Hi Everyone,

WHAT’s HOT?

Tanzania and Kenya are hot destinations with a large number of medical placements available, friendly locals and the added attraction of a safari to track the famous African migrations.

We have a group of doctors departing for Nepal on 15 September for their volunteer program followed by a tour of Bhutan – an amazing kingdom where the number of tourists is limited by the government.

We are excited to be able to offer placements in Burma from later this year. It will be a great opportunity to visit this fascinating country and stay with local host families or in monastery accommodation. Join a Care project and you’ll work in orphanages, kindergartens or monasteries, helping to give young Burmese children a brighter future. We also offer volunteer projects teaching English in both primary and secondary schools. We hope to have medical placements available down the track.

Talofa – The South Pacific islands of Samoa will also be available from late 2012 with placements available in Care and teaching English. Most visitors to Samoa are unaware that it is on the UN’s list of least developed countries and the poorer areas of Apia are most in need of assistance. You will live with a local host family who will introduce you to the Samoan culture and provide you with the very best that Samoan hospitality has to offer.

WHAT’s NEW?

Vietnam has been a popular choice for volunteers and we are therefore expanding the range of placements on offer in Hanoi. We are currently finalising details for new medical programs in Internal Medicine, geriatrics, paediatrics and dermatology. We are investigating an opportunity to send a small group of doctors to the remote New Ireland province in north east Papua New Guinea in March 2013. There will be a 2 week placement at the local hospital where medical assistance is badly needed (particularly ophthalmology, obstetrics and pathology). The doctors (and partners) may then board the fabulous Orion expedition cruise at Rabaul to enjoy a well-earned break while sailing back to Darwin. If interested, please advise us soonest as the registration process can be extensive.

WHAT’s NOT?

Tax time: Many people have been asking us about the tax deductibility of their voluntary program. As we are not qualified to advise you on this and we recommend that you seek advice from your accountant. We can however tell you that your medical placement may qualify for CPD points with the RACGP under the ‘Supervised Clinical Attachment’. Please refer to the website of the RACGP (or your relevant college) for guidance notes and application form. Once the points have been awarded recognising this as part of your ongoing professional development this will assist your accountant to make the appropriate tax assessment.

BY THE WAY ….

Medical professionals come to us with a huge range of skills and varying degrees of experience. Each placement is therefore tailored to suit you and your preferences. A bio or CV will help during the liaison process with our offshore teams and the foreign hospitals to make the right match. Ongoing communication is important and there is normally a feedback session during the first couple of days of your placement which is the opportunity for you to advise the local team on how it is going for you. Some professionals are happy to teach the local staff and medical students whilst others prefer to be more hands-on and have their own patients – it is all up to you. We have been asked by year 5 medical students to assist them in identifying suitable GP’s to supervise their primary health care selective. We understand that it may slow you down however it is important part of their experiential learning. Please let us know if you would like to participate and we will connect you with their medical society.

An INVITATION from the AMOS FUND….

The inaugural AMOS Fund Broken Hill long weekend tour in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is being held Friday 28th September to Monday 1st October 2012.

The Chairman of the AMOS Fund, Dr Richard Barnett, and the Amos Committee would love you to join us on this fantastic tour of Broken Hill. Of the many highlights, you will enjoy a private viewing of the Iconic Pro Hart Gallery, Visit Silverton Ghost town and don your mining helmet for a tour of the Daydream Mine. For just $895.00 * per person this fully inclusive tour will surprise you with an amazing array of quintessential outback Australia (*price excludes airfares and taxes). So why not have quick look at our website www.amosfund.org.au/ and watch at our short video. Hurry as there are only a few places left and all proceeds will be donated to the Amos Fund (and tax deductible to you).

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world”

-Anonymous

“One hand cannot clap on its own, but it needs the other hand to make a clap”

-Maasai tribal sayings.