AMSA Convention 2009



So for those of you who are unfamiliar with what all the hoo-hah about Convention is, here is a bit of a summary for you:
Convention is a small little gathering of around 800 legendary med students from around the country, oh and NZ…

What is the AMSA Convention

It is a week long event comprising of….

The academic program…which runs during the day – world renown lecturers, sports starts, academics and the like, as well as workshops and field trips and of course the hugely popular debating series - this ladies and gents is sledging at its finest…there is also an Emergency challenge day where uni’s go head-to-head fighting it out for bitter glory as they battle through scenarios of bomb blasts, MVA’s and dangerous obstacles, all decked out with screaming patients, intubation, cannulation, defibs and heaps of fake blood and guts!

The social program…come night, the streets turn into a fan-fare of colour, paint, foam, cardboard, glitter, sequins and way too many males in g-bangers…I’ll give you a moment to create that imagery…..ok! back on track! The social program goes for 7 nights with a new theme every night and needless to say goes off its chops! It culminates in the gala ball on the final night where we all get to dig out that dignity from the bottom of our suitcases and prove that med students really do have just a touch of class.


 

Where and When

Convention is in BRISVEGAS! and it’s the 50th ANNIVERSARY! The theme is ‘Shake it Up’ so hold onto your knickers and get excited!

July 5th – 12th

For all you pre-clins out there, this is during our holidays! Potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity where both will coincide so I encourage you all to get on board the convention express and strap yourselves in!!

How do you get there?

I won’t beat around the bush here….competition is fierce and the potential for casualties is high so listen up carefully troops…

 

Convention Registration

Registration will take place from 18th –23rd March.

It will work in the form of a ballot system.

What this means is that if you are interested, you must first head to the Convention website (www.amsa.org.au/convention09) between March 18 & 23 to register your interest. It is not first in best dressed, so there is no need to rush to the website at 00:01 March 18 to register.

You may only enter the ballot ONCE, you MUST use your university email address and you must be an enrolled MED student at a uni in AUS or NZ.

After the 23rd March, all names registered will be in a list and then this list will be RANDOMISED once only.

This randomised list will then be used to offer places to potential delegates.

Each uni has been allocated 15 guaranteed places.

The first round of offers will be offered to the first 15 names from each uni on the randomised list generated from registration of interest.

On the 25th of March, first round of offers will be sent out to these 15 people from each uni. You then have 72 hours to accept the offer and pay online via credit card. If you do not pay within the given time, you are effectively relinquishing your place.

Second round of offers will then occur. By this time, with all reserved places being offered there still remains approximately 585 places. These places will be allocated to the next 585 people in the order they appear on the randomised list and the same process will apply for acceptance of each place. This process will occur until all places are filled.

 

Ticket Price

There are different types of places that you can apply for:

 Full Registration
 This includes academic program, social program, all meals and drinks (yes boozy ones too)$450
 Non-Drinking
 This is the academic program, social program and all meals$350
 Academic Only
 This is the academic program only but will still include meals during the day$300
 Accommodation
 This is additional to the above prices and as it says, will pay for your place of residence for the week$454

 

 

SO! If you are keen as mustard and go for the whole kit and caboodle it will set you back $904.00 – this will get you to all your heart desires!

 

If you are originally from Brisbane, you can stay with the folks, friends whatever and not pay for accommodation, no problemo’s. However! I will mention that sticking with the crew always creates some great atmosphere and memories!

 

Don’t despair if you miss out completely, there are additional social tickets that will go on sale once all places have been offered. There are tickets for all nights, EXCLUDING the gala ball, which is for invites and fully registered delegates only. Tickets for each social evening are limited according to each night and cost $50.00 each.

 

Flights to and from Brisbane are an additional cost to each delegate and are to be booked by each delegate. Don’t fear though, webjet always has some killer sales coming up now and then, so keep your eyes peeled!

 

I realise once totalling all the finances you come up with a pretty rude sum, but I will remind you that you are getting EVERYTHING covered for that week. Any additional money you outlay is generally minimal unless you decide to hit up some designer shops or something.

 

Right-O, so I think that is all for now, all the info I have given you in this email is also available on the convention website (www.amsa.org.au/convention09), including greater detail of some of the themes and speakers for the academic program.

 

I encourage everyone to at least have a squiz at the website if not a more thorough read and to really consider joining in the festivities in Brisbane this year! It’s definitely an experience that you will never forget and one that I think you have to at least do once in your med student career! Remember you can always fire off an email to me or give me a buzz if you have any more questions!

 

Thanks guys!!

 

Chantelle Ruoss
AMSA Representative
Medical Students Association of Notre Dame
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