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

• Meeting with Victorian Health Minister
• Eastern Health withdraws paediatric changes at Maroondah
• GROSS in Action: AMAV raises issues with proposed WorkSafe claim form.
   

Meeting with Victorian Health Minister

Earlier this week, AMAV President Dr Simon Judkins met with Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas for a constructive discussion on health system pressures, workforce challenges, and the reform landscape. It marked the first formal meeting between the Minister and AMA Victoria since Dr Judkins’ appointment.

Access block was a central focus, with AMA Victoria emphasising that the problem is even more acute in regional areas, where workforce shortages, limited infrastructure, and fewer alternative care pathways compound delays. The Minister acknowledged the scale of the issue and the need for region-specific solutions, rather than relying solely on metropolitan models.

Digital health was identified as another major barrier, particularly in regional services still heavily reliant on faxes and lacking adequate IT systems or personnel. AMA Victoria highlighted the need for investment to bring digital infrastructure in line with contemporary clinical demands.

Workforce distribution and retention also featured prominently. AMA Victoria reiterated concerns about the over-reliance on short-term locum arrangements in regional areas, noting that while locums play a role in maintaining services, there is a need for greater investment in, and incentives for, long-term salaried roles that support continuity of care and stronger integration within local communities.

The discussion also covered virtual care, including the role of virtual specialist services in supporting rural patients. Broader integration challenges- such as delayed discharge summaries and poor communication back to GPs- were also raised, alongside the importance of strengthening primary care and prevention to relieve pressure on hospitals.

On workforce wellbeing, AMA Victoria raised the job insecurity and burnout faced by the medical workforce, particularly doctors in training, noting the growing career uncertainty many are experiencing. The Minister recognised the concern and pointed to upcoming enterprise bargaining as a potential mechanism to improve contract stability and working conditions- a hope and priority that AMA Victoria strongly shares.

AMA Victoria also flagged medical workforce uncertainty around the implementation of the government’s Health Services Plan and the new Local Health Service Networks. While early days, many clinicians remain unclear on what changes are coming and how they’ll be engaged. The Minister acknowledged the issue and appreciated the feedback, noting the importance of ensuring medical staff are meaningfully included in the process.

This was a productive first meeting and a valuable opportunity to raise the practical challenges facing doctors and the health system. AMA Victoria looks forward to building on the discussion in future engagement with the Minister and her office.
 

Eastern Health withdraws paediatric changes at Maroondah

Eastern Health has formally withdrawn its proposed changes to paediatric services at Maroondah Hospital, following sustained advocacy and clinical feedback.

The now-abandoned proposal would have seen the removal of dedicated paediatric services at Maroondah and the relocation of care to Box Hill Hospital. AMA Victoria worked closely with concerned members and engaged directly with key stakeholders to ensure that the significant risks to access, workforce sustainability, and quality of care were clearly understood by decision-makers.

This is a positive outcome for local families and the clinicians who care for them. It also sends a clear message about the importance of genuine consultation and clinical input in system reform.

We thank all members who raised concerns and helped shape our response. Your insights were critical to ensuring this proposal was reconsidered.

AMA Victoria remains committed to standing with our members and advocating for safe, sustainable, patient-centred care across Victoria.
 

GROSS in Action: AMAV raises issues with proposed WorkSafe claim form

AMA Victoria has provided feedback to WorkSafe on proposed changes to the Worker’s Injury Claim Form, highlighting the growing administrative burden on doctors and risks to effective patient care- issues that sit squarely within the scope of our Get Rid of Stupid Stuff (GROSS) campaign.

While the form is primarily completed by workers and employers, several proposed changes have implications for treating doctors. This is because it references diagnostic and certification requirements that practitioners must address when completing the accompanying Certificate of Capacity and supporting clinical information.

We acknowledged that updates such as clearer language, improved formatting, and expanded submission options may enhance usability. However, we raised concerns about new requirements for mental injury certification. Under the proposed changes, claims lodged on or after 31 March 2024 must involve a diagnosed mental injury “in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5).”

We noted that this reference is outdated (the current standard is the DSM-5-TR (Text Revision), in effect since March 2022) and may lead to confusion or inconsistency in certification. More broadly, while psychiatrists are trained in DSM frameworks, GPs- often the first to certify capacity- may not routinely use or have access to the DSM-5-TR. Requiring non-psychiatric doctors to certify DSM-based diagnoses could pose practical challenges and may not reflect day-to-day general practice.

We also warned that successive reforms are fuelling a steady increase in red tape. While aspects of the form may simplify things for claimants, they risk shifting greater administrative complexity onto clinicians- increasing documentation loads, tightening certification expectations, and diverting time from patient care.

Finally, while we recognise that many of these changes flow from legislative reforms already enacted in 2024- reforms AMA Victoria opposed- we urged WorkSafe to remain alert to their practical impact.

Our message was clear: reform should support recovery, not add bureaucracy.