ming yong curriculum vitae and body of work
7 10 13 30+ 100+ 200+
Years of experience in publications, design and promotions Organisations and Teams served in publications, publicity and promotions Works published as editor-in-chief Publications served as editor-in-chief, editor, and/or layout editor Events and projects served in promotion, publicity and publications Publicity and promotional ads designed, including posters and banners
yong.yunming@gmail.com +61 432 821 777 Newcastle West
Education
Leadership
2011 - 2016e Bachelor of Medicine, The University of Newcastle Australia
2005 -
2015
Speaker, the UNMS Great Debate
2014
Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons), The University of Newcastle and the Hunter New England Neuropsychiatry Unit
2014
Speaker, University of Newcastle International Students’ Orientation
2010
International Foundation Studies, The University of Newcastle
2013
Delegate, AMSA National Convention, Gold Coast
2009 Malaysian Certificate of Education, Anglo Chinese School (ACS) Klang, Malaysia
2013 - Present Student Member, Australian Medical Association (NSW) 2012 - Present Member, University of Newcastle International Leadership Program (iLead)
Awards 2014
2012
Delegate, AMSA National Leadership Development Seminar, Canberra
2012
Speaker, University of Newcastle Faculty of Health Careers Expo
2012
Speaker, University of Newcastle Faculty of Health Orientation
2012
Councillor, AMSA International Students’ Network
2011
Delegate, University of Newcastle School of Medicine Medical Education Forum for the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal
2010 ,
2011
Speaker, University of Newcastle Pre-deparure Information Session, Malaysia
2007 -
2009 Vice-Captain, Swim Team of ACS Klang
Highly Commended, The University of Newcastle Work Integrated Learning Award
2014
Shortlist, the Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute Award for Best Health Equity Selective Report
2013
The University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health Summer Research Scholarship in Psychiatry and Mental Health Research
2013
Runner Up, the General Practice Valley to Coast Best Third Year General Practice Placement Award
2011
The University of Newcastle International Foundation Studies Undergraduate Scholarship
2011 -
Publications (Editorial)
2009 Excellence in Academic Performance, Anglo Chinese School
Employment
2015
The AMSA 2015 Internship and Residency Guide
2014
Ductus 2014 Edition 1 and 2, the Official Magazine of UNMS
2014
Introductus 2014, the Official UNMS Freshers’ Guide
2014
Delegate Handbook of GHC2014
Assessor, Bachelor of Medicine Year 1 General Practice Assignment
2014
Playbill, UNMS 2014 Medicine Revue
2014
Rubix, Official Magazine of the NSWMSC
2014
International Orientation Assistant, the University of Newcastle International Office
2014
Introduction to NSWMSC Guide
2014
University Tutor
2013
Ductus 2013 Edition 1 and 2, the Official Magazine of UNMS
2013
Introductus 2013, the Official UNMS Freshers’ Guide
2013
Playbill, UNMS 2013 Medicine Revue
2013 - Present Data Coder, General Practice Valley to Coast 2011 - Present Administrative Assistant, the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Medicine Admissions Office 2014
2012 -
Elected Positions 2015 -
2013 2013 -
As Editor-in-Chief,
2009 ACSian, Yearbook of ACS Klang
2016
Publications, Promotions and IT Coordinator, the AMSA 2016 Global Health Conference, Newcastle (GHC2016)
2015
Lead Designer, NCDFree 2015 Sydney Bootcamp
2015
The 2014 AMSA Annual Report
2015
Publications and Promotions Officer, the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA)
2015
The GHC2016 Ratification Document
2015
The 2015 AMSA Partnership Prospectus
2014
Publications Officer, the AMSA 2014 Global Health Conference, Sydney (GHC2014)
2015
The 2015 UNMS Partnership Prospectus
2014
The GHC2016 Bid Document
Publications Assistant, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA)
2014
The NSW2015 AMSA Executive Bid Document
2014
The SCORA International Womens’ Day Manual
2014
The SCORA March Meeting Survival Guide
2014
NSWMSC’s 2014 Introduction Guide
2014
As Layout Editor
2013 -
2014
Public Relations Officer, the New South Wales Medical Students’ Council (NSWMSC)
2012 -
2014
Publications Officer, the University of Newcastle Medical Society (UNMS)
2014
NSWMSC 2014 Partnership Prospectus
2014
The SCORA International World AIDS Day Manual
2014
Promotions and Publicity Officer, UNMS Events and Initiatives
2014
The SCORA International Manual
2013
Project Coordinator, AMSA Pitch Your Project Competition
2013
The 2014 UNMS Partnership Prospectus
2013
Publications Officer Candidate, AMSA 2014 Executive Bid
2013
The GHC2014 Partnership Prospectus
2011 -
2012
International Officer, UNMS
2013
The NSW2014 AMSA Executive Bid Document
2008 -
2009 Editor-in-Chief, ACSian, Yearbook of the ACS Klang
2012
The 2013 UNMS OCamp Promotions Book
2008 -
2009 Prefect, ACS Klang
2012
The 2013 UNMS Medical Leadership Seminar Handbook
2012 -
major projects: GHC2014 july 2013 - sept 2014, sydney publications officer
A fourteen month job that included branding, graphic and print design and the production of publications for an academic conference of 800 people in the heart of Sydney.
selected works: publications as editor-in-chief/ layout editor
WA
THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION’S
change makers long lunch
2015 festival21 melbourne
INTERNSHIP
OUR FUTURE THROUGH FOOD
&RESIDENCY GUIDE
PRESENTED BY
new south wales twenty-fifteen amsa executive bid document
The Australian Medical Students’ Association Limited
2014 ANNUAL REPORT
1
1
THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION: ABOUT US
The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) is the peak representative body for medical students in Australia. Each of the 20 medical schools in Australia elects a representative to sit on AMSA Council, which is the primary decisionmaking body of the Association. The key mandate of AMSA is to connect, inform and represent Australia’s 17,000 medical students. AMSA’s core operations are aimed at realising this mandate. These operations include: ADVOCACY AMSA advocates for medical students through policy development, advocacy campaigns and representation to governments, universities and relevant medical and medico-political bodies. AMSA has a strong grass-roots approach to policy development whereby AMSA Subcommittees/ ThinkTanks produce and review policy and other initiatives. These are chaired by local AMSA Representatives at medical schools throughout the country.
