AMA VICDOC_Spring 2026_09.09.2026 - Flipbook - Page 30
I've been elected to the Board
on a platform to focus on three
main things.
The first is to be active. Politicians should
expect AMA Victoria to come out swinging
on anti-doctor policies. The second is to
be responsive to members. If we don't
have strong membership, we can't achieve
our goals. And the third is to focus on
core business. Our actions must serve
In 2025 I became Chair of the Southern
Metropolitan Subdivision. At the time it was
basically a paper division; it didn't really
exist, so I revived it. We've had some very
successful meetings, including hosting
Shadow Minister for Health, the Hon Anne
Ruston, at one of our dinners. From there,
I began presenting motions to AMA Victoria
Council. I then decided I wanted to join the
Board to help bring about a more active,
responsive, and focused AMA Victoria.
our members' interests.
To achieve this, I’m working with grassroots
I’ve also had success pushing
members, subdivisions, Council members,
Ahpra towards fairer fees for
other Board members, our President,
new CEO, management team, industrial
relations team, policy team, and everyone
I can across the broad church that is
AMA Victoria. I’ve been going to as many
meetings as I can to hear directly from
members about where problems exist
and how we can solve them.
I want to address the perception that AMA
Victoria only assists with EBA matters, as
that’s not the case. AMA Victoria should be
the advocacy body doctors think to contact
when they’re having trouble, full stop.
doctors who step out of the
workforce on protected leave.
It began when I was holding my newborn
son in 2023 and rang Ahpra to ask how to
arrange pro-rata payment of my annual
fee, because I was going to be out of the
workforce for 12 months. I got told I had to
pay in full. I decided that wasn't on, so over
the following year I made Ahpra my mission.
I drafted emails to every MP and minister
that I could think of. I collected impact
statements, which flooded in from women
around the country. Another doctor had
made a big push on the same matter before
I first got involved with AMA
30
me, so there was some momentum.
Victoria following my own
I made a human rights complaint and a
workplace industrial matter.
national healthcare ombudsman complaint.
What I can legally tell you is that I alleged
a petition, and finally a State-based health
that I was underpaid by Monash Health
minister picked it up and advocated for it.
in the course of my employment and
In December 2024, Ahpra announced a 30%
raised a dispute in October 2022, which
fee rebate for doctors who take at least
was resolved to mutual satisfaction
6 months protected leave, and a review into
under confidential terms. Following this
pro-rata fees. On 1 September in response
experience, particularly my experience of
to my follow up via AMA Victoria, Ahpra
AMA Victoria's assistance at that time,
made a formal commitment to implement
I decided to get more involved, and to try
pro-rata fees. We are pushing for an
and improve things for others in the future.
implementation date of 1 December 2026.
I spoke to the media. AMA Victoria started
