About Us
We're a national network of health professionals, working for health by working for peace.
People
MAPW is an Incorporated Association registered in Victoria, and a charity registered with the Australian Charities Commission. MAPW is governed by a volunteer National Council, elected by members, which meets monthly to set and review strategies and policies. Branch convenors also sit on the National Council.
To contact the National Council, please email the MAPW Executive Officer.
Click here to find your local branch.You can join or renew your membership online, or make a donation to support our work for peace.
President
Vice President
Dr Amanda Ruler
Amanda Ruler is a South Australian nurse and health researcher. Amanda co-convenes MAPW SA.
Vice President
Dr Margie Beavis OAM
Margie Beavis is a clinical educator and retired GP.
Secretary
Dr Michael Keem
Michael Keem is a psychiatrist and adjunct senior lecturer at Monash University. He convenes the Victoria branch and is co-regional vice-president for the IPPNW East Asia Pacific region.
Treasurer
Dr Jenny Grounds
Jenny Grounds is a rural GP.
National Councillor
Professor Rob Moodie AM
Rob Moodie is Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne’s School of Population and Global Health and Professor of Public Health at the College of Medicine, University of Malawi.
HSAPW Representative
Blessy Fernandez
Blessy is a medical student at ANU. Blessy represents the student-led Healthcare Students Association for Prevention of War (HSAPW) to the National Council.
IPPNW Representative
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO AM
Tilman Ruff represents MAPW to our global federation, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
Our Purpose
MAPW works to prevent the harms of war and militarism. Our big vision is: a peaceful world with health for all.
Our work to promote health through the prevention of war is rooted in medical ethics, and is in direct response to World Health Assembly resolution 36.28:
The role of physicians and other health workers in the preservation and promotion of peace [is] the most significant factor for the attainment of health for all.
Peace is recognised as fundamental determinant of health in the World Health Organization’s Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion 1986:
The fundamental conditions and resources for health are: peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice, and equity. Improvement in health requires a secure foundation in these basic prerequisites.
Systematic reviews continue to demonstrate that populations in conflict situations have a significantly increased incidence of both communicable and non-communicable disease, highlighting the increasing need for all healthworkers to promote peace and prevent war.
Conflict situations increase disease incidence because of the destruction of vital health, water, and sanitation infrastructures; loss of health and medical workforce; large-scale, forced population movements; reduced capacity for disease surveillance and response; interruptions to food, health, and medical supply chains; increased co-morbidity through injury and trauma, and the breakdown of social structures that play a role in maintaining human health and wellbeing.
MAPW (Australia) was formed in 1981, and has been a powerful voice for peace for more than forty years. MAPW founded the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in 2007; in 2017 ICAN was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
MAPW is the Australian affiliate of 1985 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
IPPNW is a non-partisan federation of national medical groups in over 60 countries, representing tens of thousands of doctors, medical students, and other health workers. IPPNW works for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and the prevention of the harms caused by armed conflict.
We are members of the international Stop Killer Robots Campaign, the Cluster Munitions Coalition, the International Network on Explosive Weapons and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Explore the archive of MAPW resources in the library, learn more about our campaigns for change, make a donation – or join us today.
Partners
MAPW is a member and partner of national and international campaigns and networks.
