Australian Paediatric Society

The voice of rural child health

The aims and objectives of the Australian Paediatric Society are to provide a comprehensive representation on issues that pertain to rural and regional child health and welfare.

As such the APS aims to

  • advocate for rural children on issues related to their health and service delivery at a local, regional,  rural and national level.
  • Provide a collegiate and supportive structure for regional paediatricians and their partners and other general paediatricians who share similar professional issues.
  • Advance public education and awareness of the science and practice of paediatrics, child health and welfare of children in rural and regional centres.
  • Form collaborative relationships with other organisations involved in rural child health and welfare.
  • Provide education and professional development to its members.

"Australian regional paediatricians have a responsibility to ensure optimum management of sick children and maintain optimal health outcomes for children and adolescents in their region. There is an obligation to supervise junior staff and doctors of other disciplines who may have little or no experience in managing traumatized and sick children and families appropriately. The scope of practice of a regional paediatrician therefore is far more than being limited to paediatric medicine, trauma and resuscitation, but is rather a mix of advocacy, service organisation, training, community liaison and clinical paediatric medicine."

The Australian Paediatric Society comprises over 200 general paediatricians, mostly from rural and regional Australia.