9. Seek support early

Seek support, protect your career

Given the extent of WHS breaches in the health system, it is not surprising that doctors require support like other employees and contractors.

Practical steps if you experience medical workplace abuse or a work-related mental health concern:

1. Seek confidential personal and professional support first

2. Use internal and external incident reporting

3. Use whistle blower protections if the matter is unlawful

4. Notify national and state authorities (regulators) for bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, racism, verbal/physical violence, mental injury

5. Obtain legal advice

6. Make a workers’ compensation claim (physical or psychological injury)

There are many options for highly confidential preventive support, early intervention, or crisis response — without embarrassment, career damage, or risking a mandatory report.

1. Seek confidential personal and professional support first

Protect your mental health — seek early, confidential support:

Your trusted independent GP or psychologist.
Your employer or college wellness program or a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Doctors’ Health Alliance — Doctors’ Health Line 24/7: 1800 006 888 (free services for doctors and medical students across Australia). NSW & ACT: 02 9437 6552 | NT & SA: 08 8366 0250 | QLD: 07 3833 4352 | TAS & ACT: 1300 374 377 | VIC: 1300 330 543 | WA: 08 9321 3098 | New Zealand: 0800 471 2654
Drs4Drs — connect to a counsellor: 1300 374 377
Hand-n-Hand Peer Support: https://www.handnhand.org.au/

Anonymous help lines:

Lifeline (24/7): 13 11 14
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015
SMART Recovery Australia: https://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au/
Australian Drug Foundation (service finder): https://adf.org.au/help-support/search/
Drug and Alcohol Counselling Online (24/7): https://counsellingonline.org.au/
Family Drug Support (for families): 1300 368 186

Online mental health resources:

The Essential Network (TEN) App — Black Dog Institute: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/the-essential-network/
Hand-n-Hand peer support: https://www.handnhand.org.au/
myCompass (online CBT) — Black Dog Institute: https://www.mycompass.org.au/
Beyond Blue (workplace): https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/before-blue/employee

Assisted call services:

National Translating and Interpreting Service: 13 14 50
National Relay Service: 13 36 77

2. Internal and external incident reporting

Check your employer’s intranet/website for the correct procedure. You may be asked to speak to a supervisor or manager before lodging a written report. Keep employer and after-hours emergency contacts in your phone.

People you may need to contact (as appropriate): a Health and Safety Representative; practice manager; HR; the Australian Medical Association; the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation; police (immediate risk/emergency).

Follow the policy in order. Do not go straight to the Chair/CEO or an external body unless the matter is criminal — in which case notify police immediately.

If you fear career damage, consider:

A. Document discreetly: secure, factual records of incidents, witnesses, and impacts (patterns often emerge).

B. Maintain professionalism: assume communications may be scrutinised if a complaint is made.

C. Find allies: collective support from peers/senior colleagues deters perpetrators and protects you.

D. Re-read the rules: your employer’s WHS policies and the Medical Board’s Code of Conduct; see Topic 6 for definitions (bullying, discrimination, etc.).

E. Know your protections: WHS and whistleblower law literacy is career armour.

F. Seek early expert advice: contact your MDO before speaking up.

G. Act collectively: escalate as a like-minded group via internal reporting; confidential systems should protect whistleblowers and prohibit retaliation.

H. Expect pushback: stay calm, stick to facts, refuse scapegoating, especially during prolonged investigations.

I. Use free guidance first: Australian Human Rights Commission, State/Territory Anti-Discrimination bodies, Fair Work Commission, or your state WHS regulator.

J. Mandatory reporting thresholds: seek advice from your MDO and allies before any Ahpra notification of a colleague at risk of harming patients (see topic 10).

K. Hold leadership accountable: request formal WHS interventions and system changes when risks are evident. Psychosocial hazards (discrimination, racism, sex discrimination and harassment, bullying, violence) and reprisals against whistle blowers are unlawful; penalties include fines, reputational damage, and imprisonment (see topic 3).

