About the Australian Doctors Federation
The only organisation established and dedicated to protecting the independence of the doctor-patient relationship.
Why is the doctor-patient relationship important?
Doctors must always do their best for their patients with the treatment options they can provide.
However, from time to time, governments or commercial organisations will propose schemes requiring doctors to act in the organisation’s best interests with no direct responsibility for the outcome of medical treatment and in some cases, to the detriment of the patient’s health.
When patients can no longer trust their doctor to give them independent advice or treatment, they have lost their freedom.
Built on our core principles
Ethical Standards
To maintain, improve, advance and promote the ethical standards, integrity and reputation of the medical profession.
Health Care & Research
To research, develop, establish and promote health care policies for the benefit of all Australians & to promote community support for medical research.
Choice of Health Care
To maintain, improve, advance and promote health care for all Australians and ensure that there is freedom of choice of health care.
Community Awareness
To increase the Medical Profession’s awareness of the community’s continuing and changing health care needs.
Fiercely independent
The Australian Doctors Federation is an independent voice in Australian healthcare, financed only through the support of its members. We do not seek or accept government grants or corporate sponsorship, however, we do believe in a friendly working relationship with all organisations who are promoting and supporting the highest standards of medical care for Australian patients.
Doctors from all medical disciplines across Australia.
The ADF has been involved in all major issues impacting the doctor-patient relationship since its establishment in 1989.
The Board of Directors and Management Committee consists of doctors from all medical disciplines. Meeting every fortnight to discuss current issues impacting the doctor-patient relationship.
Our Contribution
As well as policy analysis and advice, the ADF maintains an extensive library of health policy content for its members.
Submissions
The ADF will act on critical issues impacting the doctor-patient relationship to ensure Australians have freedom of choice in healthcare and a balanced mix of well-resourced public and private healthcare sectors.
Proud supporter of the Australian medical profession
The Australian Doctors’ Federation is a long-standing and proud supporter of the Australian medical profession, its achievements, its proud history, its support of diversity in medicine, its general compassion and its substantial contribution to the high standard of living all Australians are able to enjoy.
We must be the patient’s doctor; not the government’s doctor; nor the doctor of big business.
– Dr Bruce Shepherd AM, Founder
Your Questions Answered
The ADF is open to all medical practitioners who support improving the doctor-patient relationship.
The Australian Doctors’ Federation is independent from the AMA, however the ADF will support the AMA in areas where it is promoting the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Many ADF Officer Bearers have also become AMA Office Bearers. The ADF believes in a friendly and cooperative working relationship with all organisations who are promoting and supporting the highest standards of medical care for Australian patients.
The ADF is not party political and will talk to parliamentarians of all persuasions in the interests of ensuring that Australians have freedom of choice in healthcare and well-resourced public hospitals. Australia has achieved a balance of public and private sector healthcare and ADF members work in both sectors.
As well as policy analysis and advice when requested, the ADF maintains a considerable library of health policy content, which it makes available to members free of charge on its website. The ADF makes submissions to government on important issues impacting on the doctor-patient relationship. Given that the ADF has ongoing involvement with working doctors across all disciplines, we believe our advice is practical, relevant and real, and hence valuable for determining the likely beneficial effects of government or administrative action on patient outcomes. As such, the ADF has been involved in all major issues impacting on the doctor-patient relationship since its establishment in 1989.