussion of our current constitution as well as reflection on some of our internal processes. My sense is that no major issues were identified but there is always room for modernisation and improvement which will form the basis for further discussions with council and members in 2020.
Finally I would like to thank Louise Baird who will shortly step down as the RACP ATC Chair and thank her for the excellent contribution she has made both to training but also the ANZSGM Council. Lucy Dakin will be taking over the mantle formally in January and will also join the ANZSGM Council as GMET chair.
I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and expect to see a very large number of you in Melbourne at the ASM in May (now open for registration)! My guess is 2020 is going to be an even busier year for us as a Society – bring it on!
Dr John Maddison
Director (Medical) Division of Aged Care, Rehabilitation & Palliative Care
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
Ph +61 8 8161 2533
