Health workforce

Under new industrial manslaughter laws, a doctor’s suicide linked to workplace mental injury may no longer be just a tragedy – it can be a crime. All medical workplaces, colleges, medical defence organisations (MDOs) and the AMA must unite to address systemic WHS breaches and to strengthen, coordinate and fund evidence-based suicide prevention initiatives in medicine. Failure to do so may expose individuals and organisations to catastrophic penalties including imprisonment – but, more importantly, cost more doctors’ lives.

Leanne Rowe

As our population ages, so too do our doctors. But ageing physicians should still play an active and leading role in our health care workforce, writes Steve Robson.

Steve Robson

Amid unprecedented medical workforce pressures, many doctors are rethinking their futures. Yet new WHS laws provide the tools to protect our wellbeing and our careers — if we use them. This piece urges every doctor to lead by example: know the law, speak up about poor working conditions and other abuses safely, and advocate for better health system resourcing — together.

Leanne Rowe

At the Medical Deans of Australia New Zealand (MDANZ) Conference on September 4-5 in Newcastle, data from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) was presented, analysing the association between medical school graduation and entry into general practice and rural generalist (GP/RG) training in 2025.

Michael Wright, Rod Martin

Australia’s public hospitals are under severe financial strain, with the current National Health Reform Agreement dispute highlighting the system’s non-viability. In a compromised environment of constrained resources, government legislated work health and safety reform in public hospitals is not optional — it is urgent for all patients and staff — including those in training.

Leanne Rowe

Protecting and advancing gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare leadership is not only a moral imperative — it is essential to the health, resilience, and effectiveness of our workforce and systems.

Helena Teede, Belinda Garth, Wafa El-Adhami

Overcoming systemic barriers are the key to preventing international medical graduates from exploitation.

Nance Haxton

The ABC’s Four Corners program God Complex should be regarded as a catalyst for change. Speaking up — safely, lawfully and together — is the first step.

Leanne Rowe

Clinical schools and educational institutions have a social responsibility and contract to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the rural workforce

Susanne Tegen