President's Report

PRESIDENTS

REPORT

Hello Members,

The HIMAA Board has in the last week finalised our audited financial reports for the financial year 2019/20. The results are grim and without federal government assistance through JobKeeper payments, HIMAA’s financial situation would be perilous. This is not only due to the unpredictable event of the COVID-19 pandemic but in my personal opinion our ability to modernise quickly enough and to diversify our revenue streams.

I have stated previously in this column that without adequate revenues, HIMAA cannot employ the staff and have the established infrastructure that supports our branches, committees, membership services, a world class health information management journal, National Conference, webinars and etc. Hence, the Board with the assistance of Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee is closely monitoring our financial situation.

I am proud to have chaired a unified HIMAA Board this year where we have had to make some really difficult decisions. These decisions are based on HIMAA surviving to support our members and providing a voice for HIM professionals in the medium and long term. I would like to thank each and everyone of my fellow Board members for their efforts in collectively guiding HIMAA through these challenging times.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on the 6th of November, 2020 will allow the Board to provide further details to the membership on our current situation and the steps we will undertake to ensure HIMAA’s sustainability. I hope you as a member will join us online this year for the AGM.

National Conference

The annual HIMAA National Conference is an event I look forward to each year. I learn from the content that is presented during the scheduled sessions and enjoy the opportunity to catch-up with friends in the profession. This year’s conference will be conducted virtually. The Conference Committee have put together a strong program and some interesting activities for us to network and socialise in whilst we’re practising social distancing.

I’m delighted that we have two keynote speakers headlining our conference in Prof Michael Kidd AM who is Deputy Chief Medical Officer and has been a significant voice during the COVID-19 pandemic for Australia. In Stephen Duckett of the Grattan Institute we have another prominent and at times alternative voice on COVID management. Stephen is particularly familiar to Victorian HIMs given that he was the one the architects of case mix funding in the 90s for Victoria and previous dean of La Trobe’s faculty of health science.

With less than two weeks to go, I encourage members to register!

Onwards and upwards!

Cheens Lee President