About VMPF

Our Vision

The VMPF Group is recognised as a leading provider of multi-disciplinary health education, training and support programs.

Strategic Directions

The VMPF has set the following strategic directions to deliver this vision.

Stakeholders

The VMPF Group will broaden its collaboration and marketing activities to include all professional health sectors. 

Organisation Attributes

The core attributes underpinning product development and service delivery by the VMPF Group are:

• Professionalism
• Accessibility
• Collaboration

VMPF Group

There are three organisations that form the VMPF group:

• Victorian Medical Postgraduate Foundation Inc. (VMPF – parent company)
• Australian Postgraduate Medicine (APM – trading name)
• Health Education Australia Ltd (HEAL – subsidiary company of VMPF)

VMPF is a not-for-profit incorporated organisation which was established in 1920.

Over the past 90 years VMPF has been involved in a wide range of educational activities for the medical profession throughout Victoria. Its role was quite diverse before many specialist colleges were established and over time has evolved to identify and pick-up areas of medical education that are not covered by a specific college or which cross several college boundaries. Throughout the VMPF’s existence it has always maintained a multi-disciplinary focus to provide interaction and networking of all medical specialties and includes opportunities for allied health professionals to participate in activities.

Projects undertaken by the VMPF are funded by sponsorship from the Federal or Victorian Governments, fee for service courses and pharmaceutical sponsorship.

The management structure of the VMPF comprises:

Executive Committee (meets bi-monthly to oversee the administration of the organisation)

Chairman - A/Prof Harvey Newnham
Deputy Chairman - Prof John Tiller
Committee Member - Dr Margaret Bearman
Committee Member - Dr Cas Schrueder
Committee Member - Dr Catherine Seymour
Committee Member - Dr Ruth Sutherland
Committee Member - A/Prof Bernie Sweet
Committee Member - Dr Swaroopini Thangarajah
Committee Member - A/Prof Gillian Webb
Committee Member - Dr Johannes Wenzel
Executive Director - Ms Ann Dancer
Senior Medical Advisor - Prof Rob Moulds 

Membership of health professionals from specialist colleges, associations and universities.

If you would like more information about the VMPF or would like to become a member of the Executive Committee, please contact us by phone or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

History

Major projects of the VMPF have included:

• Development of Computer Matching Services, Central Reference Bureau, Country Education Program, International Medical Graduate programs and Palliative Care Course for General Practitioners.
• Publication of:
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy: an Australasian Guide.
  • Anxiety Disorders: Current Controversies, Future Directions.
  • Physical and Mental Health: An Interface.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder: Towards Effective Treatment.
  • Imaging Guidelines 1st and 2nd Editions in conjunction with Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists.
  • Emergency Rapid Reference booklet.
  • Protocol for the Triage & Early Management of Burn Injury in conjunction with A&NZ Burns Assoc. (Victoria) and the Victorian State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
• Production of educational packages including:
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Use of Benzodiazepines
  • Blood and Its Products
  • AIDS and the Medical Profession
• Establishment of the Therapeutics Committee (now Therapeutics Guidelines Limited) and the Quality Assurance Network.
• Drug and alcohol educational programs and continuing professional development for methadone prescribers.
• Review of the Intern Year (1986).
• Distribution of Imaging Guidelines, 3rd and 4th Editions for the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists.
• Research into medical manpower and training needs in Victoria.
• Part-time Diploma of Geriatric Medicine at the Mount Royal Hospital.