"Damning statistics" from almost 1500 WA junior doctors

The AMA (WA) Hospital Health Check 2025 surveyed close to 1500 junior doctors — or Doctors in Training — 30% who reported experiencing bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment; 44% who reported witnessing bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment; and 34% who reported fearing negative consequences from reporting inappropriate behaviour. “Such damning statistics demand urgent attention,” AMA (WA) said in the release of these findings.

Started in 2015, feedback on current working conditions and health policies is invited by junior doctors across the state, with this year’s participation up on last year’s record of more than 1110 junior doctors. AMA (WA) did note that this is the first year in the survey’s history that an ‘F’ employer/provider grade was not reported, and there is evidence of improvement in certain areas — Morale & Culture, for example, saw employers score A or B grades across the board.

Despite significant improvement in many areas, AMA (WA) said that there are also many areas of concern remaining. Key issues identified as in need of attention in the 2025 survey include ongoing workforce shortages and an apparent increase in workload — along with fatigue and burnout issues among junior doctors associated with this increase. Issues that, AMA (WA) said, a “critical need” exists for adequate measures to be put in place.

“The pressure our doctors are under is evident in the results of this survey, and can be directly attributed to our lack of health system capacity,” AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Page said. “Our doctors are burning out from the relentless workloads pushed onto them by perpetually over-full hospital wards and EDs. It points to the need for major capacity building by expanding our public hospitals, supporting our private hospitals and training more specialists.”

You can read the full report here, via the AMA (WA) website.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, support is available. Drs4Drs is a 24/7, free and confidential mental health support service for doctors and medical students in Australia. Please call 1300 374 377.

Image credit: iStock.com/sturti