About Us

The Society is focused on education, professional development and sharing through the Society's conferences and other means; including information provided on this website to members and others. Support is provided for members to travel and attend international conferences and seminars; including those of our partner organisations in other parts of the world. 

The Society has developed of a set of minimum standards aimed at enhancing optimal patient care while aiming for the highest level of safety. The emphasis is on quality.

Formed in 1985 as the Australian chapter of the International Society of Aeromedical Services (ISAS), the organisation was renamed the Aeromedical Society of Australasia in 2010 to reflect the important role and professional standing our members have in the aeromedical industry and community-at-large.

The Society had its beginnings in Europe; as described in the paper 'ISAS Beginnings' (below) presented by Gerhard Kugler, one of the 'fathers' of air medicine, to the Society's 2007 scientific meeting in Wellington, NZ.

Following the 1985 AirMed meeting in Zurich, members from Australia and New Zealand created an Australasian chapter which has thrived beyond the life of the original ISAS; holding annual meetings, publishing newsletters and developing standards.

In October 2009, agreements were signed with similar organisations in Europe (EHAC) and North America (AAMS). These agreements outlined a shared vision between the Society and each of these two organisations for improving aeromedical care for our patients. In 2012, a similar agreement was signed with the Society of Aeromedicine Malaysia (SAMM)

In September 2010, after extensive discussion and much deliberation over several years, the annual general meeting approved a change to the name of the organisation from "ISAS (Australasian Chapter)" to "Aeromedical Society of Australasia". Since the original 'ISAS' based in Europe no longer existed, it seemed illogical for an Australasian Chapter to still use that name.