Australian Medical Association

The consortium of eleven graduate medical schools is seeking the ACCC’s permission to continue its policies and practices for selecting applicants to graduate medical schools. These include the preference policy where applicants submit a single application to the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Centre, and the one interview policy whereby applicants receive only one offer for an interview.

In its submission the AMA has said that, on balance, the public benefits from authorising the graduate medical school consortium to continue these polices and practices outweighs any potential drawbacks;  however, the AMA has noted that where a graduate medical school uses the interview process to look for certain qualities in an applicant, there is the potential for the applicant to be disadvantaged by the interview process in some circumstances. The AMA has encouraged the ACCC to address these issues in the authorisation process.

AMA Position Statement: Workplace Bullying and Harassment - 2009

There is good evidence that bullying and harassment of doctors occurs in the workplace. One Australian study found that 50% of Australian junior doctors had been bullied in their workplace, and a New Zealand study reported that 50% of doctors had experienced at least one episode of bullying behaviour during their previous three or sixth-month clinical attachment.

Workplace bullying of members of the medical workforce can occur between colleagues students and employees, and any contractors, patients, and family members with whom they are dealing.

The evidence is clear that workplace bullying contributes to poor employee health including the physical and psychological manifestations of stress and depression. Workplace bullying may affect medical students, junior doctors or senior specialists. Workplace bullying and harassment may impact on the training and education of doctors. It creates a poor learning environment due to the continued erosion of confidence, skills and initiative of the doctor, thereby creating a negative attitude towards their chosen specialty.

The AMA has prepared this position statement on workplace bullying and harassment in order to:

• to provide a guide for all doctors, hospital and practice managers to identify and manage workplace bullying and harassment;
• to raise awareness and reduce the exposure of doctors to workplace bullying and harassment; and
• to assist the medical profession in combating its perpetuation.

The medical profession has a strong commitment to high quality patient care. This commitment often translates to working patterns that may leave you exposed to higher than acceptable risks of fatigue.

AMA Position Statement: Hospitalists - 2008

The AMA Survey Report on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing presents the findings of the AMA's survey of the health and wellbeing of 914 junior doctors at the postgraduate year 2 level and above across Australia and New Zealand.

To read the full report click here AMA Survey Report on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing

AMA Position Statement: Regional/Rural Workforce Initiatives - 2005

GP Registrars in their basic and advanced terms are employed by the supervising practices in which they work.

AMA Position Statement: Early Streaming Into Specialty Training - 2006

This document provides an overview of resources available to AMA members requesting assistance on issues associated with entering private medical practice. It outlines a wide range of resources available through the AMA at a Federal level as well as in each State and Territory.

AMA Safe Hours Campaign: Risk Assessment of Junior Doctor Rosters