On 31 July 2022, the Western Australian state government announced a pay increase of 3% per annum for 2 years, and a one-off $2,500 cost-of-living payment, for "all" frontline healthcare workers and other public servants - recognition of their work keeping us safe during the COVID pandemic. Despite this, WA public hospital doctors have been left behind.

Disappointingly, on the 6th September it was advised to doctors by the Australian Medical Association WA (AMA WA) that we had not been included in this pay increase, and instead would receive a 3% pay rise in 2023 only.

We feel frustrated that the WA government has neglected us. As a workforce that has been placed under enormous stress in a complex environment, our pay does not meet the rising costs associated with living in WA.

We junior doctors (that is, Interns/Resident Medical Officers/Registrars/Advanced Trainees) can't access annual leave due to workforce shortages, bear the brunt of shiftwork in the hospitals, are frequently expected to work unpaid overtime, and carry the administration burden that keeps the WA public health system functional. The last three years have seen increasing stress, higher expectations of that workforce, in a complex and ever-changing environment associated with the COVID-19  pandemic as well as population changes. Overall, we have witnessed a haemorrhaging of the junior doctor workforce, with losses to the private hospitals, to health systems based over East, and to doctors pursuing other career opportunities in light of the burnout and persistent stress faced by all junior doctors.

Please join us in petitioning the Premier Mark McGowan and the WA government for fair pay for doctors - in line with increases in pay for the other hard-working professionals that work alongside us in hospitals.

Don’t leave us behind.