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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2007-2008
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Dr David Chen attended the KDMA’s Annual Dinner in September 2007 to receive another generous donation. Mrs Meredith McVey also gave an abbreviated version of the MBA’s Power Point presentation and answered questions about the MBA’s work. |
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The Doctors’ Health Advisory Service’s (DHAS) International Doctors Health Conference in October 2007 was attended by Mrs Mary Doughty, Mrs Meredith McVey and Dr David Chen. Dr Gary Galambos presented a paper and Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook delivered the MBA’s Power Point presentation. |
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The DHAS National Meeting was attended by Mrs Doughty and Mrs McVey on behalf of the MBA of NSW. |
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Our December Appeal titled the “Changing of the Guard” brought a donation amount similar to other years. We have found that the money received from this appeal is necessary to supplement our total donation income. |
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In keeping with our strict adherence to confidentiality, we had confirmation in January 2008 that access to archived records will require prior written approval from the Council. |
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From February 2008, Mrs Meredith McVey has been invited to attend the DHAS Management Committee meetings as a representative of the MBA. An MBA information sheet has also been included in the First Call Panel Reference Folder. |
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Mrs Meredith McVey and Dr Russell Pearson gave two presentations to Medical Students at the University of Wollongong in February 2008. Mrs McVey also gave a presentation to the Australian Hospital Staff Counsellors Association. |
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Dr Richard Herlihy, with the assistance of Drs Morey and Pearson, finalised a document “MBA of NSW Policies and Practices”, to be followed in order to comply with the “Australian Standards on Auditing” as required under the Corporations Act 2001. This document is to be included in the Councillors handbook and will be noted at this AGM when Directors are appointed. It will be incorporated into a document with the Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy. |
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“Best Practice Guidelines for Charitable Institutions” were obtained and are in use. |
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Authority to Fundraise for another 3 years was renewed in April 2008. |
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Mrs Meredith McVey presented information on the MBA at the DHAS First Call training evening. |
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In May 2008 the Directors and Officers Liability Insurance was reviewed and a new more comprehensive package was negotiated at a lower cost. |
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In June 2008 the Council held a farewell picnic for Mrs Mary Doughty at Bobbin Head. This was a casual family affair in keeping with Mary’s wishes and thanks should be extended to Mrs Meredith McVey and her family who organised and catered for the function. |
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Together with our Annual Appeal this year we have created and distributed a promotion/publicity poster describing the work of the MBA. A business card was also given to all registered doctors in NSW and ACT, giving the MBA’s contact names and numbers. |
On the subject of publicity; articles about the MBA were published in both the “NSW Doctor” and “Medical Observer” magazines.
On a sad note, in June 2008, Dr Gavin Frost tendered his resignation after being a member of Council since 1987, with a short 2-year absence. Over the last 21 years, he has contributed much wise and knowledgeable counsel to the deliberations of the Council, having held important positions in medical administration, including being the Chief Medical Officer of NSW and, more recently, Chief Medical Officer of MBF. He displayed much personal interest, care and sympathy in dealing with some beneficiaries while serving on Council. We wish him all the best for his future career as he takes up the position as Dean of the Medical School at Notre Dame University in Western Australia. We will surely miss his valuable input to our Council meetings.
Each month the Councillors continue to meet and discuss the needs of the beneficiaries individually in order to decide what aid to give. Once again we thank the AMA of NSW for providing the facilities for our meetings and the NSW and ACT Medical Boards, who provide the mailing list for our Annual Appeal.
Our thanks also go to Gary Scarr of BT Financial Group for his expert management of our investment portfolio and to Dennis Mattiske and Bill Nussbaum for their accounting and auditing services and other invaluable advice Thanks extend to Danielle Doughty, in her administrative and book-keeping role and to Matthew Coombes for his continuing computer support services. Finally, thanks also to Mike Hawkins of “In-2-Art” who continues to provide new ideas and advice on design and layout for our appeals.