EVENTS, PROGRAMS & PROJECTS Medical students from across the country are able to connect with peers by participating in AMSA’s renowned educational, social and leadership events and programs. AMSA runs projects across several different areas including those designed to improve medical student health and wellbeing and others for community participation. GLOBAL, RURAL & INDIGENOUS HEALTH Global health, rural health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health are important focus areas for AMSA and its members. AMSA provides specific opportunities for medical students to become actively involved in these areas while still studying, for example through AMSA’s popular AMSA Global Health (AGH) committee. PUBLICATIONS AMSA produces many publications which are distributed electronically and in hardcopy. These publications are an important conduit through which AMSA connects and informs Australian medical students.
RUBIX Magazine New
South
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Medical Students’ Council
SPONSORSHIP 1 AMSA PROSPECTUS 2015
the
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Newcastle MedRevue 2013
h c i h Wctor? o D Programme
selected works: publications content and layout designs
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DEAR AMSA COUNCIL Starting off in 2005 as the Developing World Conference, GHC has grown every year highlighting the passion and enthusiasm medical students have for being involved with Global Health. It gives me great pleasure to present Newcastle’s 2016 Bid for the 12th Annual Global Health Conference - a New GHC. Our vision is to create a conference where delegates leave inspired and connected but also with the skills to make effective change, and a direction for their future in global health. The phrase, “As individuals we can create ripples, but together we can create waves” is at the heart of this conference. Our team comes from a variety of backgrounds and we represent the intersection between knowledge, experience and passion. With backgrounds in corporate governance, law, finance, academic programs, social and sponsorship, our team brings an unbelievable amount of talent to run this GHC. Our youthfulness, energy and drive will all contribute to success and inspiration behind this amazing event.
one of Australia’s hidden gems, to experience all it has to offer. The tremendous opportunity to inspire, lead and change a cohort’s view on global health is one of the driving forces that has lead our team to bid for GHC. No longer can clinicians be in isolation from the world; rather, their practice is the world, and the ability and challenges to adapt to this structure are urgently needed. People will come as delegates but leave as change makers. The face of global health is moving and so is GHC.
Dec 11, 2015, Melbourne Convention Centre, last night of the United Nations Climate Conference f21Y - daytime youth event for 1000 young people. Empower them to rethink their role in social change and our collective future. f21 - free evening celebration event of 4500 Melbournians. Musicians, comedians, narrative talks, film, social enterprise pitching, keynotes, panels. f21E - open, public space for great NGOs from the Melbourne community to showcase their work to the 4k+ community.
festival21 is a celebration of our community, food and culture. Taking over the Melbourne Convention Centre, we will serve, table and digest our biggest social issues through food, without ever mentioning them.
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OUR TEAM
Food.
We need a new narrative for climate change and global health action - and that narrative is food. Emotive, universal, powerful - what we eat is the single biggest risk factor for disease worldwide and contributes almost 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Obesity and climate change threaten food security, food-related disease threatens to reverse economic and social development and acts as a poverty cycle catalyst. In the 20th century, food was a major driver for longer life expectancies - now it is the opposite, with a billion+ undernourished and a billion+ overweight. Food is also the single biggest contributor to Greenhouse Gasses, and climate change threatens 30% of crops in the Asian region.
In 2013, our team had a simple idea Connected by a passion for addressing the world’s leading cause of death, we sought to re-brand the way society perceives non-communicable diseases (NCDs such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease and mental health); launch a global social movement and inspire a new generation of young, community-level Change-Makers.
What is truly exciting though, is that the reserve is also possible. A smarter food system could be our silver bullet for both planetary and human health. But for this, we need innovation and bright ideas and we need ideas that will catalyse development and continue to pull millions out of poverty.
03 04 06 08 14 16
of
NZ 4%
ACT 5%
But this year is all about you.
TAS 1%
NSW NSw 43%
allow the income derived from medical students to be considered as mutual dealings for income taxation purposes. This class of membership is required by the Board of Directors to pay a nominal fee to the common fund and hold a 1:250 diluted voting ratio. Through the process of seeking a Private Binding Ruling from the Australian Taxation Office, the Board of Directors can confirm that the changes accepted in October 2014 by the Members will allow income from medical students in future to be considered under the principle of mutuality and be exempt from income taxation. The addition of GlobalEx, a conference for student leaders with specific interest in global health, to the AMSA list of events was a great success in terms of engagement and represents an increased focus on global health in the medical student community. In 2015 the GlobalEx conference has been suspended while the 2015 Executive and Board of Directors review events within the Company as well as the evolving financial situation. The National Convention 2014, held in Adelaide from July 6 to 13 convened by James Johnston, sold over 2,400 individual tickets and over 1,190 full registration tickets. This event returned a profit to AMSA in 2014 and represented the largest area of revenue and expense within the Company. A breakdown of the number of full delegates attending the event by university, and a breakdown of ticket sales by type and price are attached on the next page.
QLD 16%
WA 10% VIC 15%
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NCDFREE believes in the power of local, inspiring narrative and use of film as a way to communicate the challenges and opportunities associated with NCDs. In the 12 months since launching, we have made a number of short advocacy films and hosted global events in Boston, at Harvard University, and in Melbourne, as part of the University of Melbourne's Festival Ideas.
Thanks to our partners at Remedy Healthcare, we are launching our NCDFREE Global Health Advocacy Bootcamps to be run in cities around the world. The Bootcamps will bring together emerging leaders from health, design, communications, economics, law, education, policy and more. Connecting them to each other, NCDFREE will build capacity in advocacy, innovation thinking and leadership - and also engage minds to answer our biggest challenges on NCDs.
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The Global Health Conference 2014, held in Sydney from September 5 to 9 convened by Rahul Chatterjee, sold over 671 individual tickets with 384 full registration tickets. This event returned a profit to AMSA in 2014 as one of the major areas of revenue and expense within the Company. A breakdown of the number of full delegates attending the event by state is attached below.
In October 2014 the Members voted to change the share/membership structure of the Company to include a new class of Members – student members. These changes were recommended and drafted by AMSA’s external legal counsel in order to
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Food is emotive and the building block of life, community and culture. It transgresses boundaries and unifies nations. A global community will watch, learn and vote as we crowdsource young social innovators from around the Asian Region and build inspiring narratives. In a city celebrated for food, 4500 people will pack the biggest convention centre in Australia (where the World AIDS Congress was held) and vote with their money in real time, for the game changers they want to see scaled. Buy into the process and the outcome, becoming part of the journey.
During the 2013 audit of the financial statements it was detected that in the years 2008 – 2012 AMSA had incorrectly calculated the payable income taxation on the grounds of mutuality. In 2013 AMSA correctly included income from medical students as taxable income, which had previously not been included, resulting in a substantial increase in the payable amount of taxation. It was this substantial increase in payable taxation that the auditors detected, prompting retrospective investigation.
