SPORTS DOCTORS AUSTRALIA PRESIDENTS REPORT 2005/2006

This year I have tried to keep members up to date via regular letters. In those letters, I have spelt out what a busy year the SDrA committee has had.

The highlights have been:

• Our response to the AMC re the ACSP submission for specialist status for Sports Medicine and the subsequent meeting in Sydney
• The development of closer ties with the ACSP via numerous calls to and face to face meeting with David Humphries and Jeni Saunders. Future ties will depend on the specialist status question and their response to our submission.
• Development of closer ties with RACGP and NRF through workshops and curriculum review.
• Further development and promotion of our Emergency Medicine workshop coordinated by Shane Brun and the purchase for around $9,000 of all the mannequins and equipment for this.

There is still a lot more I want to do in the next twelve months of my time as President particularly in developing relationships with ACSP and RACGP, in strengthening our political clout and looking at the MRI rebate issue and in overall promoting and strengthening the relevance of SDrA. We have nearly completed the review of our constitution as well.

Once again, I encourage members to contribute to SDrA and to contact me via phone or email to discuss issues.

My sincere thanks go to my committee for all their work this year, particularly Shane Brun with the EM work and work with ACSP & Brendan de Morton in his development of fellowship criteria and credentials committee. I also thank SMA for their help with administration especially Gary Moorhead for his regular meetings and encouragement and Davina, Peta, Joyce at the National Office.

Dr Neville Blomeley                                                     
President,  SDrA