LINCS is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteer medical students as part of the Western Australian Medical Student Society (WAMSS) at the University of Western Australia.

Each year many fifth year medical students do placement at hospitals in developing countries. Most of these hospitals are very poorly resourced which makes the provision of basic health care substandard. The LINCS initiative was born out of their need and aims to distribute basic medical supplies and equipment to these hospitals directly through medical students who visit them.
We live in an age of global connectedness that makes us aware of local and global inequity and empowers us to improve it.  Social conscience is a quality shared by all community members and a passion for improving the lives of others is what drives many aspiring young doctors to their profession.  LINCS is a simple way to link our community with international communities and provides tangible evidence for how much can be achieved by small contributions from conscious people

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Our vision: “Sustainable, universal, and equitable health.”
Our mission: "To provide effective medical aid to a hospital in need who hosts UWA medical students."
Goals and Objectives:

• To raise the profile of LINCS among medical students to increase the number of students receiving wishlists from elective hospitals.
• To have a LINCS representative to speak at the “Electives & Exchanges Information Night”.
• To utilize the WAMSS mailing groups to promote LINCS to medical students at suitable times including the end of 4th year, beginning of 5th year, before & after the electives information night and before the due date for elective applications.
• To send reminders about LINCS wishlists in all 5th year TWBs until the due date for wishlists
• To have a representative speak at 4th year camp.
• To email the LINCS guide out to all 5th years by June.
• To create a LINCS promotional video by July 31 to show at lectures and annual benefits night by September 18.
• To raise the profile of LINCS among potential sponsors and the community to generate sources of sustainable revenue.
• To maintain associations with registered charities including the Hackett Foundation.
• To produce a prospectus for presentation to potential sponsors by 30th June and to distribute this prospectus shortly thereafter.
• To have submitted a minimum of 1 article for MeDeFacts, Medicus, Western Suburbs weekly to be published before the launch night.
• To hold an inaugural annual fundraising benefit night by 18th September 2008.
• To organise local newspaper coverage of all students who participate in LINCS in 2007/2008 by April 2008.
• To create a LINCS calander to raise revenue for LINCS and to raise LINCS profile.
• To create a LINCS website assisting students with elective planning and displaying sponsor logos and links by early August.
• To coordinate the acquisition and delivery of needed medical aid to a partner hospital that is specific to their situation and resources.
• To provide a guide for elective students to approach airlines and customs regarding transport of supplies.
• For the Inventory Officer to collect unwanted goods from Perth hospitals every 4 months starting June 2008.
• Approach manufacturers for donations of equipment by mid September.
• To compile wishlists provided by elective hospitals via students by 31st August 2008.
• To shortlist equipment & goods to aquire through purchasing by end of September 2008.
• To approach stockists for donations or discounts on shortlisted equipment not already donated by early October 2008.
• To conduct “packing days” on 11th October and a second one if required on 24th November.
• To remain a sustainable, long term project.
• To obtain student reports on the utility of medical aid sent from 2007 by July 18
• To establish guidelines/ research into ‘appropriate’ recipient hospitals.
• To produce an annual report for sponsors by April 2008.
• To conduct audits with the Hackett Foundation and UWA Faculty of Medicine by April 2009 if required.
• To remain a student-run project providing students with an understanding of international health issues and project management skills
• To liaise with Interhealth to conduct annual training sessions for committee members and other interested volunteers.
• To have at least one pre-clinical (1st-3rd year) on the committee each year.
• To conduct nominations and elections for 2008 committee roles by November 2007.
• To handover control of LINCS to 2008 committee by February 2008.
• Maintain student ownership and responsibility over distribution of goods provided by LINCS.
• To have an agreement with students taking LINCS supplies that they must submit a brief field report on the utility of LINCS supplies.
•  To include an ‘optional hospital questionnaire’ in the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed by recipient hospitals.
• LINCS to provide nessecary documentation to ensure the above occurs (letter to airline, MOU, LINCS guide).
• Maintain good name of LINCS
  • Through optional recipient hospital evaluations
  • Through compulsory student evaluations
  • Through encouraging feedback from sponsors