Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including:

• Ahpra’s immediate action process under review – member feedback sought
• Constructive discussion with Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt MP
• Engagement with new Secretary of the Department of Health.
   

Ahpra’s immediate action process under review – member feedback sought

The National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) is investigating delays and procedural fairness in how Ahpra and the National Boards manage immediate action decisions. AMA Victoria is preparing a submission and invites member feedback to ensure the concerns of doctors are represented.

We understand from members that Ahpra’s processes—including notifications, investigations, and immediate action—can be distressing, lack transparency, and involve significant delays. These issues can have serious consequences for practitioners' careers, reputations, and wellbeing. Addressing these concerns remains a key advocacy priority for AMA Victoria.

The NHPO’s investigation is focusing on:

• Timeliness – Are decisions made promptly, or do delays cause undue hardship?
• Procedural fairness – Are doctors given enough time and opportunity to respond?
• Transparency and communication – Are practitioners clearly informed of decisions and their rights?
• Impact on practitioners – How do these processes affect a doctor’s ability to work, mental health, and professional standing?
• Safeguards and review mechanisms – Are there adequate checks and balances to prevent unjustified or disproportionate actions?

Doctors who have experienced immediate action or have supported a colleague through the process are encouraged to share their insights. AMA Victoria can submit feedback confidentially, including forwarding experiences anonymously if requested.

To contribute, please email your feedback to [email protected]. Alternatively, members can make a direct submission to the NHPO. More information is available here: Ombudsman invites submissions on her investigation into delay and procedural safeguards for practitioners who are subject to immediate action | National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner

Public consultation is open until 31 March 2025.
 

Constructive discussion with Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt MP

Yesterday afternoon, AMA Victoria met with Minister Stitt to discuss a range of issues affecting Victoria’s mental health system and the broader health workforce.

We raised the Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff (GROSS) initiative, emphasising the widespread frustration caused by duplicative mandatory training requirements, which negatively impact frontline clinicians, including those in mental health. Removing unnecessary training obligations would boost workforce morale, reduce administrative burden, and allow clinicians to focus on patient care. The Minister acknowledged the issue, and we continue to push for concrete action in this space.

Support the campaign here: megaphone.org.au/petitions/get-rid-of-stupid-stuff-in-victorian-healthcare.

We also discussed Victoria’s Sentinel Event Framework, focusing on the need to revise Category 11, which has potentially led to inconsistent reporting and oversight of serious adverse events. This lack of clarity in definitions has contributed to underreporting of paediatric deaths, as highlighted by recent media reports and parliamentary discussions. More on our advocacy on this important issue here.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Services specifications were another focus, particularly the need for a clear clinical framework with effective referral pathways. We stressed that while the local services model is designed to increase access to early mental health support, it must be well-integrated with specialist services to avoid fragmentation of care. AMA Victoria also reinforced the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as housing, employment, and social support, which significantly impact mental health outcomes.

Early insights from the pill testing trial were discussed, with indications that the program is progressing well and has the potential to reduce drug-related harm. We will continue to monitor the trial and engage in further discussions as more data becomes available.

Finally, we raised WorkSafe’s involvement in public hospital patient safety incidents, where there have been positive steps in providing greater clarity on its role and reducing inappropriate interventions. We welcomed efforts to ensure a more measured approach to investigating workplace incidents in healthcare settings and to improve communication with health services and clinicians.

We appreciate the Minister’s time and look forward to ongoing engagement on these important issues to support Victoria’s mental health workforce and improve patient care.

Engagement with new Secretary of the Department of Health

AMA Victoria has corresponded with Ms Jenny Atta, the newly appointed Secretary of the Victorian Department of Health, welcoming the opportunity for collaboration on key healthcare challenges. This correspondence outlined priorities including system reform, workforce sustainability, general practice viability, gender equity, preventive health, and reducing administrative burdens—all critical to ensuring a strong and sustainable healthcare system.

We reiterated the importance of the Health Services Plan as an opportunity to improve workforce planning and service delivery models, stressing the need for genuine workforce consultation to ensure decisions are informed by the experience of frontline clinicians. We also highlighted the Ministerial Review into Victorian Public Sector Medical Staff, noting its relevance to enterprise bargaining negotiations, job security, rostering, and working conditions.

General practice sustainability was raised as a priority, with AMA Victoria calling for action on workforce challenges, fair taxation policies, and improved integration with other healthcare services to secure its role as the foundation of Victoria’s healthcare system.

On gender equity, we reinforced the importance of addressing the gender pay gap, barriers to career progression, and the need for stronger gender equity action plans (GEAPs) within health services. AMA Victoria continues to advocate for recognition of continuity of service for parental leave to ensure fair career progression, as well as improved intersectional data collection to better address systemic inequities.

The correspondence also emphasised public and preventive health, stressing the importance of harm reduction programs, tackling social determinants of health, and advancing evidence-based public health strategies to reduce pressure on acute services and improve long-term health outcomes.

Finally, we raised the Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff (GROSS) initiative, outlining how removing unnecessary administrative burdens would allow doctors more time for patient care. As in our meeting with Minister Stitt, we called for action on redundant mandatory training requirements, a longstanding frustration for public hospital doctors.

We look forward to further engagement with the Secretary and the Department and will continue working to ensure that policy decisions support both the medical workforce and patient care.