We walk with giants at the AMA (WA)

While in this celebratory mode, it’s unfortunate to have to reflect on the reality for doctors entering the profession in Western Australia.

A new Productivity Commission Report on Government Services puts WA at the bottom of the national league table for public hospital doctor attrition. More than one in four WA doctors (26.4%) left the public hospital workforce in 2024 – a six-year high, compared to the national attrition rate of 24.2%.

It’s a dire statistic, reflective of the environment in which our world-class medical workforce is expected to operate.

In an interview with the media on this issue, I said: “The important part here is doctors are still just people at the end of the day, and they are proud of what they do. In emergency departments, they’re never going to turn people away. So those numbers of people waiting to be seen, they’ll go up; but they’re never going to get turned away – because the doctors want to do the right thing.

“But they do it under such dire circumstances, under pressure, under-resourced, overworked, in facilities that aren’t up to scratch. Then we shouldn’t be surprised that they contemplate doing other careers.”

This year, we have the start of negotiations for the next public hospital Industrial Agreement, a fundamental aspect of what the AMA (WA) offers to its members, and in turn non-member doctors, as well as contributing to the experience for the State’s patients.

We implore members to get involved at committee level, engage, and contribute in whatever way you can. It’s a fundamental right and responsibility to translate your own experience to an actionable agenda that we can present to the Government.

It’s another big year. And though the seasons change, and our people come and go, our work and purpose continue.