The do tor as spokesperson

The A stral an Ind an Med al Grad ates Asso at on seeks greater community role

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

"Iould li e to ecome more forceful as an organisation in coming years alu alao alla ne resident of the ustralian Indian Medical Graduates Association said recently.

At the association’s annual dinner, she s o e of a longer term lan hich included tac ling ider social in ustices and perhaps not so cheekily - being on Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s fingertips as an agency to call in times of need.

Highlighting the year’s activities, she listed the proactive measures taken in the areas of community-based health programs, health a areness and fund raising. The association raised $10,000 for Cure Cancer Foundation Australia this year (an issue close to alao alla s heart gi en her o n ersonal history ith it) and has set lifestyle e am les ith endea ours such as ity urf in the mainstream, and dancing as a form of leisure as ell as hysical acti ity in our o n community. ( glim se of said e ercise as resented later on that e ening y the self styled olly ood doctors .)

The coming together of agendas mainstream and community as a theme that uietly underscored much of the e ent including the entertainment. ecial guest eoff ee inister for Skills and Training, thanked the doctors for their ser ice. ou ma e a tremendous contribution to the health system and to the community. congratulate for ringing doctors together for your or and your charity. inger amahl admittedly as an unusual choice for keynote speaker, given the tradition in recent years of having leading medical communicators address this flagshi e ent. et his story touched a chord articularly ith the early arri al doctors ho must ha e had similar e eriences of fighting to fit in. er the story teller the year old amahl regaled ith his recounts of e celling in sport to counter the social isolation, and reinventing himself as an entertainer to gain acce tance. e resented nuggets from his life story ith self de recatory humour imitating at ing ole going to the Conservatorium of Music and not being able to ‘handle Handel’, an unusual marriage proposal, and meeting members of the British Royal family and Australian royalty on radman. is cle erly ic ed song for the night, My Home, knocked back repeatedly by the record companies, spoke for everyone present: This is my home, this is my country, a land I’ve grown to love. So did his recital of Invictus by William Ernest enley a recent lo e that as resented at last year s n ictus ames. y the time amahl resented his ell no n trac Desiderata on the lessons for life, he had the audience eating out of his hands. li ing legend that e should hear more from certainly.

Special guest Manish Gupta, Consul eneral of ndia ( ydney) congratulated ndian origin doctors ho first came to this country in the 1970s and earned the res ect of the local community ith their rofessionalism and dedication.

There is no much you can do to contribute back to your motherland,” he said. The o ernment of ndia s yushman harat scheme announced recently ill see free healthcare programs rolled out to some million eo le. re enti e healthcare of such high uality here in ustralia is one of the areas in hich you can hel .

No doubt the doctors have taken note, even though many in the association have for years been contributing back to their country of origin in many ays and here er else the need is felt such as in i i and the islands of the outh acific.

Member doctors Nagamma Prakash, ra ha handra and urushottam a ri ar ere felicitated on the night for their long term ser ice to the association.

Wrapping up the event later, Vice president Smita Shah observed, “AIMGA has seen an increased collegiality hich is hel ing us all in our day o s. e are also gro ing in num ers ha ing reached out to e castle ased doctors recently. learly alu alao alla rings much enthusiasm to her ne role as resident and has on the admiration of the grou she leads. oth these as ects should ser e her ell in her lofty aim of getting on to the Prime Minister’s speed dial, but she has her or cut out for her.

For an organisation that has been around since 1984, it is time the boundaries are expanded to participate significantly in de ates of national as ell as community im ort erha s ith the ustralian edical ssociation as a model. limate change as a health emergency, asylum seekers, antivaxxers, aged care, private health, data sharing, e-cigarettes and vaping are all contem orary issues to hich meaningful contributions could be made by a medical organisation that is seeking greater e osure. seems ell e ui ed to do this: membership is high-profile, and includes some decorated doctors ho ha e made significant rofessional contri utions. Clearly lacking, though, is the presence of early and mid-career professionals, and a more ro ust use of ne media. oth of these ill hel not only in the ne aim of increased community outreach, but also in the organisation’s originally stated aim of liaising ith other rofessional odies to enhance the interests of its mem ers.