Vision for Australia's Health 2024–2027

Three years ago, the AMA embarked on a mission to reform Australia’s health system through its first Vision for Australia’s Health. This document served as a guide for the AMA to advocate for transformative changes across the health system and ignite a national conversation about the future of healthcare.

Three years on from the release of the AMA’s first Vision for Australia’s Health, we can reflect on the progress that has been made and the AMA’s significant achievements across our health system. We have seen significant investment in general practice and public hospitals, continued efforts to break down the silos in the health system, and deeper collaboration across governments. Additionally, we have seen recognition that health extends beyond just the clinical setting into social determinants, environmental factors, and individual behaviours.

The work however is far from over. In the development of the AMA’s Vision for Australia’s Health 2024–2027, we sought input from across the medical profession to better understand the challenges they are facing every day. The biggest challenges voiced by the profession were those that are impeding timely and equitable access to care — long waiting lists for appointments, workforce shortages, public hospitals that are over capacity, the increasing costs of healthcare, and inadequate supply of services in many areas of Australia. Concerns regarding the increasing complexity of patient presentations were also raised, with chronic disease now entrenched as the predominant health challenge in our nation, affecting nearly half of all Australians and claiming the status of leading cause of illness, disability, and death. As a result, many doctors are experiencing burnout due to high clinical workloads and non-clinical stresses — administrative burden, poor professional development, the impact of inadequate Medicare rebates and increasing cost of delivering care on practice viability, and the challenges navigating the labyrinth of regulatory and compliance requirements.

The AMA’s Vision for Australia’s Health 2024–2027 ― which draws on the breadth of our member’s expertise ― offers a blueprint to transform our health system into one that values prevention as much as treatment, and views healthcare as an investment to be made, as opposed to a cost to be managed. This transformation will require the collective effort of policymakers, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and patients to advocate for a better health system — a health system that is responsive, efficient, and centred on the needs of those it serves. The road to a healthier Australia however will need to be paved with more than just plans ― it will require purposeful action. The AMA stands ready to act and is uniquely positioned to leverage the expertise of our broad member base in shaping policy and driving change.

Professor Steve Robson
Federal AMA President

The AMA's Vision for Australia's Health represents a clear blueprint for all Governments, and players in the system, build around five pillars of detailed policy reform.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) acknowledges we work on the traditional lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clans, tribes, and nations. The AMA pays respect to Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognises the enduring connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to this country and their rich cultural heritage.

The AMA is committed to working in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and peoples to advocate for government investment and cohesive and coordinated strategies to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The AMA would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to the AMA members and stakeholders who dedicated their time, expertise, and insights to actively participate in the collaborative development of this document.

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