What is the Australian Amyloidosis Network?

Our Purpose

The goal of the organisation is to improve the outcome for patients with all types of amyloidosis and related diseases.
The AAN’s work is primarily focussed on Australia where our members reside. We also collaborate with other national and international groups.

Our Vision

Working together – Seeking a cure

Our Mission Statement

The Australian Amyloidosis Network works in partnership with health professionals, patients, and families from all the States and territories to:

  • improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people with amyloidosis.
  • provide information and support for health professionals and people affected by amyloidosis and
  • undertake amyloidosis research and advocacy.

The AAN is a company limited by guarantee, a registered charity and an endorsed deductible gift recipient.

Our Objects
Our Policies
Our History
Our Constitution
Our Website

The objects of the Company are to pursue the following charitable purposes:

  1. to provide training and education of medical professionals, patients and their carers regarding the diagnosis (including accurate sub-typing), treatment and management of amyloidosis of every type;
  2. to undertake and promote research into the causes, diagnosis, treatments and management of amyloidosis and publishing the results of that research;
  3. to advocate, in partnership with patients with amyloidosis and medical professionals, to ensure equitable access to the best possible treatments for all persons suffering amyloidosis of any type in Australia and for there to be a greater understanding of what it is like to live with amyloidosis; and
  4. to enhance awareness and to promote the multi-disciplinary and collegiate management of the diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis patients, including supportive care;
  5. to enhance the quality of life of patients of amyloidosis and related diseases

This field will contain a link to a password-protected page where the policies may be viewed.

The AAN was formed in 2016 as a network of four multi-disciplinary Amyloidosis centres in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, each dedicated to the diagnosis and management of Australian patients with all types of Amyloidosis.

Each centre’s individual strengths, expertise in Amyloidosis care and resources were pooled with the aim of advancing multidisciplinary, consensus-led and co-ordinated management of Amyloidosis in Australia. Some of the doctors had worked for many years in the field of amyloidosis. Many others have done clinical and scientific research; written papers and guidelines for medical journals; worked in international centres of expertise (such as the UK National Amyloidosis Centre); and spoken at domestic and international medical conferences.

Patient advocacy is provided in the network by a medical social worker with personal, clinical and research experience in the care of amyloidosis patients and families.

The AAN adopts an open, collegiate, team-based approach to the diagnosis and management of amyloidosis. The four centres acknowledge that there are other specialists throughout Australia providing medical care to amyloidosis patients. Each centre is committed to working with these specialists to share knowledge, expertise, advice and support when required, to enable the best possible care for all amyloidosis patients, wherever they may live in Australia.

The AAN was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in December 2021 and registered as an Australian Charity in May 2022.

The AAN’s first emeritus membership was awarded to Professor Philip Hawkins of the National  Amyloidosis Centre in London. 

In November 2022, at the first AGM of the Australian Amyloidosis Network (AAN), the Board was delighted to award the first emeritus membership to Professor Philip Hawkins of the National Amyloidosis Centre in London, UK, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of amyloidosis medicine, including his 20 years of support and education of Australian amyloidosis patients, carers and physicians and health care workers , and for excellence in research into the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of Amyloidosis and related disorders.

This website is designed as a practical resource for Australian patients, their carers, doctors and allied health providers.

The information in this website is subject to continuing research, clinical experience, differences in opinions among authorities and the unique aspects of each individual situation.

Please note that we provide general health information and it is important to recognise that the circumstance of each individual will differ and be unique. As such the information on this website cannot replace the considered process of decision making made by specialist doctors which is necessary to provide the best tailored management plan for each individual patient and their particular circumstances.

Each patient and their physicians should exercise their own judgment with respect to the use of the AAN website and should carefully evaluate the currency, completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability and relevance of the available information.

More information on this website’s Terms of Use


Contributors to this website in alphabetical order:

Dr Jay Baumwol,
Cardiologist, Perth

Dr Antonia Carroll,
Neurologist, Sydney

Dr Julian Cooney,
Haematologist, Perth

Dr David Farlow,
Nuclear physician, Sydney

Dr Simon Gibbs,
Haematologist, Melbourne

Dr Chi-Jen Hsu,
Cardiologist, Sydney

Dr Dariusz Korczyk,
Cardiologist, Brisbane

Dr Fiona Kwok,
Haematologist, Sydney

Dr Darren Lee,
Nephrologist, Sydney

Dr Jennifer Li,
Nephrologist, Sydney

A/Professor Peter Mollee,
Haematologist, Brisbane

Mrs Pat Neely,
Medical Social Worker, AAN patient advocate

Dr Richard Phoon,
Nephrologist, Sydney

Professor Graeme Stewart,
Immunologist, Sydney

Dr Mark Taylor,
Immunologist, Sydney

Professor Liza Thomas,
Cardiologist, Sydney

Dr Michael Walsh,
Neurologist, Brisbane

We also recognise with thanks all those patients and families who have contributed to this site.

Our team

Board of directors

The AAN is governed by the Board of management in accordance with the AAN constitution.
The Board manages the company and directs the affairs of the company in accordance with the AAN Constitution.

Dr Simon Gibbs

Dr

Simon Gibbs

Chairman
Founding member of the AAN

Medical Director Victorian and Tasmanian Amyloidosis Service

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Dr Hasib Sidiqi

Associate Professor

Hasib Sidiqi

Treasurer
Founding Member of the AAN

Medical Director Fiona Stanley Hospital Amyloidosis Service, Perth

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Associate Professor Peter Mollee

Associate Professor

Peter Mollee


Founding member of the AAN

Medical Director Queensland Amyloidosis Service

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Dr Fiona Kwok

Dr

Fiona Kwok


Founding member of the AAN

Medical Director Westmead Amyloidosis Services, Sydney

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Mrs. Pat Neely

Mrs

Pat Neely

Company Secretary
Founding member of the AAN

Patient Advocate and medical social worker

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Merran Brookman CPA

Ms

Merran Brookman


Joined the Board in June 2022

CPA, Financial and Accounting services

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Peter Bridgman

Mr

Peter Bridgman


Joined the Board in July 2022

Barrister specialising in public policy and corporate governance

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