AOA Strategies 2018–2024

Training and education is at the heart of AOA, providing lifelong learning for all members at all stages of their careers and with hundreds of members from across the country provide training pro bono to assist in guiding the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons.

Aims

• To continue to provide excellence in training and education.
• To continue to progress AOA’s leadership in orthopaedic surgical education.
• To foster lifelong learning and professional behaviours.
• To ensure that trainers receive the best possible support to deliver the highest quality of education to trainees.
• To make available an optimal orthopaedic workforce for the community through improved rural training pathways and by leveraging contemporary technology.
• To drive ethical behaviour through increased education in ethics.
• To nurture a compassionate and flexible environment that is considerate of physical and mental wellbeing.
• To further develop and promote AOA’s global recognition in orthopaedic surgical education.
• To continue to strengthen research within Training and Education to support AOA’s national and international recognition.

A new core strategy of AOA is focused on promoting and strengthening inclusion and diversity within the culture of orthopaedics, working in tandem with the aims of the Diversity Strategic Plan 2018-2023.

Aims

• To create a culture of inclusion that promotes and enables access for all people into and within the profession of orthopaedic surgery, including the rural, regional and remote community, for the benefit of the Australian people and in particular for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• To embrace consumer engagement in all activities of AOA in a manner representative of the cultural and diverse nature of the Australian people.
• To create and foster an environment of psychological safety and wellness.
• To raise awareness of, and facilitate ethical decision making and professional conduct through the ongoing practice of AOA’s ethical principles.
• To be recognised as a leading organisation that is open, transparent, ethical, diverse, inclusive, professional, family oriented and culturally and academically independent.
• To drive cultural change and professional improvement to increase community relevance and leadership within the health sector.
• To drive positive outcomes in environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
• To increase cultural competency and safety of the orthopaedic community.
• To create a culture of inclusion that represents women and underrepresented minorities.

AOA continues to provide support to members interested in or currently undertaking research. Research efforts also include expanding and optimising the AOA National Joint Replacement Registry’s (AOANJRR) capabilities and strengthening its global reach and influence by expanding data-collection and analysis capability.

Aims

• To further develop a community of practice in musculoskeletal evidence-based medicine, learning and continuous quality improvement.
• To expand and optimise AOANJRR’s research capability to drive strategic research, and to further strengthen its leadership, global reach and influence.
• To enhance the data collection and analysis capability of the AOANJRR and facilitate musculoskeletal research to assist members to measure clinical outcomes.
• To utilise musculoskeletal research outcomes to provide leadership in ethical, evidence-based, cost-effective and sustainable orthopaedic practice to continually reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disease.
• To strengthen research literacy amongst the membership.
• To continue to strengthen clinically relevant research to support AOA’s national and international recognition.
• To utilise musculoskeletal research outcomes to provide leadership in ethical, evidence-based, cost-effective and sustainable orthopaedic practice to continually reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disease.

AOA continues to advocate for members and the needs of patients in ensuring the best quality of care.

Aims

• To promote a sustainable workforce in orthopaedics in Australia through balanced practice in general orthopaedics, subspecialisation and academia, and between rural and metropolitan distribution and university positions.
• To reinforce collaborative and strong relationships with government, industry, healthcare institutions, medical colleges, specialties, patient groups, universities, the Asia-Pacific region and other stakeholders involved in musculoskeletal health, including ASOS.
• To strengthen AOA’s reputation and leadership as the peak professional body for orthopaedic surgery (including subspecialty societies) and musculoskeletal conditions to the community through maintaining its independence.
• To advocate for improved universal access to safe, evidence-based, quality patient care.
• To continue to drive AOA’s digital transformation and adopt contemporary technology capabilities to deliver improved services to members..