AHSPO was established in 1956, initially serving as a trade union for hospital staff. Over time, procurement roles became more prevalent, leading to a decline in membership. However, in the late 1970s, interest surged among like-minded individuals who wanted to join and enhance the profession.

The first AHSPO Conference took place in the late 1980s, and it was surprising to see so many attendees. Yarrawonga, 37 years ago, marked a turning point for us, as we organised our first trade event. That was the critical moment we began discussing education and improvement efforts. There was a collaborative effort with Mayfield Douglas to conduct educational classes, facilitated by AHSPO members.

In the early 1990s, the organisation had dwindled to only 30 members. New members joined the committee, including individuals like Ron Hillier, who was passionate about revitalising the organisation. We implemented stronger policies to ensure that our members actively contributed. The key to our success was changing the culture, which led to improvements across the board. We began actively communicating with members, increasing their engagement and connection to AHSPO.