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

  • Early engagement with new Health Minister

  • Single Employer Model trial extended.

 

Early engagement with new Health Minister

We have been in contact with the new Minister for Health, Harriet Shing, and have outlined a small number of priorities central to system stability, at a time of sustained pressure across the system.

Enterprise bargaining remains the most immediate issue for most doctors employed in the public system. The previous agreement has expired and progress has been slow. There is now a real risk of negotiations stalling, particularly given ongoing disruption within the Department. Fair remuneration and safe working conditions are central to workforce stability and the effective functioning of the system.

We also raised related pressures on system capacity and coordination. Hospitals continue to operate at or beyond capacity. Fragmentation across services, referral pathways and digital systems continues to affect patient flow and continuity of care.

General practice and community health remain under strain. We pointed to the uncertainty around ongoing cohealth funding and the effect this is having on workforce confidence within cohealth and on continuity of care for vulnerable patients. We also reiterated our concerns with scope of practice changes, particularly pharmacy prescribing.

Preventive health and mental health remain ongoing pressures. With VicHealth now being absorbed into the Department, there is a need for sustained funding and clear policy direction for prevention.

Reducing unnecessary administrative burden remains an immediate and practical opportunity. Our Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff work continues to progress with the Department, including early work on eliminating duplicated mandatory training.

We will meet with the Minister shortly to discuss these priorities.

 

Single Employer Model trial extended

The Victorian Department of Health  has confirmed that the Single Employer Model (SEM) trial will be extended to December 2028, with expansion to two additional sub-regions in Hume and South West.

AMA Victoria has consistently advocated for measures to strengthen the general practice workforce, including the Single Employer Model and the GP registrar incentive payment. A longstanding issue for GP registrars has been the loss of employment entitlements, and often lower pay, when transitioning out of the public system. This has acted as a disincentive to pursuing general practice. The SEM model is intended to address this by providing greater continuity of employment and conditions across training settings.

The extension of the trial is a positive step and suggests early confidence in the model.

Existing trial sites at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Grampians Health and Mildura Base Public Hospital will be offered the option to extend. A process will shortly commence to select new trial sites in Hume and South West, with a focus on supporting trainees with a long-term intent to live and work in their local communities.

The Department will undertake an expression of interest process for new sites in the coming weeks. Primary care providers in Hume and South West can register interest via the Department at [email protected].

We will keep members informed as the trial progresses, including opportunities for doctors in training and participating practices.