The board of the Australian Association of Practice Management says it rejects the criticism which has been levelled at it by some members.
The national peak body for medical practice managers has sent members a letter saying its board “does not accept the criticism” that has been directed at it, as it faces a possible member-requisitioned special general meeting.
The Australian Association of Practice Management represents close to 10,000 practice managers across the country.
The members’ requisition circulating on social media channels details concerns about the board dating back to 2023, when a number of NSW-based members allegedly resigned following a dispute over state committee support.
The requested resolutions include a vote of no confidence in the board and CEO and a commitment to improved governance, transparency and member engagement.
There are separate resolutions calling for eight individual board members to be removed as directors. This constitutes the entire board.
According to the requisition letter, members are concerned that the most recent annual report was not made available until June 2026, that state-based committees do not receive adequate support and that questions raised at previous Annual General Meetings have not been answered clearly, fully or in a timely manner.
“Members are concerned that experienced State Committee members, including long-standing contributors, Life Members and recognised award recipients, have not been reappointed or re-elected in circumstances where they had raised governance or operational concerns,” the letter reads.
“Members seek assurance that selection and appointment processes are transparent, fair, skills-based and free from any perception of reprisal.”
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It goes on to detail further concerns about the visibility and effectiveness of AAPM as an advocacy body, the level of transparency on budget allocations and inconsistent publication of by-laws and governance documents.
The letter concludes by requesting an independent governance review.
An email to members signed by the national president acknowledged the requisition letter but refuted its contents.
“The Board and Management of AAPM does not shy away from disagreement or criticism, respectful discussion regarding the differing perspectives of members is natural and healthy in a large organisation like ours,” the email reads.
“However, some of the criticism of the Board and Management in material which has been recently circulated is not warranted and inaccurate.”
It goes on to “deal with” several of the main complaints raised in the requisition.
On the topic of state committees, the letter said that allocation of funds for any state-based activities was at the discretion of the national office and that state-based budgets had been discontinued when the AAPM “abandoned a federated model” in the mid-2000s.
It also stated that annual reports and financial information have been circulated in accordance with constitutional and corporate law requirements, and that the board had even arranged for an external lawyer to be present at the 2025 AGM to ensure “all relevant obligations were satisfied”.
In relation to the allegation that the AAPM had failed to represent and advocate for the practice management profession, the email said it had “been more active in its representations to, and engagement with, federal government and the broader medical profession than at any time in its history”.
This story will be updated with comment from the AAPM.
