Learning is the keystone for the College: developing members, informing health policy and practice

Recent reflection by the author on the reasons why the Australian College of Health Services has been so successful and grown, and perhaps matured as a 'professional society', unearthed a College Federal Council planning document from 1998 [1] that canvassed the issues around what type of organisation the College purported to be. The discussion was about the relative differences between 'Association', 'Institute' and 'College'. The first was defined as 'Interests and welfare of members are primary concerns, and implies representation and political and industrial action'. The term 'Institute' had usage in the name of this organisation as it gave greater connotation of being established around a body of knowledge and being profession-based. The currently accepted term 'College' was defined as a: Body of knowledge with formal entry requirements and examination procedures, a professional, educational role, setting standards, a focus on continuing professional development, expression of policy viewpoints but not essentially industrial or political in activity and, overall, a concern with the advancement of the profession and the development of members.