The Australian Medical Association has launched a new online interactive tool to help doctors-in-training (DiTs) make sense of complex enterprise bargaining agreements (EBAs) and awards across the country.
The National Employment Conditions Comparison Tool — AMA neXt — provides DiTs with an easy-to-understand snapshot of important rights and working conditions such as salary, base hours, penalty rates and leave entitlements in the public health sector in each state and territory.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said AMA neXt would help DiTs cut through the weeds of EBAs and awards, which are notoriously complex and difficult to find.
"AMA neXt can help doctors-in-training at a pivotal and stressful time of their lives, when they are wondering where the best place is for them to advance their medical career," Dr McMullen said.
"The AMA is a strong advocate for ensuring doctors-in-training in public hospitals have access to fair and equitable working conditions, no matter where they work in Australia.
"EBAs and awards are inconsistent in each state and territory and are often hard to understand, leading to stress and potential confusion among doctors-in-training about what their rights are."
AMA neXt allows users to make simple side-by-side comparisons of employment conditions in each jurisdiction.
AMA Council of Doctors in Training Chair Dr Sanjay Hettige said AMA neXt could help DiTs to better understand their collective rights, leading to more opportunities for advocacy.
"Not only will this tool help doctors-in-training understand their rights at a glance, but it will also spark discussions about employment conditions for public hospital doctors across the country," Dr Hettige said.
"Countless surveys — including many of the Hospital Health Check reports — have shown doctors-in-training often feel unsafe and fatigued at work in Australia.
"The AMA's Specialist Trainee Experience Health Check also consistently uncovers issues relating to unpaid overtime and a lack of support for doctors-in-training.
"It can be daunting navigating complex EBAs and awards, but we hope AMA neXt can help doctors-in-training along their journey, while also highlighting the critical importance of safe employment conditions."
AMA neXt is currently open to all users.
