AMA National Alcohol Summit
National Convention Centre, Canberra, 28-29 October 2014
The AMA is hosting a National Alcohol Summit in Canberra on 28-29 October 2014.
This event will bring together representatives from all tiers of government, community leaders, medical and health experts, police, families of victims, and other stakeholders to develop practical measures and enduring solutions to alcohol-related harms in the Australian community.
The Summit will look at the impact of excessive alcohol use across different domains including alcohol-related violence and the social costs of alcohol; culture, advertising and sport; the harmful use of alcohol in Indigenous communities; and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, said today that the AMA has been a consistent public voice raising awareness of alcohol-related harms and the need for a comprehensive national response.
“As doctors, we are often at the frontline dealing with the effects of drinking. The devastating effects of excess alcohol use are comprehensive, and their prevalence is far-reaching. The AMA believes that the solutions must be equally comprehensive and far-reaching.
“The AMA National Alcohol Summit will culminate in a plan of action for implementing real and tangible solutions,” A/Prof Owler said.
Confirmed speakers for the Opening Session include Opposition Leader, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Australian Greens Health Spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, and AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler.
The Premier of NSW, the Hon Mike Baird, has sent a special video message that will be played in the Opening Session. There will also be videos chronicling personal stories of people whose lives have been affected by alcohol.
***ALL SESSIONS OF THE AMA NATIONAL ALCOHOL SUMMIT WILL BE LIVESTREAMED. You can view the live stream on the AMA National Alcohol Summit webpage at https://ama.com.au/alcoholsummit
The Twitter hashtag for the Summit is #AMAsummit
A list of Summit speakers is attached. The full Summit program is available at https://ama.com.au/system/files/alcoholsummitprogram.pdf
27 October 2014
CONTACT: John Flannery, 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761, jflannery@ama.com.au
Odette Visser, 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753, ovisser@ama.com.au
AMA National Alcohol Summit program highlights include:
Day 1 – Tuesday 28 October 2014
10.10am Opening remarks and introduction – AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler
10.45am Australian Greens Health Spokesman, Senator Richard Di Natale
11.00am Video message from Premier of NSW, the Hon Mike Baird
11.15am Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Bill Shorten MP
11.30am Session 1: Violence and the social costs of alcohol
***Street Violence
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Parnis – Chair
Mr Ralph Kelly, Thomas Kelly Foundation
Mr Vince Kelly, NT Police Association
Dr Diana Egerton-Warburton, Australasian College of Emergency Medicine
Ms Kate O’Connor, City of Sydney Council
Mr Michael Thorn, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)
***Domestic Violence
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Parnis – Chair
Ms Mirjana Wilson, ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Dr Howard Bath, NT Children’s Commissioner
Prof Angela Taft, Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University
A/Prof Peter Miller, Violence Prevention Program, Deakin University
3.30pm Session 2: Culture, sport and alcohol
Former AMA President, Prof Mukesh Haikerwal AO – Chair
Professor Sandra Jones, Australian Catholic University Health Institute
Dr Nicholas Carah, University of Queensland
A/Prof Kerry O’Brien, Monash University
Prof Mike Daube, Curtin University
Day 2 – Wednesday 29 October 2014
9.00am Session 1: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Former AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton – Chair
Prof Elizabeth Elliott AM, University of Sydney
Ms Sue Miers AM, National Organisation for FASD
Mr Graham Perrett MP, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow A/G
Dr Richard Kidd, GP, Deputy Chair, AMA Council of General Practice
11.30am Professor Paul Haber, University of Sydney
12 noon Session 2: Alcohol harm and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler – Chair
Mr Mick Gooda, ATSI Social Justice Commissioner
Dr Pat Anderson AO, Chair, Lowitja Institute
A/Prof Ted Wilkes, Curtin University
Dr John Boffa, Peoples’ Alcohol Action Coalition
Senator Nova Peris OAM, ALP Senator for the Northern Territory
2.45pm Summit Outcomes and Communique – AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler