Joe Hooper, chief executive of Australian Medical Association (SA), quits after ‘administrative changes’

The chief executive of the Australian Medical Association (SA) has quit over an “administrative change” at the medical organisation. Joe Hooper also resigned as chairman of Equestrian SA last year.

The chief executive of South Australia’s peak medical organisation has quit over an “administrative change”.

The Advertiser understands Joe Hooper cleared his desk and left the SA branch of the Australian Medical Association late last week.

However, no announcement of his departure from the North Adelaide head office has been made to staff.

Mr Hooper will remain as chief executive and a director of the South Australian Postgraduate Medical Education Association (SAPMEA), which offers extensive medical education to all health professionals and support staff across the state.

Joe Hooper

AMA (SA) president Dr William Tan told The Advertiser the decision by Mr Hooper to leave was his own choice after the organisation decided it was no longer appropriate he held both chief executive roles.

“Basically we changed the relationship between the AMA and one of our partner organisations (SAPMEA) and he didn’t accept the deal that was offered,” Dr Tam said.

“Unfortunately, the AMA is not immune from staff changes. Administrative changes happen from time to time so I don’t think this is a major issue for us.”

In July last year, Mr Hooper came under pressure when nine prominent members of the medical organisation called for an urgent meeting to probe his actions.

It came a week after Mr Hooper resigned as chairman of Equestrian SA, which had been investigating allegations of bullying by staff members and the unauthorised release of member’s personal information in a possible breach of the privacy act.

In a letter to the AMA (SA) board, council and Dr Tam, the members — which included eight former AMA presidents — sought an “independent expert investigation” of Mr Hooper’s connections to Equestrian SA and whether they conflicted with his work at AMA (SA).

Equestrian SA is currently the subject of a State Government-funded independent investigation — through the office of sport, recreation and racing — into the governance operations of the crisis-ridden sport.

Mr Tam said an interim chief executive had been appointed but he was not prepared to release that information at this time.

“We haven’t yet had the time to make an announcement of these changes to our membership,” Mr Tam said,

Mr Hooper has been contacted for comment.