Professional bodies:

Australian Medical Association (AMA) — doctors’ rights, legal assistance, workplace advice: https://www.ama.com.au/act/membership-benefits

Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) — WHS advocacy, representation before tribunals and in employer negotiations: https://www.asmof.org.au

3. Use whistle blower protections if the matter is unlawful

If your employer is a registered entity, you can make a protected (and if needed, anonymous) whistleblowing disclosure to the most senior person or governing body. Whistle blowers are legally protected when reporting suspected unlawful conduct (e.g., fraud, corruption, HR abuses, drug-related offences). Retaliation — identity disclosure, dismissal, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, reputational harm — is a criminal offence and a civil breach.

Resources (Fair Work Commission):

Whistleblower Disclosures Fact Sheet: https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/organisations/resources/fs003-whistleblower-disclosures-fact-sheet.pdf

Whistleblower Protections Overview: https://www.fwc.gov.au/registered-organisations/whistleblowing/whistleblower-protections

Additional Whistleblowing Resources: https://www.fwc.gov.au/registered-organisations/whistleblowing/whistleblowing-resources

4. Notify national and state authorities (regulators)

Know what constitutes a reportable harmful behaviour (see Topic 6): https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/mental-health/psychosocial-hazards/harmful-behaviours

Bullying: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/bullying

Sexual and gender-based harassment: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/sexual-and-gender-based-harassment

Discrimination (Fair Work Commission): https://www.fwc.gov.au/issues-we-help/discrimination

Racism: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/racism

Workplace violence and aggression: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/workplace-violence-and-aggression

Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC): handles complaints under federal discrimination laws (sex, disability, race, age), plus irrelevant criminal record and religious belief discrimination in employment.

Causes & risk factors factsheet: https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/factsheet_-_causes_and_risk_factors_of_sex_discrimination_sexual_harassment_and_other_unlawful_behaviours_0_0_0.pdf

How to make a complaint: https://humanrights.gov.au/complaints#main-content

State/Territory contacts:

Anti-discrimination bodies: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/website-information/related-sites#anti-discrimination

WHS regulators and related government sites: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/other-workplace-relations-help/related-government-sites#workplace-health-and-safety

Bullying — additional mechanisms:

Safe Work Australia guide: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/guide-preventing-responding-workplace-bullying.pdf

Fair Work Commission — stop-bullying (eligibility + lodge): https://www.fwc.gov.au/issues-we-help/bullying/what-do-if-youre-bullied-work

Workplace Advice Service (free legal advice if eligible) and translated information: https://www.fwc.gov.au/about-us/information-your-language

Fair Work Ombudsman — help if stop-bullying orders not complied with: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/contact-us

Sexual harassment — support and reporting:

1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732

Respect@Work Information Service (AHRC): Phone 1300 656 419 | Email respect@humanrights.gov.au

Seeking support — counselling & services (factsheet): https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/factsheet_-_seeking_support_-_counselling_and_support_services_0_0_0.pdf

Fair Work — sexual harassment at work: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/bullying-sexual-harassment-and-discrimination-at-work/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace

Translating and Interpreting Service: 131 450

Discrimination — additional supports:

AHRC support services list: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/list-support-services

FWC discrimination hub: https://www.fwc.gov.au/issues-we-help/discrimination

Protection from discrimination at work: see your State/Territory Equal Opportunity/Anti-Discrimination agency (NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, NT, TAS, WA, SA — links via the anti-discrimination page above)

Mental injury — national resources:

National Mental Health Commission: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/

Find support: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/find-support

Safe Work Australia — mental health at work: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/mental-health

5. Legal advice

AMA — legal assistance and advice on routine matters affecting doctors: https://www.ama.com.au/act/membership-benefits

ASMOF — representation before industrial tribunals and in employer negotiations: https://www.asmof.org.au

These associations can advise when to seek private legal counsel.

Government law and justice (state/territory):

(NSW) Law Access; Law and Justice

(VIC) Law and Justice

(ACT) Justice and Community Safety

(QLD) Law and Safety

(NT) Law and Safety

(TAS) Law and Public Safety

(WA) Community Safety

(SA) Crime, Justice and the Law

Legal Aid:

6. How to make a claim for compensation (physical or mental workplace injury)

General information:

Healthdirect — workers’ compensation overview: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/workers-compensation

Psychological injury claims:

Safe Work Australia — psychological injuries: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/workers-compensation/workers-compensation-psychological-injuries

Tip: Save key numbers in your phone, keep a simple incident log, and use collective reporting where possible. Early help protects you — and your patients.

9. Seek support early

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