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Victorian Doctors and Allied Health Workers Strike Across Public Hospitals - Melbourne, VIC
Smart summary
Thousands of Victorian doctors and allied health professionals have begun industrial action over stalled negotiations on pay and working conditions, with emergency departments continuing to operate.
Thousands of doctors and allied health professionals at Victoria's public hospitals have begun industrial action on Thursday, October 1, following more than a year of negotiations over pay and working conditions.
Doctors are undertaking a four-hour work stoppage from 1:30pm to 5:30pm, while allied health professionals represented by the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) are undertaking a 24-hour strike. The industrial action is occurring across public hospitals throughout Victoria.
Emergency departments have been excluded from the doctors' work stoppage. Hospital staffing is being maintained at levels comparable with a Saturday roster, with exemptions also applying to a number of critical allied-health services to protect patient care.
VAHPA said its members were striking after negotiations with the Victorian Government failed to produce a new agreement after approximately 12 months. The association represents a range of healthcare professionals, including radiographers, physiotherapists and social workers.
The doctors' industrial action follows an extended bargaining process involving the Australian Medical Association's Victorian branch and the state government. According to the ABC, the AMA says negotiations have involved more than 60 meetings and that doctors are seeking changes to working conditions, including limits on shift lengths and guaranteed periods of time off.
The Victorian Government says discussions with doctors are continuing. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the government was focused on reaching an agreement and that plans were in place to maintain patient safety during the industrial action.
The two sides differ over the status of wage negotiations. The AMA says doctors have not yet received a formal offer, while the health minister said discussions were continuing and that working hours and fatigue were among the matters being considered.
For allied health workers, the dispute also involves concerns about staffing levels, workloads and remuneration. VAHPA said some experienced clinicians were leaving the workforce and argued that improving pay and working conditions was necessary to attract and retain staff. These are the union's stated claims.
Despite the strike, emergency and other designated high-dependency services are continuing under exemptions. VAHPA said exemptions cover areas including emergency care, neonatal and maternity services, paediatric patients, oncology, coronary care and palliative care.
The industrial action is taking place across Victoria's public hospital system while negotiations remain unresolved. Further discussions between the government, doctors' representatives and allied health representatives will determine the next steps in the respective bargaining processes.
DoctorsHealthAlliedActionGovernment
Thousands of doctors and allied health professionals at Victoria's public hospitals have begun industrial action on Thursday, October 1, following more than a year of negotiations over pay and working conditions.
Doctors are undertaking a four-hour work stoppage from 1:30pm to 5:30pm, while allied health professionals represented by the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) are undertaking a 24-hour strike. The industrial action is occurring across public hospitals throughout Victoria.
Emergency departments have been excluded from the doctors' work stoppage. Hospital staffing is being maintained at levels comparable with a Saturday roster, with exemptions also applying to a number of critical allied-health services to protect patient care.
VAHPA said its members were striking after negotiations with the Victorian Government failed to produce a new agreement after approximately 12 months. The association represents a range of healthcare professionals, including radiographers, physiotherapists and social workers.
The doctors' industrial action follows an extended bargaining process involving the Australian Medical Association's Victorian branch and the state government. According to the ABC, the AMA says negotiations have involved more than 60 meetings and that doctors are seeking changes to working conditions, including limits on shift lengths and guaranteed periods of time off.
The Victorian Government says discussions with doctors are continuing. Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the government was focused on reaching an agreement and that plans were in place to maintain patient safety during the industrial action.
The two sides differ over the status of wage negotiations. The AMA says doctors have not yet received a formal offer, while the health minister said discussions were continuing and that working hours and fatigue were among the matters being considered.
For allied health workers, the dispute also involves concerns about staffing levels, workloads and remuneration. VAHPA said some experienced clinicians were leaving the workforce and argued that improving pay and working conditions was necessary to attract and retain staff. These are the union's stated claims.
Despite the strike, emergency and other designated high-dependency services are continuing under exemptions. VAHPA said exemptions cover areas including emergency care, neonatal and maternity services, paediatric patients, oncology, coronary care and palliative care.
The industrial action is taking place across Victoria's public hospital system while negotiations remain unresolved. Further discussions between the government, doctors' representatives and allied health representatives will determine the next steps in the respective bargaining processes.
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