By Lyndon Caswell
One of the most common issues we see early in the intern year is underpayment. It is often not intentional and can be rectified by learning what you are entitled to and what to do if something doesn’t look right.
You are now working as a doctor in the Victorian public health system under an Enterprise Agreement (EA) that sets out your pay, penalties and allowances. There is a lot that should be working well. But you still need to check.
What underpayment can look like
Underpayment is not always obvious. It is often small discrepancies that add up over time.
Common examples include:
Not being paid for all hours worked, particularly overtime (Clause 36)
Being paid at the wrong rate or without the correct loading
Overtime not approved or processed correctly
Missed or inconsistent payments across rotations
Delays in payments that should be routine
Penalty payments not applied correctly or not paid (Clause 37)
If you are working the hours, you should be getting paid for them in line with the Agreement.
Allowances you should know about
In addition to your base pay, there are specific allowances that many interns are entitled to. These are commonly missed or only paid when prompted.
Key allowances to be aware of include:
Rotation allowance – for changes in site or placement (Clause 52)
Travel allowance – where travel is required as part of your role (Clause 55)
Laundry allowance – for maintaining clinical attire (Clause 56)
Telephone allowance– where you are required to use your personal phone for work purposes (Clause 54)
Meal allowance – to pay for food where you work more than 11 hours within a 24 hour period (Clause 53)
Not every allowance applies to every intern or every rotation. But many do. The key is knowing what to look for and checking if you are receiving what you are entitled to.
What to do if something doesn’t look right
Do not ignore it or assume it will fix itself. These issues are much easier to resolve early.
Check first – review your payslip and compare it to your roster and hours worked. Use our Interpreting Your First Payslip resource to guide you.
Raise it locally – contact your medical workforce unit or payroll department.
Be clear and specific about what you think is missing or incorrect.Keep records – track your hours, overtime and any allowances you believe apply. Having your own record matters.
Contact AMA Victoria – if the issue is ongoing, unclear or not being resolved, contact us. We can help you understand your entitlements and how to escalate appropriately.
Why this matters
Over the past decade, pay and conditions for doctors in training have improved significantly. These gains are hard fought and hard won through Enterprise Bargaining.
But they only work if they are applied in practice.
Some health services are excellent and systems run smoothly. Others rely on interns not knowing what to check and only correct issues when they are raised.
Understanding your entitlements is part of working effectively in the system.
Check your payslip. Ask questions. Follow it up.
Click here to learn more about your EA. And if needed, we are here to support you – email us at [email protected]
Lyndon Caswell is a Workplace Relations Advisor at AMA Victoria and Victoria Industrial Officer at Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) Victoria.