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2014 was a successful year for AMSA which saw the number of events grow from three to four, a closer alignment of internal policy to best practice, the successful election of a 2015 management committee, and a restructure of the membership system to better represent medical students. Throughout the year however, the Company was faced with a number of challenges, the most significant being the detection of incorrect income taxation calculations in recent years.
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How do we combine this all?
FROM THE AMSA CHAIRMAN
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What do climate change, global health, social contract, economic development and geopolitical inter-dependance have in common?
CONTENTS About AMSA From the Chairman From the President Directors’ Report and Declaration Audit Clearance Financial Statements
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Our team is ready. Are you ready for a new GHC?
With its vibrant cosmopolitan beating heart, golden surf beaches, exciting social venues and the iconic City Hall, home to our academic plenary, Newcastle is the perfect city for GHC. Our team welcomes you and delegates to our wonderful city,
How do we start a conversation about our biggest collective challenges, without even mentioning them?
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Our team is aware of the importance of this event to AMSA and we will ensure that risk management and financial controls are put in place. The GHC Brand is filled with excitement and passion, and our goal is to continue to explore global health, challenge ideas, and leave delegates inspired to become effective changes makers. It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I take this opportunity to invite AMSA on a journey to explore our great city.
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Figure 1: GHC Delegates by Region
The National Leadership Development Seminar 2014, held in Canberra from May 25 to 28, continued to provide targeted training to medical students’ interested in leadership and management within medicine. Following NLDS 2014 the Board commissioned the Executive to evaluate and review the event. In 2015 NLDS will move back to September and will be convened centrally by Jacqueline Ho, the 2015 AMSA National Events Coordinator. In terms of advocacy and core mandate, the Board is extremely satisfied with the performance of the Company and the 2014 Executive who continued to deliver benefits to the Membership through an enhanced media presence and strong advocacy performance in Canberra, as well as state-level politics. Sponsorship in 2014 exceeded budgeted targets by $14,000 through strengthened relationships with sponsors and the attraction of new sponsors throughout the year. The most significant internal issue the Company faced in 2014 was the issue of human resourcing and volunteer burnout, particularly within senior management and central Executive portfolios. During the 2014-
year, four senior Executive members departed from the Company prior to the completion of their terms for a number of reasons. I commend the 2014 Executive team on their adaptive responses to these adversities and their continually exceptional performance through these difficult periods. All other areas of the Company appear to be performing well and continue to meet prescribed performance standards. The Company continues to engage in feedback from Members and external affiliates in order to ensure the core mandates and vision of the Company are on track and are appropriately being managed. I would like to personally thank Jessica Dean and her Executive team for their outstanding work in 2014 and wish them all the best for their future endeavours. I would also like to congratulate James Lawler and his Executive team for their successful election and appointment to the management committee in 2015. If you have any questions about the Company or wish to get in touch with me at any time, please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind Regards,
Alex Robinson Chairman
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Figure 2: Number of Attendees at AMSA National Convention 2014 by University
Ticket Type
Number Sold
Price
Full Registration with Accommodation
751
$960.00
Full Registration without Accommodation
442
$560.00
Unconventional Package
152
$530.00
Sports Day Partial
29
$65.00
Charity Movie Event
440
$20.00 - $25.00
Social Partial
424
$65.00
Sunday Night Monday Night Friday Night
106 48 190
Gala Ball Partial
80
$110.00
Academic Partial
121
$65.00
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Monday
16
Tuesday
61
Thursday
15
Friday
29
Table 1: Breakdown of Tickets Sold for AMSA National Convention 2014
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Pink is not a colour, it is an attitude - Miley Cyrus
To pay tribute to the 10th anniversary of GHC, we will ship you to a sea of pink. This all-profit-for-charity event will saturate your photoreceptors, and believe it or not, this party also coincides with the International Day of Charity! Kick off your first night in Sydney at one of the sickest nightclubs in town. You’re sure to leave tickled pink.
[pink] [party] Venue: Ivy, Level 2 320-330 George St, Sydney Buses to Ivy from YHA will run between 7.00pm and 8.30pm Buses from Ivy to all official accommodation venues will run between 11.00pm and 1.30am
psychologists and nephrologists. On the topic of nephrologist, we visited several Hospitals over the week which all had a dialysis service.
had dreams of one day working for the RFDS. If anyone is keen to help support the Royal Flying Doctor Service we have created a UOW student team for the 9km run over the Sydney harbour bridge as part of the Sydney Running Festival. You can join the team to participate in the run or just donate and all proceeds go to the RFDS. Join at; http://bsrf2014.gofundraise.com.au/ page/ KateHatzopoulos
The more rural we went, the more dialysis machines were being used. This was important for us to see as student doctors into the vast impact diabetes and kidney disease has within Indigenous communities. Scott also highlighted the impact of food security, some of the more remote towns would only get one delivery a week of fresh fruit and vegetables. And more than often this fresh food would all be gone within a couple of days.
A big thank you to Dr Karl and Scott Winch who came along on the roadtrip with us over the 5 days and shared their knowledge. Thanks to Sharon Gray who is the Indigenous Project Officer in the GSM who helped with the preparation of this article and organise the trip!
Our final day in Dubbo saw us head to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and see the good work they do for rural communities. This trip was quite inspiring for many who have
avada cadavar Helen
Zhang,
UNSW
’That’s right guys, you will be seeing cadavers on your first week!’ exclaimed Evan, the first year rep, beamingly on our first day of uni. Immediately, animated murmuring began to fill the lecture theatre. I turned to the friend beside me,
I had seen plenty of corpses before… in the form of rat dissections in Year 11 biology, images on the news and in movies. Seeing one in real life wouldn’t be too far from that. I hoped.
out from our tutor’s lips with incredible speed and ease. As I struggled to note them all down, I felt my attention continually being drawn towards the body on the metal bench. It seemed almost like another presence in the classroom.
‘What organ is a cadaver?’ I whispered. She shrugged.
When the day finally arrived, I had managed to come to feel relatively comfortable with the thought of seeing, perhaps even dissecting, a cadaver. Although I did not have much of an idea of what to expect, I was pretty sure I would be able to cope. After all, I wasn’t the ‘tall, gangly guy’ who was fated to faint. (In fact, quite the opposite.)
At last, it was time to unveil the body. Cautiously, I drew closer to the bench. We stood as a small, tentative huddle around the cadaver. The sound of the ventilation suddenly became deafening. Our tutor scanned our faces before he slowly, gently pulled away the towel. The smell of formaldehyde intensified as a yellowy-brown, preserved male torso met our eyes, starkly lit by the stale lights. I felt a wave of vertigo pass through me.
