Doctors at several major public hospitals in Melbourne are set to walk off the job on August 13, marking the first protected industrial action by Victorian public hospital doctors in two decades. The strike, scheduled to last from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., follows 12 months of stalled negotiations between the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victoria, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), and the state government. While emergency departments and critical frontline services are expected to remain operational, the action will impact facilities in Parkville and the Melbourne CBD, including the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Children's Hospital, and the Royal Women's Hospital.
The industrial action comes after 97 per cent of union members voted in favor of the move, citing concerns over high levels of fatigue, stress, and excessive workloads. Union representatives have highlighted that many doctors and consultants are not compensated for overtime, leading to a push for better pay and more sustainable working conditions. In addition to the stop-work rally on Grattan Street, doctors will begin statewide actions, such as refusing to answer non-urgent emails and phone calls from management, disrupting patient billing, and declining to work unscheduled overtime.
Patients at the affected hospitals have been advised that non-life-threatening appointments may need to be rescheduled. The union has emphasized that the action is carefully designed to minimize disruption to patient care, with many doctors choosing to remain on duty to ensure their colleagues can participate without compromising safety. As the dispute continues, the focus remains on whether the government will return to the negotiating table with a revised offer that addresses the systemic issues raised by the medical workforce.