The political power of doctors in training united

Whatever the outcome of Victoria’s doctors in training industrial dispute over unsafe working hours, fatigue, unpaid overtime, staffing shortages and pay, the protracted 14-month Victorian Government negotiations with AMA Victoria and ASMOF, are a compelling national case study. 

The rejection of the Government’s offer following hospital doctors’ last resort strike on 1 October 2026 signalled that this dispute is about much more than money. The courage, resolve and unity of doctors determined to confront hazardous conditions in public hospitals has been vastly underestimated. Victorian doctors in training should not have to strike to secure safe workplaces and safer care for their patients. We should not wait for an industrial settlement, an election, more legal action or another family grieving for the preventable loss or injury of a loved one, before we support their advocacy.

Public hospitals are inherently physically and psychologically hazardous environments 

Safe Work Australia reports that the healthcare and social assistance (health) industry records more serious workers’ compensation claims than any other industry, with a claim rate more than twice the national average. Similarly, in Victoria, the health industry accounted for approximately 18% of workers’ compensation claims in 2024–25, with mental stress responsible for 23%.

A 2022 Victorian Department of Health survey of almost 4,000 healthcare workers found 70% experienced aggression, violence, or abuse from patients and 37% from management or leadership. National AIHW data published in 2026 show that assault-related hospitalisation rates among healthcare workers almost doubled between 2015–16 and 2024–25.

In addition, ASMOF and other surveys repeatedly expose excessive workloads, unsafe hours, and burnout in doctors in training on a national level. Since 2019, the Medical Board’s Medical Training Survey, (with more than 18,000 respondents in 2025), has documented persistent high rates of bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, and racism.

This snapshot of health-sector figures is not confined to public hospitals as it is difficult to isolate those statistics. Nor does it capture the true extent of physical or mental injury among doctors in training, who often fear reporting incidents or claiming worker’s compensation because of negative career repercussions (here). 

Mental injury and suicidality linked to pervasive psychosocial hazards

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) 2023 audit of public hospitals found major shortcomings in staff mental health support and health departmental oversight. Doctors had the highest fatigue risk of any occupational group, with 60.7% of full-time doctors’ fortnights classified as medium or high risk. No audited hospital had a structured approach to managing fatigue, rostering did not control it, and violence risks and their systemic causes, such as staff shortages and long waits, were not thoroughly assessed. Staff said violence and other psychological stressors were tolerated as “part of the job”, and that they lacked confidence management would act. 

It appears that in its 2026 report to VAGO, the Victorian health department has progressed most of the recommendations by a Ministerial review of the 2023 audit. In contrast, the reality is that common psychosocial hazards in public hospitals continue to significantly impact all the health and safety of health workers including doctors in training, but these statistics are not being adequately monitored by hospitals, governments or regulators. 

For example, the 2013 Beyond Blue national survey of over twelve thousand Australian doctors found that 21% had experienced diagnosed or treated depression, 10.4% reported suicidal thoughts in the preceding year and approximately 2% had attempted suicide with younger and female doctors reporting greater psychological distress. Further analysis of data showed those working more than 55 hours weekly had twice the adjusted odds of suicidality compared with doctors working 40–44 hours.

There has been inadequate follow up and monitoring of these significant findings since 2013. In 2025, the ABC investigated thirteen doctor suicides, with families calling for a Senate inquiry into the work-related deaths of their adult children. An updated national study by the Black Dog Institute on the mental health of doctors is underway, but it will not be available until 2027.

In view of the documented escalating rates of mental injury in Victorian health workers and the lack of visibility and follow up of serious mental health concerns and suicidality in doctors in training in public hospitals, a statewide investigation by Victorian regulators may be necessary if there is continuing inaction. Within their respective powers, WorkSafe Victoria provides a pathway to report psychosocial hazards, and the Victorian Ombudsman can investigate administrative actions and systemic concerns, while VAGO can re-examine governance, risk management, performance, and Government responses. 

Government funded public hospitals are not exempt from new government legislated WHS reforms

Recent national WHS reforms and the July 2025 Model Code of Practice for the Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry have strengthened guidance on preventing physical and psychological harm. Victoria’s Psychological Health Regulations commenced on 1 December 2025. 

These government legislated reforms mean public hospital directors and officers must identify psychosocial as well as physical hazards, eliminate or reduce associated risks and review controls where possible. Excessive workloads, unpredictable hours, fatigue, bullying, and intimidation are safety issues, not simply employment grievances or “just an inherent part of health care”. 

Serious issues such as assault, mental injury and suicidality, and other causes of serious illness or injury can now attract substantial organisational and personal penalties, including offences under national model WHS laws and expanded industrial manslaughter laws. Criminal charges can also now apply to breaches of whistleblower protections and wage theft. 

A united medical profession must advocate for safe public hospitals and safer patient care at a state and national level

Whatever the outcome of the Victoria’s doctors in training industrial dispute, their strong unity reminds the whole medical profession that our collective advocacy can shift political power. When our medical membership organisations collaborate and refuse to accept unsafe work, governments, health departments, regulators, and public hospital directors and officers must not only listen — they must demonstrate their progress on creating safer environments for all health workers and patients.

United, we can solve these complex, intractable safety issues now.

Adjunct Professor Leanne Rowe AM is a GP, non-executive director and medical writer. She developed the free SafeDr website to empower all clinicians through transformational WHS law reforms to address unsafe working conditions in health care.