‘I dunno,’ she whispered back, ‘Someone always faints every year,’ Evan continued, ‘and it’s usually one of those tall, gangly guys.’ This cadaver organ was really beginning to mystify me. Soon, Evan moved on to other news for us first year medical students and my little conundrum was dropped for the time being. A few days later…
Yet, when I strolled into the cold anatomy room, heavily fused with the acrid odour of formaldehyde, and saw the long, grey towels draped over the contours of a body, suddenly the breath caught in my chest and my legs froze mid-stride.
‘A cadaver is a dead body, you idiot,’ snapped my other friend, ‘do you have NO general knowledge at all?’
If confidence was a muscle that one could exercise, then at that moment I was experiencing severe and extremely rapid confidence dystrophy.
‘W-WHAT?!’ I stammered.
‘Are you alright?’ asked my friend,
A dead body on our first week? In no way was I ready for this. However, not wanting my friends to question my Med-liness, I immediately followed up with,
‘Yes… yes, I’m fine.’ I laughed shakily, forcing myself to walk again as we took our seats towards the back of the classroom before the lesson commenced.
‘That’s… so cool!’
Soon, the words ‘glenoid humerus joint, greater omentum, peritoneal cavity, proximal and distal phalanges...’ began pouring
Don’t faint, I thought, don’t faint. A silence ensued as we let the sight sink in. When no one passed out, everyone seemed to let out a breath which they had not realised they were holding. Our tutor moved along the bench and began lifting away the next grey towels, revealing a leg, followed by an arm. Yet the more I looked on, the more absurd it felt for me to be afraid. Before, I had only considered my own fears- perhaps of seeing a reflection of my own mortality laid out before my eyes. Probably because I have lived in such a protected, insular world, where my exposure to the concept of death was fairly limited to movies (a side effect of Voldemort yelling ‘AVADA KEDAVRA!’), to confronting images relayed daily on the news until I had become relatively desensitised, to a distant, teleologic notion
about my life. In short, nothing as real as this. I realised too, that my lack of familiarity with, and the almost dehumanising effect of the term ‘cadaver’ had cushioned me from realising that ‘it’ was really ‘him’ or ‘her’. ‘Cadaver’ was really ‘human being’. Once living. Once breathing. Once seeing. Once feeling. Once, just like you and me. It was a shell of full consciousness. How much courage it must have taken for these people to consent to donate their bodies to the poking and prodding and inquisitive eyes of medical students. To give their bodies, despite the plethora of religious and sociocultural extrapolations about the unknown realms beyond death. To give away the one thing which they have possessed for their entire life. To give - literally - their all, to the future of medicine. To us. As our tutor began to point to the various structures on the cadaver, which just a few minutes ago were only convoluted words to me, I felt my shoulders loosen a little as I stood a little taller and really began to listen. This was never meant to be a fear-inciting experience. This was, and always will be, an immense privilege. A gift of a lifetime.
The DIRECTORS
CAST
SCOTT CRAYTHORN BMed V Director Scott is no stranger to the wonderful world of MedRevue, having been heavily involved in its production for the last two years - in MedRevue 2012, Scott was the assistant director and played a lead role in, and in MedRevue 2013, Scott took the director’s seat. Besides his prior involvements in the last two MedRevues, Scott also brings his experiences as a trombonist and clarinetist in various jazz bands and orchestras, and his long-standing interest in dissecting and understanding all forms of media to the role of MedRevue 2014 director. As one of the main men behind MedRevue 2014, Scott only hopes that the audience gains a holistic musical experience from this production, and that their viewing experience is nothing short of magical.
STEPHANIE SMITH BMed II Crabbe
ANITA SHRIWAIKER ANDREA FERNANDO BMed I BMed II Goyle Practitionerpuff Student
KATHRYN ARMSTRONG FLETCHER CHARLTON BMed IV BMed V Havenclaw Student Sorting Hat
RACHEL NG BMed II Cho Chang
JANE PHILLIPS BMed IV Facebook
EMILY BART BMed IV Pettigrew
FLETCHER CHARLTON BMed V Director Fletcher is the epitome of a multi-talented medical student, having been a drummer and song-writer in a professional rock band for two years prior to commencing medicine. During his time as a member of ‘Darley’s Angels’, Fletcher toured the east coast, opened a number of shows for neoalternative bands, and released two EPs and a studio album. Besides song-writing and playing the drums, Fletcher also plays the guitar and bass. In directing MedRevue 2014, Fletcher draws inspiration from the spiral stairwells in his high school, which used to make him feel like a wizard every time he ascended or descended them. Fletcher is also excited for the audience to see the creative side of medical students.
from the presidential candidate Dear Jessica and AMSA Council, When I first discovered I was accepted into medical school, I was sitting in an internet cafe in Vancouver. Unable to contain my excitement, but with no-one around me to understand my elation, I changed my flights to come home earlier in order to make our first orientation day for the Joint Medical Program at the University of Newcastle. In hindsight, I need not have bothered there was nothing covered on that day which I couldn’t have found online, but one thing stuck with me. Trung Nghia Ton, a final year student who was also chair of AMSA’s Global Health Network (now known as AGH) gave us some advice: Get involved in student organisations - you’ll learn more about health, you’ll enjoy your degree so much more, and one day, you’ll be the ones who lead the new generation of first year students. I took Trung’s advice, and got involved in my local Global Health Group, as well as AMSA’s Global Health Network, where I saw a bunch of people work hard to reform it into what we now know as AMSA Global Health. I was fortunate enough to be part of the AMSA National Executive in 2013. I learnt the difference between governance and management, how to write a strategic plan, and how all of the books I’d read on advocacy and campaigning applied to the real world. I got to present policy statements to the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) on issues such as Global Health Workforce, Marriage Equality and Health, Mental Health and Drug Reform. I even scored an internship at the World Health Organisation. I’m indulging myself with this anecdote to highlight that even though I took Trung’s advice on my first day, I never could have predicted how much I’ve grown personally from my experiences with medical student activities over the last 5 years. And it’s with that in mind that I present to you this team of hard working, talented, fun-loving students who will take AMSA to new heights in 2015, and provide a new generation of medical students with ways to get involved with AMSA.
LUCY JUDD BMed I Nurse Janine
SOPHIE COLLINS BMed II Nymphomaniac
YASMIN SALLEH BMed IV Dobby
NASEER ABDUL BMedSci Seriously Black
STEVE GRIMSON BMedSci Madeye
BEN CHALLIS BMed I Tree
CHESTER CHONG BMed I Mister Ni
meet the team
At the time of writing, several of my teammates are busy preparing AMSA’s largest ever Global Health Conference in Sydney. Most of them have developed their skills at the grassroots level like me, and have been involved with AMSA in one way or another - there’s a few new faces as well, to ensure AMSA doesn’t only look at itself through the frame of what it already does. But most importantly, they’re a great group of people, and with Council’s approval, I’d be thrilled to work with them next year.
