AMA Victoria has received confirmation that Ahpra is in the early stages of work examining gender bias in healthcare. According to Ahpra, this includes gathering intelligence from staff, Board members, other regulators and public sources such as media reports and social commentary - particularly on issues such as dismissed pain, delayed diagnoses and limited attention to conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and birth injuries.

While a regulatory focus on these long-standing issues is overdue, it must be matched by internal reform. Any meaningful effort to address gender bias in healthcare must begin with the structures that oversee the profession.

As we’ve outlined to Ahpra, this includes scrutiny of its own regulatory systems. For instance, data from the national Medical Training Survey - developed in partnership with Ahpra and the Medical Board - shows that female and non-binary trainees consistently report higher rates of bullying, harassment and discrimination. These issues reflect not only workplace culture, but also the regulatory environment that shapes safety standards, complaints processes and practitioner support. Separately, a 2023 audit of Ahpra’s own staff revealed a 12.7% gender pay gap - despite women comprising nearly three-quarters of the workforce.

In response to Ahpra’s emerging work, AMA Victoria has submitted to Ahpra two documents recommending a clear and credible way forward.

The first is a briefing note setting out detailed actions Ahpra can take to embed gender equity across its regulatory functions, including: publishing gender-disaggregated data, setting diversity targets for Ahpra Boards, auditing complaints processes for bias, introducing tiered registration fee structures and developing gender-sensitive return-to-practice pathways.

The second outlines AMA Victoria’s broader gender equity agenda, including reforms to medical education and research, structural changes to improve leadership representation, and a push for better data and accountability in public and private healthcare settings.

To hear more about AMA Victoria’s commitment to ending gender bias in healthcare, watch this message from our President, Dr Jill Tomlinson: 

Ahpra has offered to meet with AMA Victoria to discuss this work further, and we look forward to engaging constructively. We will continue to push for change not only in patient care, but within the regulatory institutions that help shape the profession.

This work builds on our broader advocacy for regulatory equity. In 2024, AMA Victoria successfully advocated for a 30% retrospective rebate on Ahpra registration fees for doctors on extended leave due to protected attributes such as parental responsibilities or disability. While welcome, this is only a first step. We continue to advocate for a sustainable pro-rata model and clearer guidance on non-practising registration, ensuring equity is embedded, not incidental, in the national registration system.

Members with relevant experiences or perspectives are encouraged to contact us at [email protected].