In This Section
Christmas comes early for junior doctors, thanks to a recent SDQ win on the issue of rotation and appointment expenses in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
Junior doctors that have rotated or been appointed to the Central Health District will be aware that Queensland Health have a "policy" of paying only $2500 towards relocation expenses. Other districts also have limitations on this entitlement.
It is SDQ’s opinion that this is a clear breach of the award, which states; "all reasonable costs on appointment incurred by Resident Medical Officers will be paid by the appointing District".
This matter was tested for an individual junior doctor today in the QIRC and Queensland Health agreed to pay the full amount of his relocation. While this was done on a without prejudice basis, this is a huge win for this doctor in particular and potentially for all junior doctors.
The Commission and Queensland Health also agreed that the various policies relating to rotation and appointment should be reviewed with the unions at the medical consultative forum.
Salaried Doctors Queensland is now looking for a critical mass of appointment and relocation complaints so that we may bring this matter forward to the commission to have this issue arbitrated. If you have an issue with rotation and appointment expenses can you forward them to SDQ.
Congratulations to all junior doctors for raising these concerns – It is only through your involvement that we can hope to change your entitlements for the better of all.