3
NSW Universities
1
My time within the IFMSA has shown me that AMSA is one of the best student groups in the world. Our amazing National Convention is the largest student-run conference on the globe. By virtue of having a representative from each of Australia’s medical schools guide the association, we ensure that AMSA is relatively ubiquitous in its engagement in medical student issues. You would struggle to find another student group who can point to the 2013 Federal Government’s $40 million commitment to internships as the rewards for its advocacy efforts.
Winner of the AMSA President’s Award
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Members of NLDS Teams
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However, with these successes come a constant set of obstacles for AMSA to navigate. For such a large organisation, we lack institutional memory due to the constant turnover of personnel. We are trying to be experts in finance, governance, law, tax, policy, promotions and marketing, yet we are usually only a group of amateur medical students. And with the push to innovate, each year brings in a whole raft of changes which prevent us from being truly stable.
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jacqueline ho, events
Jacqueline has a reputation in AMSA and her MedSoc for working with incredible efficiency and diligence. Her resume should have taken her more time to acquire, but her time in medical school has been filled with numerous activities at once, always with excellent recommendations from those who work with her. Not only is she perfectly qualified to work as Events Co-ordinator for AMSA next year, she brings a variety of skills to the NSW2015 team.
beckie singer, sponsorship
If you’ve been to an AMSA event, odds are you have met Beckie. We have heard from reliable sources that she bleeds orange. Beckie has a contagious enthusiasm that makes working with her or simply being in the same room as her a pleasure. She is a strong asset to this team, bringing her AMSA experience and easygoing yet professional demeanour.
2
NSWMSC Positions Held
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matt rubic,
vp internal
Matt is an energetic, charismatic young man who knows AMSA’s events like no other. He’s spent his time in AMSA as the Deputy Convenor of its National Leadership Development Seminar, and more recently as the Deputy Convenor of AMSA’s largest ever Global Health Conference. Throughout these roles, he’s learned two things really well - how to work with people, and how AMSA works. He’s the perfect VPi for 2015.
chloe boateng, nc
Chloe is a the epitome of a team player. She is reliable, nurturing and not afraid to be honest with herself and to the members of her team. In addition to her unparalleled work ethic, Chloe also brings a wealth of experience in logistics, from her time as NLDS logistics officer, and from her time as UWS’s AMSA Rep, knows how AMSA Reps across the country can be best communicated with and supported.
elise buisson, projects
Elise has been a revelation to this team and how it can run projects. She shows excellent temperament being faced with challenges, she’s relaxed and easy to get along with, but most importantly, she’s a leader who listens. She’ll be listening to people across the organisation, and people from outside it to come up with the best procedures for AMSA’s projects in 2015.
josh darlow, sponsorship
Whilst only in the early stages of his medical degree, Josh is not short of life experiences. He has been involved professionally in event management and sponsorship in his previous life as an agriculture economist. Josh is calm, collective and wise, and that, in addition to his deep silky voice, puts all who is around him at ease.
AMSA Councils Attended
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Conventions Attended
Global Health Conferences Attended
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NLDS Attended
tom morrison, treasurer
Tom has an extensive history of enthusiastic involvement with student life. He has previously been a student director at Arc, the UNSW student organisation, and brings glowing recommendations with him to AMSA. He is dedicated to ensuring AMSA has the strongest possible strategic and financial direction for 2015 and beyond.
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james lawler, president
James is an absolute pleasure to work with - he is down-to-earth, has a laid back personality and most importantly, humble. Don’t take that as any sign of weakness in his leadership skills though. James has earned a reputation within AMSA of getting things done, figuring out how best to do it, and most importantly in a volunteer organisation of AMSA, keeping people happy.
AMSA Representatives
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With overwhelming excitement, James Lawler Presidential Candidate NSW 2015 Executive Team
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Members of the GHC2014 Team
Global Health Group Presidents
Internships with the WHO in Geneva
We’re here to fulfil AMSA’s strategic plan, take guidance from our elected AMSA Representatives, work hard and have fun. When we look to change AMSA, it will be with the long term in mind, so that we can build slowly and steadily. Because my teammates and I believe AMSA is already great, and with our help, it will become greater.
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Member of a past Executive
AGH Representatives
MedSoc Positions Held
So please note that this team has new ideas - bringing a new level of creativity to AMSA is one of the strengths of the team-based bidding process - but we aren’t here to reinvent the wheel.
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SASHA MATHIAS BMed IV Deathbeater Registrar
UN Assemblies and World Health SummitsAttended
brian fernandes, vp external
Brian “What a guy” Fernandes is a calm, honest humble man. He’s also been central to some of AMSA’s biggest projects in recent years working on student mental health, refugee and asylum seeker health advocacy, and as the Academic Convenor for this year’s Global Health Conference in Sydney. Its the way he was able to convince some truly world class speakers to our GHC this year which makes him an exciting prospect for the VPe role.
maria bilal, pro
Maria is perfect to represent AMSA’s public relations - a young, confident future leader who external stakeholders and government ministers will be blown away by. At 19, she’s represented medical students at United Nations and World Health Organisation Meetings - AMSA’s Executive will be a small stepping stone on the way to an illustrious career for her.
ming yong, ppo
Ming’s skills lie in communication and representation, he’s an artist who has an amazing ability to engage people with his work. He’s the mastermind behind this year’s GHC branding, encouraging you all to jump in and think pink. He has created hundreds of publications, press releases and posters and no matter how much work he has on his plate, Ming is never one to compromise quality. 7
When I told Dad Julian Assange was speaking at the big conference I’m on the organising team for, the first thing he said was “That guy is weird. I’ve read his book.”
Dad on our fortnightly team meetings “Have fun at the party this week”
THINGS MY PARENTS SAY ABOUT GHC Thank You To THOSE WHO MADE GHC POSSIBLE
Mum on GHC pull-up banners currently stored at my house: “That’s a lot of pink.” “Shouldn’t you be studying and not planning parties?”
“Why would any conference decide to make their main colour hot pink?”
Parents....
