The Australasian and New Zealand Association for Medical Education (ANZAME) was conceived in Sydney between 1969 and 1971. During this period medical educators from the Universities of Sydney and New South Wales met to discuss topics of mutual interest. The meetings were so successful that the idea of an Australia-wide association for medical education was raised. A questionnaire circulated to all medical schools in 1971 found considerable support for such a move, and a national conference was organized in Canberra in 1972. A steering committee presented a draft constitution to the conference and the Association was born on 11 August 1972.