Each of our dedicated Councillors continues to bring to this organisation a plethora of skills and experience. I wish to thank Dr Vincent Wong in his role as Treasurer and Dr Andrew Wines in the role of Secretary, Vice-President, Dr Furio Virant for chairing some meetings, and Vice-President Gary Galambos for expertly managing our website www.mbansw.org.au.
All of the Councillors, and especially the newer ones, need to be thanked for their helpful contributions to our discussions about beneficiaries and for ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the Association and its meetings over yet another year. On behalf of the Council, I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Meredith McVey for the way she was able to step into Mary Doughty’s shoes so smoothly and seamlessly. She has displayed the same efficiency, wisdom and devotion that we were accustomed to for the previous 43 years with Mary. Mary will be speaking to us later this evening about her experiences over those years. Meredith has also brought with her some new skills and innovations to enable us to operate more efficiently. Her professionalism and caring approach in dealing with the beneficiaries over her first year with the MBA has been greatly admired and appreciated by members of Council. The varied experience and wisdom of all our Councillors, together with the fresh input from our new Councillors, has ensured a continuation of the past level of care to those colleagues in need. Mrs Meredith McVey is continuing to provide the same counselling support and advice that our beneficiaries have enjoyed in the past. Together, we look forward to continuing the important work of this Association.
David Chen
President
November 2008
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to present the audited financial statements of the Medical Benevolent Association for the financial year ending 30th June 2008.
In the past financial year, we saw a deficit of $140,323 to our association, as compared to a net surplus of $47,328 for the year ended 30th June 2007. We spent a total of $399,141 on our beneficiaries, and this has continued the trend of increase over the last few years. This is likely a reflection of the increasing costs of living as well as the dire financial position in which some of our beneficiaries find themselves. Furthermore, in this report, we also incorporated part of the social worker salary under the category of beneficiary expenditure. We determined the counselling provided by the social worker to be a beneficiary cost rather than an administrative one. The administrative costs for the Association amounted to $180,339, part of which was related to social work expenses in the transition period following the retirement of Mrs Mary Doughty. In the same period, we were able to raise $215,102 from the medical fraternity through donations and appeals, and that is $10,000 more than last year. We are extremely grateful for their generosity.
Our investment returns had suffered in the last financial year, and this is not unexpected considering the current financial turmoil. This economic downturn is unlikely to resolve in the near future, and I can foresee that some of our beneficiaries may face greater financial difficulties in the next 12 months. It is quite possible that we may endure yet another deficit in the next financial year. We have kept close contact with our advisers from the BT Financial Group and we will review our investment portfolio on a regular basis in this volatile economic climate. Overall, we believe our financial position remains strong, but we shall need the continual support of our medical colleagues.
I would like to thank Gary Scarr of BT Financial Group for his sound advice, as well asDennis Mattiske and Bill Nussbaum of HLB Mann Judd for their excellent service. I am deeply appreciative of the support and assistance from our book-keeper Danielle Doughty, who made my job as Treasurer so much easier. Finally, I would like to welcome our new social worker Meredith McVey, and to thank her for the excellent work she has done this year. We look forward to working with her for many years to come!
Vincent Wong
Hon Treasurer
November 2008
It has been a very challenging and rewarding twelve months as the new Social Worker and Executive Secretary of the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW. I am on a steep learning curve and feel quite privileged to have been given the opportunity to work in a role with such diversity. I also feel privileged to take over from Mrs. Mary Doughty who has left some rather large shoes to fill.
A wonderful introduction opportunity was afforded me when I attended the International Doctors Health Conference. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the dedicated
Medical Practitioners from Sydney and around the world who are passionate about the sometimes- neglected subject of Doctors Health. During the course of the year I have had several opportunities to speak with groups of Medical Practitioners about the work of the MBA.
I am keen to pursue opportunities to spread the word about the MBA. It is disappointing to me to have spoken to a number of Doctors who are in dire financial straits who say ,“I didn’t know you existed”. I hope that over the next few years we can increase the profile of the MBA, so that I hear, “Just letting you know what is happening, I will call you if things get really tough”. To that end we have created a promotional poster, which is available on request.
