The only national body focused on enhancing diagnostic cytology
The Australian Society of Cytology was established in 1969 and is the
sole national body whose activities are primarily directed at enhancing
diagnostic cytology.
The primary objectives of the Society are to foster an interest in
the training, status and conditions of employment of cytologists within
the Commonwealth of Australia, to achieve uniformity in the
interpretation and reporting of cytological findings, and to advance the
knowledge and standards of clinical, diagnostic and general cytology by
means of seminars, lectures, case conferences and other activities.
The membership of the Society is currently just over 550 of which approximately 300 are
non-medical cytotechnologists and 200 are medical members, the balance being Associate or Student members.
Since the inaugural meeting of the Society, which was held in Perth in
1970, the Society has been actively involved in advancing the education
of members.
The Society conducts Annual Scientific Meetings, annual Tutorials and regular state branch meetings where members can
update their skills in cytology by attending lectures and workshops
presented by international and national experts in the field. A
quarterly newsletter (Cytoletter) is published by the Society for its
members and includes scientific material and provides a forum for interchange of information
between members. Most resources are available on the Society's website and include large eAtlases, recordings from online meetings and previous issues of Cytoletter.
The Society has established a qualification for cytotechnologists:
the Certificate of Technology of the Australian Society of Cytology
(CTASC), and this examination has been held annually since 1975.
Objectives of the Society
- To provide a forum for exchange of ideas on cytology;
- To foster an interest in the training of cytologists;
- To endeavour to achieve uniformity in the interpretation and reporting of cytological findings;
- To advance the knowledge and standards of cytology by means of
seminars, lectures, case conferences and publication of relevant
material in the Cytoletter journal;
- To encourage research in cytology;
- To establish liaison with similar bodies having similar aims in other countries;
- To represent the special interests of cytological services before
the various levels of government, and other organisations representing
the interests of the professions and health services.
Rules of the Society
The Rules of the Society were established as per the Associations
Incorporation Act 1991. The Rules were formally adopted in October 1994
and since then only one major adjustment has been made to include the
election of Non-Medical members to office-bearing positions.
Copies of ‘The Rules’ of the Society are sent to every new member of the Society.
Membership and committees
Members of all boards and committees are volunteers, and they come to
board meetings in their own time, or as prearranged with their
employer.
Costs to attend these meetings are covered by the Society and, where
necessary, include transport (air/cab/parking) and accommodation.
Face-to-face meetings are held in October. Each meeting is scheduled
for a half day and members of Council, the Board of Education and the
Board of Examiners meet for lunch provided by the Society. These
committees also conduct a teleconference in March each year.
The names of members of Executive and Council, as well as the Board
of Education and the Board of Examiners are listed in the ‘Contents’
page of Cytoletter each quarter and on this site. Communication with
them can always be made through the national office.
The Society’s office is currently located in Kidman Park, South Australia, 5025 Australia.