VICDOC Summer 2025 - Flipbook - Page 57
Advocacy wrap
2025
LEWIS HORTON, PRINCIPAL POLICY ADVISER
AMA Victoria’s advocacy in 2025
health and clinical safety. Ahpra reform
occurred against a backdrop
remained a core focus. The parental
of sustained system pressure
and a heavy reform agenda. It
required steady engagement with
government, regulators and health
services, with a consistent focus on
the conditions needed for safe and
sustainable medical practice.
leave fee rebate, announced in late 2024,
moved into full implementation and
reflected years of advocacy during her
term. The implementation highlighted
inconsistencies in administrative
advice, reinforcing the need for clearer
processes. Work on broader fee equity
continued, including the case for a pro
rata model, and gained momentum
Leadership of AMA Victoria transitioned
through regular engagement with Ahpra’s
from Dr Jill Tomlinson to Dr Simon
leadership. AMA Victoria also advanced
Judkins in May. Their areas of emphasis
work on improving notifications
differ, but our organisational direction
processes and immediate action powers.
remained steady. Improve clinical and
regulatory settings. Reduce unnecessary
work. Protect the wellbeing of the
medical workforce, particularly doctors in
training. Support general practice. Ensure
that reform is informed by medical
experience.
The Ahpra CEO’s appearance at Council
in September, and agreement to return in
2026, marked a more constructive phase
in this work.
Clinical safety issues required ongoing
attention. Concerns about the sentinel
event framework, particularly Category
Gender equity, regulatory fairness,
11 and the under-reporting of paediatric
digital health and clinical safety
deaths, were raised repeatedly with
the Minister, Safer Care Victoria and
Under Jill’s leadership in the first half
the Victorian Department of Health.
of the year, we progressed work on
Discussions underscored the need for
gender equity, regulatory fairness, digital
clearer definitions, better guidance
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