Referrals to the MBA come from a variety of sources. Many Doctors contact me for information about how best to assist a colleague, or medical practitioner’s family. The majority of those calls are made in confidence and don’t translate to statistics. Some doctors, who are managing well financially, make contact for supportive counselling. The MBA’s independence makes it ‘safe’ for those with complex work or relationship problems to air their concerns and develop a way to manage.
Over the last twelve months 40 referrals have been made to the MBA. Medical Practitioners make up half of the referrals and family members of medical practitioners make up the other half. It is worth noting that almost three quarters of those referred to the service are female. Some time may need to be given to developing strategies aimed particularly at males to raise their awareness of the service and ensure they don’t fall into the “I didn’t know you could help” category.
Those who present with mental health difficulties far out weight those who present with physical health problems. Again it is worrying to note the number of medical practitioners who state work stress as the primary or secondary reason for referral. It appears that Medical Practice is becoming an increasingly “risky” business. Overseas trained doctors seeking Australian qualifications and Medical students are two groups of Medical Practitioners who are increasingly represented in the statistics.
At each meeting the council gives careful consideration to every request for financial assistance. At the heart of all discussions is the council’s responsibilities of making ‘a little go a long way’, keeping families afloat rather than supporting lavish lifestyles’ and encouraging return to work rather than dependence on the council’s assistance. From the first council meeting I attended I have been moved by the acceptance of those on council, rather than looking back and apportioning blame, the council so often says “right how will we keep this family going”.
Those on Council are not only generous in their concern for fellow medical practitioners, but also generous with their time for me. All have given time outside meetings to assist with administrative matters and have given up precious work and family time with advice and support regarding complex beneficiary issues. My particular thanks to Dr David Chen, President and Dr Vincent Wong, Honorary Treasurer, who have demonstrated great patience while I grapple with some of the unfamiliar parts of the job. I would also like to acknowledge Danielle Doughty, the Association’s finance officer. Danielle has an immense depth of knowledge about the Association and all matters financial. She too shows great patience in gently reminding me of the things I have forgotten to do and having all the information I request at her finger tips. Speaking of matters financial, Bill Nussbaum from HLB Mann Judd and Gary Scarr from BT Financial Group have also smoothed the way for me and provided timely advice for the Association. My thanks as well to Fiona Davies, Melodie Burdin and all the staff at the NSW AMA for their warm welcome to me and support of the work of the MBA. Lastly, Mike Hawkins, of In2Art graphic design and Matthew Coombes of Max Comp for providing me with timely and professional advice.
As with all previous years, the priority for the year ahead is to provide assistance and support to members of the medical profession. Other matters requiring attention include; spreading the word through creation of written material, updating the website and speaking with groups of Doctors as requested. Lastly some time will be given to governance matters necessary for the effective running of the organisation.
Meredith McVey
Social Worker
| Dr David Chen Dr Vincent Wong Dr Andrew Wines Dr Furio Virant Dr Gary Galambos Dr Peter Duke Dr Clement Loy Dr Richard Herlihy Dr Felix Choi Dr Stephen Green Dr Sue Morey AM Dr Russell Pearson Dr Yvonne Skarbek Dr Reem Mina Dr George Boffa OAM Dr Chris Dalton Dr Chaminda Wijeratne Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook CSC RAN |
General Practice
Orthopaedics General Practice Psychiatry Ophthalmology Neurology General Practice-retired General Practice Psychiatry Public Health Physician General Practice/Academic Psychiatry Occupational Physician Anaesthetics ENT Registrar Defence |
Composition of Council:
Social Worker
Meredith McVey
Chartered Accountants
HLB Mann Judd
Independent auditor
HLB Mann Judd
Investment advisors
BT Financial Group
Copyright
© 1998-2009.
Medical Benevolent Association of New South Wales. All rights reserved.
Citation suggestion:
Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, Annual Report 2007-2008 (http://www.mbansw.org.au/mba/report_2008.htm)
[date accessed]
Last revised: 25 May 2009 21:05