Social Subcommittee David Bui, Dom Bull, Anna Fernon, Nikki Kitay, Shruti Krishnan, Shannon Lees, Todd Miller, Lara Sharplin, Sujinyaa Sriskandan, Esther Zhou Sponsorship Subcommittee Georgia Hunt, Andrew Kam, Harleen Kaur, Cecile Pham, Kierrtana Selvakumar, Amanda Yao
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AN UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE
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RECAP: TEDDY BEAR HOSPITAL 20
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INTERESTING MEDICAL READS
RECAP: HALFWAY PARTY
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LIFE ON EXCHANGE IN NOTTINGHAM
You can say this is my swan song. I have been on MedSoc running Ductus for the last 2 years, and now 6 editions wiser, it’s time for me to move on to bigger things like taking medicine more seriously. I ran for this position, young and naïve way back in 2012 when some of you were still stressing out about HSC and UMAT – crazy how time flies when you put it in context – because I needed a creative outlet in a dry world of PBL and Sontag’s ironically colourful lecture slides. I suppose, I have to thank MedSoc for this opportunity, because Ductus has definitely filled the void in my creative life.
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GP CLUB: WHAT’s ON?
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RANDOM NEWS AND OTHER STUFF
Ductus Doctor 34
And I suppose that’s what I was trying to achieve with this edition of Ductus, which I unofficially dub the “creative edition.” It never ceases to amaze me how creative and talented our peers in the medical degree can be, which is very annoying and unfair because most of them are already smart, athletic and good-looking.
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36 DUCTUS 2014 EDITION 2 Content Editor: Lachlan Gan Design and Layout Editor: Ming Yong publications@UNMS.ORG.AU
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Our team is ready. Are you ready for a New GHC?
Bhavi Ravindran Dear Members of the AMSA Board,
Our vision is to create a conference where delegates leave inspired and connected but also with the skills to make effective change, and a direction for their future in global health. The phrase, “As individuals we can create ripples, but together we can create waves” is at the heart of this conference. Our regional team comes from a variety of backgrounds and we represent the intersection between knowledge, experience and passion. With backgrounds in corporate governance, law, finance, and defence force logistics, Newcastle brings an unbelievable amount of talent to run this GHC. Our youthfulness, energy and drive will all contribute to the success and inspiration behind this amazing event. With its vibrant cosmopolitan beating heart, golden surf beaches, exciting social venues and the iconic City Hall, home to our academic plenary, Newcastle is the perfect city for GHC. Our team welcomes you and delegates to our wonderful city, one of Australia’s hidden gems, to experience all it has to offer. The tremendous opportunity to inspire, lead and change a cohort’s view on global health is one of the driving forces that has lead our team to bid for GHC. No longer can clinicians be in isolation from the world; rather, their practice is the world, and the ability and challenges to adapt to this structure are urgently needed. People will come as delegates but leave as change makers. The face of global health is moving and so is GHC. Our team is aware of the importance of this event to AMSA and we will ensure that risk management and financial controls are put in place. The GHC Brand is filled with excitement and passion, and our goal is to continue to explore global health,
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that makes us “the brains on campus” (I quote from YakTV), but can also dance, sing, act and/or play a musical instrument. And then you have the likes of Ductus, where you realise there’s a handful of med students who can write amazingly well too. And finally, where both circles overlap, you have the people we absolutely detest like Andrew Shannon and Toby Hunt who can sing, act, dance, play a musical instrument, write well and play sports. But I digress.
Studies have shown that being creative helps you cope with life, or at least that’s what I’ve heard (I am far too lazy to PubMed that shit and reference this). Say we take this as fact, you’d see why being creative is necessary in a life filled with self-directed learning, not having the slightest clue about what’s going on and pretending like we know what’s going on when we really don’t. I’ve also heard that creativity and medicine do not traditionally overlap, but I call bluff. Studies have shown that creative doctors are better doctors in terms of empathy and taking better histories, plus they are better at thinking outside the box when diagnosing and planning management options. While I pulled the last sentence out of thin air, it probably is true. I do know for fact though that being creative is important if you want to do well in PBL; this demonstrated by a friend of mine who hypothesised one week in 3rd year that the patient is ill because she was bitten by a vampire.
I do know with full certainty, however, that creativity is important for mental health and wellbeing. I see medicine as a life of black, white but mostly grey – everything is so theoretical and hypothesised, and even in the practical setting, people and patients on the wards can easily bring our spirits down. For me, being creative acts like a form of escape, to a world of imagination and colour where I am the painter and I have full control of what I’m doing. Now, compare this to medicine
and you’d see why this is a healthy activity. Before I go on sounding like I’m on LSDs, I end with a final urge. Be creative and don’t be afraid of exploring your creative side. It has certainly helped me cope with my med life, and I am quite certain it will help you in one form or another. Take this from someone who is now 6 Ducti wiser.
So that brings my swan song to an end. Goodbye forever Ductus, it’s been one hell of a ride with you. Ming A
On behalf of Ming and Lachlan, Editors
FROM THE PRESIDENT: THE YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE PWESIDENT
As I write this article, MedSoc elections are well underway and my year as President is almost finished. I want to share with you some of the achievements that we have made this year as well as the highs and lows along the way. I have been lucky enough to have a fabulous team of people to work in and together I think we have managed to put on some amazing events this year. From social to academic and everything in between, I like to think that MedSoc is able to add a little bit to everyone’s med school experience; here are a few of my highlights. First Incision was a resounding success, with our new venue of Wests being perfect to welcome a
“I was given the gift of life, and God saved me, the doctors saved me. And maybe by almost paying with my life, we bought peace. Because the moment I was shot, the country stood still, the violence stopped, people who were fighting each other before stopped fighting, the rebels surrendered. And until now, we have been at peace.” Source: José Ramos-Horta: Lessons in patience. The Frost Interview, Al Jazeera. Available at http:// www.aljazeera.com/programmes/frostinterview
new batch of first years to Newcastle. We also had over 450 people in attendance which makes this the biggest First Incision in memory! We also ran two highly successful OSCEs nights, where both 1st and 3rd years could put their clinical skills to the test. At Newcastle we are always looking for more formative examination and it was great that we could expand the OSCEs night program this year.
The second annual MedBall was a chance for everyone to get dressed up and celebrate in style. Lovely food and free-flowing drinks combined with wonderful promotion and decoration made MedBall a night to be remembered. I think that we also found a balance of trying to keep tickets as cheap as possible while covering the costs of everything needed for a great ball. Looking to the future and we have a simply spectacular MedRevue to look forward to. Having seen some of the extraordinary work that has gone into this year’s show, I can guarantee that it is not to be missed! Aside from putting on almost weekly events, MedSoc also has a very important advocacy role in ensuring that we have the best medical education we can. Some of the key things that I think we have achieved in this area are: • •
• • •
Ensuring that PBL and clinical skills groups have a capped number so that students get the most out of this sessions
Helping to develop more structured student support processes to ensure that people have the appropriate support needed to complete their degree
Working with the faculty to have the course reaccredited for the next 5 years
Continuing to advocate for students as the start of the MD program gets closer Working with AMSA to advocate for the needs of all
Australian medical students, especially around the area of mental health and wellbeing
For me, this meant attending somewhere in the order of 50 meetings of various committees over the year and receiving literally thousands of emails. It has been a great experience to work so closely with the medical faculty and I encourage each and every one of you to be as proactive as you can in shaping your medical education.
