SafeDr: Empowering Safe Doctors for Safer Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get help?

There are myriads of high-quality health care options available for clinicians including:

A trusted independent GP or psychologist for objective assessment, advice, and evidence-based treatment.

There are often employer, college, or training program wellbeing services, including confidential Employee Assistance Programs.

Doctors can also access dedicated services such as:

Doctors’ Health Alliance

Hand-n-Hand Peer Support

Anonymous helplines can be used for informal debriefing including Lifeline, the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline and online mental health resources listed under contents 2. Help now.

How can I speak up about poor working conditions and bullying without damaging my career?

• Document evidence discreetly: Keep secure, factual records of incidents, witnesses, and impacts. Patterns of repetitive abuse often emerge over time.

• Maintain professionalism: Assume every conversation, email or post could later be scrutinised if you report an incident or make a complaint.

• Re-read the rules: Review your employer’s WHS policies and the Ahpra Code of Conduct. Definitions of bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, and verbal violence are often misunderstood, under-reported and ignored. Build your WHS literacy and recognise both overt and indirect unlawful behaviours.

• Understand your protections: Contemporary WHS and whistle blower laws are your career armour. Legal literacy gives confidence to manage toxic behaviour and protect yourself.

• Find allies: Seek informal support from trusted peers and senior colleagues. Collective support deters perpetrators and protects you from retaliation.

• Act collectively: Escalate issues through internal reporting pathways as a like-minded group. Expect denial, lies and pushback from bullies – stay calm, stick to facts, and avoid scapegoating, especially during prolonged investigations. Group interventions carry more weight and lower the risk of personal or career reprisal.

• Obtain legal or professional advice: First seek early, independent guidance from your indemnity provider. Private legal advice can be costly and combative but sometimes necessary. If you require external WHS advice, seek information from the Human Rights Commission, State Anti-Discrimination Boards, Fair Work Commission, and state WHS regulators.

• Hold leadership accountable: With your allies, request formal WHS interventions and advocate for system change when risks are evident. Psychosocial hazards such as discrimination and reprisals against whistle blowers are now unlawful, carrying penalties for employers including fines, reputational damage, and imprisonment. Remind leaders of their duties if they fail to respond effectively.

• Protect your mental health: Seek confidential, early support from a trusted GP, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Navigating the speak-up process alone is difficult, particularly if it is prolonged. What is often labelled “burnout” may instead be an untreated work-related mental injury such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. With timely, evidence-based care, full recovery is likely. Mandatory reporting does not apply when you seek confidential treatment.

• Where SafeDr fits: The main barrier to WHS compliance is complexity – multiple regulators, dense guidance and shifting legal language. SafeDr is a free, 24/7 resource that puts WHS literacy in every clinician’s pocket, replacing fear with practical prevention and protection.

SafeDr: safe clinicians deliver safer patient care.

Also see the main contents.

Feedback for SafeDr

Questions or Comments

SafeDr seeks your feedback to help us continually update and improve the content and functionality of this site, particularly in addressing issues like bullying in medicine. SafeDr is not an advice or support service, and we are unable to respond to your questions or comments regarding workplace abuse or other concerns.

For assistance and support, please contact your treating GP, psychologist, or the Doctors' Health Line at 1800006888, available 24/7. Our commitment to safer patient care aligns with the WHS law reforms aimed at enhancing workplace environments for healthcare professionals.

You can find "Every Doctor: healthier doctors = healthier patients" available online through Taylor and Francis or Booktopia.

SafeDr: safe clinicians = safer patients

Open today

09:00 am – 05:00 pm

About SafeDr: safe doctors = safer patients

Who am I?

To respond more effectively to workplace abuse and the issue of bullying in medicine, I compiled a personal WHS resource drawn from my 45 years of clinical experience and research. With valuable input from my strong network of colleagues, my small personal project evolved into SafeDr: a platform designed to put Australia’s groundbreaking

My core belief is simple: safe clinicians deliver safer patient care. The health system must be a leader—not a laggard—in WHS, to protect patients, and all clinicians, and to set a positive example for every Australian workplace.

With decades of experience as a rural GP, I continue to see patients suffering from serious physical and psychological injuries.

For years, I have also served as a non-executive director, including past roles chairing public and private hospital boards, holding positions on RACGP Council, and serving as Deputy Chancellor of Monash University.

Through this extensive experience, I have gained valuable medico-legal expertise in work health and safety. My qualifications include: MD (for research in cognitive behavioural therapy), MB BS, FRACGP, Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Doctor of Laws (LLD, Honoris Causa).

I love writing and have published 11 books, including co-authoring the second edition of Every Doctor: healthier doctors = healthier patients (published by Taylor & Francis). Additionally, I write regular opinion pieces focusing on clinicians’ mental health and WHS for MJA Insight+.

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Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge Federal and State regulators and commissions that oversee work health and safety (WHS) in Australia for the rich information on their websites, which has informed the content of the SafeDr website, including:

Safe Work Australia, WorkSafe Victoria (Vic), SafeWork NSW (NSW), WorkSafe Queensland (QLD), WorkSafe WA (WA)

Safe Work Australia, WorkSafe Victoria (Vic), SafeWork NSW (NSW), WorkSafe Queensland (QLD), WorkSafe WA (WA), SafeWork South Australia (SA), WorkSafe ACT (ACT), WorkSafe Tasmania (Tas), Northern Territory WorkSafe (NT),

Federal (Commonwealth) Comcare,

Fair Work Commission,

Fair Work Ombudsman,

Australian Human Rights Commission,

NSW Anti-Discrimination Board,

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission,

Equal Opportunity Commission SA, Queensland Human Rights Commission,

Equal Opportunity Commission WA,

ACT Human Rights Commission,

NT Anti-Discrimination Commission,

Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tasmania,

National and State-based Mental Health Commissions.

The resources on their respective websites are crucial, especially as we navigate WHS law reforms and address workplace abuse in healthcare and the wider community.

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Disclaimer

The information provided by SafeDr is for general information only and does not include medical, health, financial, or legal advice. This is particularly important in the context of bullying and other forms of workplace abuse in medicine, where professional guidance is essential.

SafeDr is not a substitute for professional advice, and the

SafeDr is not a substitute for professional advice, and therefore, before taking any actions based on such information, SafeDr encourages you to consult with appropriate health and legal professionals to ensure safer patient care.

SafeDr does not make any representations regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information found on the app or the links to external websites.

The website contains links to government and other websites or content belonging to third parties. Any feedback on these external websites should be directed to those sites.

Under no circumstances shall SafeDr have any liability for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of your use of the website or reliance on any information provided on the website. Your use of the website and reliance on any information is solely at your own risk, especially in light of continually evolving WHS law reforms aimed at addressing workplace abuse.

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SafeDr: Safe Clinicians for Safer Patient Care

SafeDr: safe doctors = safer patients

Frequently Asked Questions