O Week

the number of interns in NSW hit 1027 this year. This is a slight increase over last year and in line with the upward trajectory we’ve seen over the last decade.

The AMA attended O Week events to welcome new interns and let them know about the services we offer.

At a few hospitals, interns told us that there were being poorly instructed about when they should be doing mandatory training. We informed interns that mandatory training is work and it’s some-thing doctors-in-training should be and deserve to be paid for.

If your hospital is not providing adequate instruction on mandatory training or, is telling you it’s something to be done out of hours, please get in touch with our Workplace Relations Team on dit@amansw.com.au or 02 9439 8822.

AMA (NSW) has been an effective advocate on mandatory training, as well as other issues for DITS. We work at the State level to improve your rights and employment conditions.

A year ago, our Doctors-in-Training Committee co-chairs, Dr James Lawler and Dr Sanjay Hettige met with the Health Minister to ask for an online claiming system for unrostered overtime and callbacks for doctors-in-training.

As a result of that meeting, the system went live on 3 February 2020.

The move to online means claims can be made without paper and from outside the hospital.

This is exciting not just because it will make it easier for doctors-in-training to be paid correctly, it will also provide a much better picture of the actual number of hours DITs are being asked to work. This, in turn, will help us push for better rostering.

Hospitals will be discontinuing paper-based claims, so make sure you know how to use the new system.

Hospital Health Check 2020

Another tool for change is the annual Hospital Health Check survey. The survey results provide an important platform for advocacy, and have helped achieve improvements in many areas, including unrostered overtime.

Last year, doctors-in-training won a new policy directive from NSW Health which expands the list of reasons you can claim overtime without needing it approved, as well as the list of managers who can approve a claim.

As a DIT, it’s easy to feel like you don’t have power to make change. But these are the type of wins that are possible by being involved in AMA (NSW). We encourage interns and other doctors-in-training to join the Doctors-in-Training Committee, which meets monthly. The next meeting will be held 19 March.

The great thing about joining the DITC is that you will be able to see how direct influence can and does drive real change for members.

Experience²

Drs Sharon Mullin and Simon Chivers were among the 125 doctors starting their internship in the Hunter New England network.

During O Week, they stood out amongst their peers, not only because they were undergoing training as a couple, but because medicine was not their first career.

Sharon previously worked as a science teacher and in outdoor education. Simon started his working life as a horticultural research scientist at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

In addition, both worked for a couple years in Japan teaching English. After they returned to Australia, Sharon studied architecture, while Simon studied building.

“We worked in this industry completing a few projects together whilst juggling two gorgeous kids,” Sharon says.

Following that, the couple travelled around Australia for five years in a motorhome with their children, working as performing artists in theatre and education at primary schools. When they stopped travelling, Simon became a paramedic and Sharon went on to study and teach film.

Simon’s paramedic colleagues were sitting the Gamsat, which caught Sharon’s attention.

She says, “We have always enjoyed working together, so I suggested Simon do the Gamsat as well, and we have both ended up here as doctors working in a rural hospital.”

The couple have always had an interest in health and community service.

“Doctor’s voices are well respected, enabling us to advocate for individuals and communities. We love to travel and volunteer, and medicine is a great vehicle for these,” Simon says.

Both are looking to become hospital-based rural generalists with advanced training skills, practicing in rural and remote Australia.

Sharon’s interests lie in paediatrics, mental health and pain medicine, while Simon is interested in emergency medicine, obstetrics, and anaesthetics.

“When travelling with the theatre-in-education work, we became aware of the shortage of doctors in rural and remote towns in Australia. We have always had a natural tendency to fill in gaps and go where the need is greatest. We also really want to become involved with a community,” Sharon says.

While many of their colleagues are in their 20s, both agree there are benefits to being older.

“Our children are now adults and that gives us more time and space to be at work, mentally and physically.”

Simon adds, “We have a lot of life experience. We have an understanding of parenting and all its joys and demands, and the health needs of aging and dying parents. As well, we are more likely to insist on a safe and healthy workplace culture and speak up.”

In terms of disadvantages, there are a few.

“Perhaps not being as technically savvy as the generations that grew up with smartphones. Or being mistaken for the consultant – whoops!” Sharon says.