This year, we have also gone through the process of incorporating MedSoc so that it is recognised as a business entity in itself. This will allow much more stability for the organisation and also opens up a whole new range of exciting events that could be run next year. This has been a year’s worth of effort that has involved us learning significant amounts of business and taxation law in the process and I thank Laura for her leadership of this process.
Finally I must acknowledge the work that has gone into this publication that you are reading today. Ming and Lachlan have put timeless amounts of effort into delivering you three editions of an extremely professional set of publications. With that, all that remains is for me to wish the incoming MedSoc Committee the best of luck and thank everyone who has made it such a joy to serve as President this year. James Y
UNMS 2013/2014 President
VOTE FOR YOUR NEXT UNMS COMMITTEE!
Voting for the next committee and executive for UNMS to serve from 2014 to 2015 is still open on Blackboard. The future of MedSoc’s events, advocacy and student-support platforms lie in your hands, so make sure you vote! More details can be found on Blackboard.
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challenge ideas, and leave delegates inspired to become effective changes makers. It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I take this opportunity to invite AMSA on a journey to explore our great city.
Starting off in 2005 as the Developing World Conference, GHC has grown every year highlighting the passion and enthusiasm medical students have for being involved with Global Health. It gives me great pleasure to present Newcastle’s 2016 Bid for the 12th Annual Global Health Conference - a New GHC.
Take MedRevue for instance – you have about 70 medical students who not only study in a degree
COVER: THE HOGCASTLE CREST
Iductus
INTRODUCTION
I had to wrestle with Lachlan to write the Editor’s note this time – he usually plays my laziness to my own disadvantage by writing one too soon, way before I even start thinking about Ductus. So why am I so adamant about writing this one? Seriously, who even reads the Editor’s note?
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRINCIPLES OF MEDICINE
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BACK COVER STUFF
FROM THE EDITORS: SWAN SONGS, AMONG OTHER THINGS
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THE PEN REVIEW
“It was the nicest surprise,” he says, adding that he was also slightly “embarrassed”, feeling that there were others from within his liberation movement who deserved to win it more. After that, Ramos-Horta was still a man
THINK OF THE KIDS
HEADBANGING: NATIONAL MEDICAL RISKS BARRIER AND EFFECTS EXAMS
WAYTE’S WECIPES
In 1996, Ramos-Horta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign. As he tells Sir David, it was an unexpected award.
The AMSA Executive, Board, Council, AGH and 2014 AMSA Events teams heroes and legends.
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THE CURRENT STATE OF BMPs
Meanwhile, back in his country, hundreds of thousands of Timorese - including three of his siblings - died.
Logistics Subcommittee Naseer Mohammed Abdul, Ritu Chaurasia, Parul Garg, Amy Hort, Annabel Lee, Wendy Liu, Rebecca Singer, Julia Stone, Isabella Williams
Welcome: from the president
SHANNON’S TAKE ON ESCAPISM
He tells Sir David of his arrival in the US: “The “That particular year, December ‘75, was overwhelming. And But the way was clear very, very snowy. I for Ramos-Horta to had never seen snow sometimes I philosophically return to East Timor to in my life .... I had to be retake his role as foreign ... ask myself whether it is very careful not to fall off because it was worth sacrificing a single minister. very slippery, and I life for the sake of having Over subsequent years didn’t have proper he would serve as prime shoes. I had a very an independent country” minister and president of light summer jacket East Timor. But in 2008, instead of a winter as he tells Sir David, coat or winter jacket. So that’s when I began he was shot twice in a botched assassination my lobbying at the UN Security Council.” attempt. After a two-month recovery period, he returned to office, calling on the rebels to Ramos-Horta’s short visit to New York became surrender to avoid any more bloodshed. a 24-year stay, during which he patiently lobbied for Indonesian withdrawal from East Timor. “I believe in being compassionate,” he says.
“What do I think you’re doing at the conference? You’re either presenting something or looking for a boyfriend.”
Academic Subcommittee Nicky Betts, Maria Bilal, Adrienne Campbell, Kaalya De Silva, Hannah Kluckow, James Lawler, Kate Lennard, Rebecca Moss, Chelsea Ricketts, Dominic Vickers
But the withdrawal was also a heartbreaking time for him; pro-Indonesian militia - often aided by official forces - set fire to many buildings and burned some 85 per cent of the country’s infrastructure before they left.
“The human cost was overwhelming. And sometimes I philosophically ... ask myself whether it is worth sacrificing a single life for the sake of having an independent country,” he says. human cost was
“I thought that conference you were organising had a budget of $400.”
Mum on GHC website ”Oh I see you chose a good looking photo of yourself for the website.”
“Things were looking much more promising,” Ramos-Horta says of the years that Clinton held office.
“I got involved in politics by [an] accident of history,” Ramos-Horta says.
”GHC won’t help you pass the exams.”
Girlfriend on GHC “I’m sorry but I can’t come to GHC. I’ve got to save up money for elective and things I really want to go to, like the Kanye West concert.”
Welcome: from the editors
In a revealing interview, Sir David Frost travels to East Timor to meet the Nobel laureate and hear his remarkable story.
without a country, but his award helped to bring renewed world attention to the plight of East Timor. International events, together with added pressure from then US President Bill Clinton, led to Indonesia eventually withdrawing from East Timor.
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Rahul Chatterjee Convenor Georgia Carroll Deputy Convenor Matthew Rubic Deputy Convenor Jacqueline Ho Treasurer Brian Fernandes Academic Convenor Rebecca Moses Academic Convenor Jessica Mills Social Convenor Nasir Shah Social Convenor Annalise Unsworth Logistics Officer Aparna Morgan Logistics Officer Shian-Li Wong Sponsorship Officer Sophia Bilal Sponsorhip Officer Kyi Thant IT Officer Ming Yong Publications Officer
In 1975, José Ramos-Horta, the then foreign minister of the newly-liberated nation of East Timor, was sent by his country’s prime minister to New York. By the time his plane landed in the US, his country had been invaded and annexed by Indonesia.
Mum on Julian speaking at GHC “But... he can’t even come in person”
Dad kept asking me how the GFC is going. “I think its wonderful that you’re passionate enough to organise a Breast Cancer Awareness event.”
