Advocacy in action: making the most of Avant's strength and reputation

Stepping into the role of Chief Medical Officer at Avant Mutual, I’ve been struck by the sheer strength and breadth of this organisation. Having been an Avant member for over 20 years and serving as President of the Australian Medical Association, I thought I understood the power of collective advocacy. But seeing firsthand what Avant can achieve – representing over 90,000 doctors across every corner of the healthcare system – has been eye-opening.

Our healthcare system is already world leading. When the Commonwealth Fund released its annual health system ratings last year, Australia was ranked at number one out of 10 advanced economies. In particular, we scored highest for health outcomes – a tribute to the skill and dedication of Australia’s doctors and the teams they lead, and great news for every Australian.

As a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, and an economist, I understand firsthand no healthcare system is perfect. I also know the challenges members face: financial pressures in general practice, ongoing regulatory scrutiny and increasing demands across both public and private sectors.

But with these challenges come opportunities. Take AI and digital health. While disruptive, they also have the potential to transform the way medicine is practised.

What excites me most is what we can achieve together, not by glossing over the problems but by reframing them as opportunities to strengthen our healthcare system and ensure it remains the envy of the world.

One of our greatest opportunities lies in the private healthcare sector, where Avant’s members work and which drives much of the country’s healthcare productivity. Private medicine performs two-thirds of all planned surgeries in day facilities and hospitals, relieving significant pressure on the public sector. This is the key point – private and public are two parts of one interconnected system, not separate systems. While the current financial pressures on the private sector are very real, they also present an opportunity to rethink its role. The voices of our surgeons and procedural specialists must be at the centre of this important conversation.

We need to have meaningful debates about funding and combine them with efforts to create more innovation and better ways of caring for patients across the whole system, rather than simply expecting doctors to shoulder more responsibility and work longer hours. There’s a huge opportunity to harness the energy of our trainees rather than overburdening them to plug gaps in the system. We can also learn from our colleagues in regional and remote areas who continue to do amazing and innovative work under unique circumstances.

In April, Avant brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from private hospitals and day surgeries to discuss potential solutions. An economic modelling project is now underway to demonstrate the value of private healthcare, not only for private providers, but for the benefit of the entire health system. This research will inform our advocacy efforts with the Federal Government in Canberra.

We advocate for you in many areas beyond dealing with patient complaints, often from the perspective of the viability of Australia’s entire healthcare system. In recent years we have taken the lead on initiatives relating to Covid-19, Medicare compliance and AI. Throughout 2025, you’ll hear more from me on everything from the safe integration of AI in patient care to simplifying medical regulation and strengthening the sustainability of private healthcare.

Avant’s achievements on behalf of our members demonstrate the strength of a collective voice – through an organisation you own and shape. The fact that Avant is larger than the AMA, and has around the same number of members as the major medical colleges combined, gives us an unparalleled platform to advocate for doctors at every stage of their careers.

We don’t just protect you. We aim to ensure your voices are heard at the highest level and to partner with you throughout your career. Like any partnership, your best interests are our priority – because your success is our success.

This article was originally published in Connect magazine Issue 24.