About AMSANZ
A branch of the British Medical Association of Australia was formed by 15 doctors on 25th November 1949 in Melbourne as the Special Group on Aviation Medicine. In 1962 the Special Group’s name was changed to the Aviation Medical Society of Australia. By 1972 the membership was 258 and due to the large numbers joining from New Zealand the Society was renamed the Aviation Medical Society of Australia and New Zealand (AMSANZ).
In 1978 the Society was Incorporated formally in Australia but after discussion it was agreed that the two bodies should be incorporated separately in each country to become distinct legal entities. On 29th January 1997 the New Zealand branch became the Aviation Medical Society of Australia and New Zealand (NZ Inc.)
In 2003 AMSANZ-Australia changed its name to the ‘Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine’. In 2009 AMSANZ-New Zealand changed its title to the ‘Aviation Medical Society of New Zealand (Inc.)’.
The two societies continue to share the same Objects and Rules, maintain close contact and attend each others conferences.
AMSNZ is closely associated with the Patterson Visiting Lectureship Trust. This is a charitable Trust established with the purpose of fostering aviation medicine educational activities in New Zealand. The Trust is named after Mr Douglas Patterson who was the last General Manager of National Airways Corporation (NAC) which later became the domestic division of Air New Zealand. Doug Patterson had a lifetime interest in aviation and was a staunch supporter of the Society. The Patterson Trust continues and sponsors a visiting lecturer to the annual conferences of both ASAM and AMSNZ along with other sponsorships and prizes.
ASAM has a similar John Lane Trust. Dr John Lane was a Foundation Member of the Society, an ex-RAAF medical officer and the inaugural Director of Civil Aviation Medicine (CASA) in Australia. He died in 1999 aged 81. The John Lane Trust also sponsors a keynote speaker at the Annual Scientific Meetings in both Australia and New Zealand.
The two Societies have separate Annual Scientific Conferences but usually closely timed so that the visiting lecturers can attend both events.
A more detailed history compendium of the joint Societies was compiled by Dr Peter Wilkins (Australia) and is available on ASAM’s excellent website here.
About ASAM
The aims of ASAM are:
- To cultivate and promote aerospace medicine and related sciences;
- To provide an authoritative body of opinion on matters of aerospace medical significance; and
- To increase the awareness of the aerospace industry, government, and the general public of the importance of aerospace medicine to flight safety.
The aims of ASAM are supported by the John Lane Aerospace Medicine Trust. The John Lane Aerospace Medicine Trust provides an opportunity for members and others to support ongoing research into aerospace medicine with tax deductible donations. For more information regarding the Trust contact secretariat@asam.org.au
Regular activities of ASAM include:
- Annual scientific meetings where internationally renowned speakers in the field of aerospace medicine, both civil and military, are invited to speak and are sponsored through the John Lane Aerospace Medicine Trust;
- Regional clinical updates for Designated Aviation Medical Examiners;
- Publishing the Journal of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine; and
- Sponsoring awards for excellence in aerospace medicine at postgraduate and undergraduate level.
The AMSANZ and ASAM Conference will be held on the 28 March - 1 April 2024 at Millennium Hotel Queenstown, New Zealand. Proudly supported by Aviation Medical Society of Victoria.
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