Change Your WORLD
Change Your WORLD
A lot has happened in the 14 months the GHC Team worked together: from having Messina ice cream and hedgehog shaped cupcakes in meetings, to handwritten letters from David Attenborough, to the time we literally embraced “Jump In” by jumping into the Sydney Harbour. In the span of 14 months, there are also a lot of weird things the clueless-about-GHC parents and partners of the 14 team members have said. We present to you some of our favourites -
OUR TEAM Through my past involvement with a host of organisations I have gained invaluable skills in leadership and organisation that place me in the perfect position as to be Convenor for GHC 2016. I am excited at the prospect of leading GHC and I know that with the support of my team, we will do a great job.
Bhavi
Ravindran Convenor
Board Ready: As a member of the University of Newcastle Council in 2014, I come to the role with a background in risk, governance, finance and strategic direction. I will be able to hit the ground running, not only on the AMSA board of directors but also by providing a framework for our team to make important decisions. The role of the convener is akin to the chair of a company; they set the broad vision of the event through strategic planning, ensure adequate risk management and financial controls, and show levels of accountability and responsibility for the event. Global Health: My love for Global Health begins in the very first days of my medical degree as I joined Wake-Up! (Newcastle GHG) My passion has only continued to grow as a founding member and National Campaign Coordinator of AFRAM, Global Partnerships Officer for Wake-Up! and delegate of GHC, TNT and AGH Council. Learning from the Past: As part of the application process I have consulted a wide range of people including current and past convenors of all AMSA events, executives, and board members to give me a broad overview of the difficulties and challenges associated with each event. By drawing on these collective experiences, our team is in a position to be prepared for the risks and challenges that lie ahead and we are able to adapt to them.
LAURA
Prior to commencing medicine, Laura was employed in the corporate finance industry, working for Asia-Pacific’s largest corporate insolvency firm, Ferrier Hodgson, whilst concurrently studying a business degree. Throughout her time at Ferrier Hodgson, Laura was responsible for the day-to-day management of approximately 30 small to medium enterprises at any one time, which gave her invaluable experience in the areas of financial forecasting, supervision and risk management as well as the practical aspects of processing regular account transactions and overseeing working budgets.
Dryburgh Treasurer
Laura has maintained her skills in this field through her current employment - managing the finances of a Newcastle based real estate management company and the tutoring university students in various finance based courses. Having been elected as the Treasurer of the University of Newcastle Medical Society for 2014, Laura has also developed a robust skill set for all aspects of prudent not-for-profit financial management. In addition, Laura’s interest in finance and economics has been supplemented by her participation in the Global Voices Program, where she was selected as an Australian Youth Delegate to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development for 2013.
Laura’s CV 2012 – 2016e 2013 – 2014 2012 – 2013 2013 2010 – 2012 2010 – 2012
Bachelor of Medicine, University of Newcastle Treasurer, UNMS Treasurer, University of Newcastle Tennis Club Delegate, AMSA Global Health Conference Bachelor of Business, University Technology Sydney Ferrier Hodgson Insolvency Accountant Accolade Property Group Business Manager
Brett
Brett worked as an Officer for the Royal Australian Air Force for four years prior to commencing his studies in medicine. Over his time in the Air Force, Brett has developed extensive experience in logistics and movement, from the planning of simulated training involving hundreds of trainees where every component is accurately timed to the second, to the logistics of air shows, involving thousands of officials and high-ranking officers.
Scott Logistics
Brett’s experiences with the RAAF make him the perfect man to handle GHC2016’s logistics, since his previous involvement in large and small events has given him a comprehensive idea of what is involved in organising them, especially the potential risks that need to be accounted and planned for. Furthermore, Brett is aware of the financial responsibility that comes with the logistics role, and his previous experience in organising the movement of essential, expensive assets has developed his skills of accountability and administrative recording. Above all, Brett understands the importance of early planning and risk mitigation, and his skills in emergency handling will help manage any unforeseen circumstances during the event. With GHC being a global event with international speakers, Brett knows the importance of his role in providing supplies to a large number of people with little room for error, the moving of large numbers of people safely to and from programs with the need for alternative plans and modes of transport at the ready, arranging transport for VIPs to and from events on time, and supplying accommodation for not only them, but nearly 600 delegates as well. Brett understands the magnitude of this role, and believes that his experience over the last 6 years has equipped him with the skills to adequately handle all of these tasks, as well as any other challenges that might arise.
Brett’s CV 2014 – 2018e 2014 – 2015 2007 – 2012
Bachelor of Medicine, University of Newcastle Social Convenor, UNMS Officer, Royal Australian Air Force
New Strategies: Human Capital and Publicity Volunteer Management Following on from Sydney 2014, there is a great deal of talent in the subcommittees who are able to bring their expertise and experience to the Newcastle 2016 team. Indeed, numerous people on the subcommittees have already indicated their interest to apply for executive positions, bringing with them a tremendous amount of event experience. With over 600 students in the Newcastle region from the University of Newcastle and the University of New England, and with thousands more at the three Sydney universities, we will be able to attract human capital. As part of this bid, I have already contacted a number of people who have expressed interest in becoming a part of the team. By opening up applications to student from all over New South Wales we increase the pool of talented applicants.
Volunteer burnout and wellbeing The issue of volunteer burnout will be the forefront of this GHC as it can have a profound impact on personal wellbeing and the event. Processes and frameworks will exist to identify burnout and create strategies to minimize the effects and help the team in managing burnout.
Map of Newcastle. Red - Newcastle Town Hall; 5 Orange - Potential Social Venues; Yellow - Potential Accommodation
Training Through the process of creating GHC, our team will be focused on training and upskilling ourselves to create a remarkable GHC. This may include external courses, specialised in-house training, and talking to past convenors and committees to coordinate workshops that are focused on a particular aspects of the conference as determined by our team. Our team will also be regularly communicating with events teams, both past and present, to gain insights into the challenges and processes they face
Promoting a big event in a regional city With any regional bid, promotions will need to play a proportionally larger part in the planning of the event to get delegates to the host city and to engage with Newcastle 2016 in the months leading up to GHC. Led by Promotions, Publicity, and IT Officers and their respective subcommittees, our team will be able to sell a value proposition to delegates. Not only will they be inspired through the academic session and become connected with other delegates through the social aspects, out team also want delegates to form a connection to the City of Newcastle. That said, Newcastle and its landmarks, especially its rustic architecture and golden beaches, will be the very essence of Newcastle 2016’s promotions. In promoting GHC2016, we also want to deliver an undertone of a laid-back lifestyle in our promotions platform, which we hope will reflect well throughout the conference, in line with our goals of forming an engaging learning and social environment for our delegates.
selected works: print designs promotion designs print publicity
yong.yunming@gmail.com +61 432 821 777 Individual designs or publications can be requested