About

Inspired by the extraordinary initiatives of Professors Stanley Fahn and C. David Marsden at the annual American Academy of Neurology and Movement Disorder Society Meetings, the Sydney Movement Disorder Society was founded in 1988 by Drs Ron Joffe, Ivan Lorentz, Dudley O'Sullivan and John Morris.

Three to four meetings a year were held, initially, at the College in Macquarie Street, and later, in the Holme Building on the Sydney University campus. The format was then, and remains, an invited lecture followed by case presentations and dinner.

The inaugural President was Jim Lance and office bearers were elected for three year terms. The Sydney Movement Disorder Society became the Australian Movement Disorder Society (MDSA) and was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act in 1991 with Ivan Lorentz, John Morris, Philip Thompson, and Andrew Hughes serving terms as MDSA President. In 2016 the societies name was changed by general agreement at the AGM to Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand reflecting the change in membership geography over the years which had come to include New Zealand in a noticeable capacity.

MDSANZ Councillors are elected from each state (inc NZ) and annual meetings held in conjunction with the annual scientific meeting of the Australian Association of Neurologists.

Purpose:

The Society is established to pursue charitable purposes only, being the advancement of education, research and clinical excellence in the field of movement disorders with the objects of:

(a) advancing the neurological sciences relating to the field of movement disorders (Industry);

(b) encouraging research in the Industry and developing, facilitating and advocating improvements in education and training strategies and initiatives to support and enhance competencies in the field of movement disorders (Industry);

(c) providing a forum for the sharing of ideas in the Industry and for advancing related clinical and scientific disciplines;

(d) designing strategies to assist the Industry in creating, sharing and sustaining modal, organisational, individual and corporate knowledge;

(e) working with persons/organisations in the Industry and State and Commonwealth governments and government authorities to build capability and encourage interest and participation across the Industry;

(f) disseminating the intellectual property of the Society; and

(g) applying the income and property of the Society solely to promote those purposes.

Missions and goals:

The Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand is a professional society of clinicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals who have an active interest in the work and aims of the society.

To disseminate knowledge about movement disorders by:

Providing educational programs for clinicians, scientists and the general public designed to advance scientific and clinical knowledge about movement disorders
Sponsoring congresses and symposia on movement disorders
Collaborating with other international organisations and lay groups.

To promote research into causes, prevention and treatment of movement disorders by:

Using the society's influence and resources to enhance support for research
Facilitating the dissemination of information about research
Encouraging the training of basic and clinical scientists in movement related disorders and disorders.

To formulate and promote public policy that will favourably affect the care of patients with movement disorders by:

Working with regulatory agencies to assist them in the approval process of safe and effective therapeutic interventions
Informing the public and patient support groups of new research and therapeutic advances
Playing an active role in the development of policies that affect support of research and patient care
Developing standards of training in the specialty.

MDSANZ: Not-for-profit membership organisation

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Purpose:

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