Doctors’ Health Charter & Intern Oath

A Commitment to Caring — For Patients & Ourselves

Medicine is built on compassion, professionalism, and responsibility. These guiding principles remind doctors and medical students that caring for
others also requires caring for themselves, their colleagues, and the
broader healthcare community.

The Doctors’ Health Charter and Intern Oath encourage a healthier medical culture — one that values integrity, wellbeing, lifelong learning, and
respectful patient care.

Need Support? Contact DHASWA

Doctors’ Health Charter

The Doctors’ Health Charter promotes a culture where doctors’ wellbeing is recognised as essential to high-quality healthcare. It encourages healthcare organisations, workplaces, and medical professionals to prioritise physical health, mental wellbeing, respectful workplaces, and safe support pathways for doctors and medical students.

“Healthy doctors provide safer, higher-quality care.”

Doctors’ Health Charter

Right to Safety

Rights of Doctors

Doctors have the right to a safe work environment.
Doctors have the right to feel physically and emotionally safe.

Responsibilities of Doctor

To follow safe work policies and procedures.
To participate in training.
To treat others with respect (colleagues, staff, students, patients).
To report to supervisor or designated ‘safe’ contact any instances of bullying or harassment to yourself or others.

Responsibilities of Health Service

To provide a safe working environment including necessary training.
To provide a ‘safe’ first point of contact for any doctor in difficulty.
To provide a confidential system for reporting bullying, harassment or disrespectful behaviour, including stigmatisation of doctors with health conditions. All allegations are to be taken seriously.
To provide appropriate training and support for supervisors and designated ‘safe’ contacts.

Right to Consideration and Accommodations of Health Needs

Rights of Doctors

Doctors should have access to sick leave in accordance with their industrial agreement.
Where possible, doctors with health conditions should be supported at work and when returning to work after illness.
Doctors with health conditions or disabilities have a right to reasonable accommodations under State and Commonwealth legislation.

Responsibilities of Doctor

To have their own GP who they see for health-related conditions and to be a good patient.
To notify their employer when taking sick leave and complete appropriate forms.
To produce a medical certificate where required under their industrial agreement.
To accept reasonable OHS assistance and follow their recommendations.
To provide appropriate medical certification (stating any restrictions to work) when required.
To not work when an impairment significantly affects their ability to work.
To notify the employer if they require adjustments, accommodations or work restrictions.

Responsibilities of Health Service

To have adequate leave cover for reasonably estimated sick leave loads.
Where possible, to arrange leave cover for sick leave.
To support workers to take appropriate sick leave.
Where possible, to support doctors requiring restricted work conditions.
Where possible, to provide doctors with graduated return to work.
To assist and support doctors with illness, including with a period of supernumerary support when returning to work where needed and practicable.
To provide reasonable accommodations where practicable.

Right to Good Employment Practices

Rights of Doctors

Doctors have the right to be consulted on matters that affect their working conditions, including rosters and work practices.
Doctors should have access to annual and professional development leave each year.
Doctors’ rostered working hours should reflect usual working hours and all legitimate claims to unrostered overtime paid.
Doctors have a right to work/life balance.
Doctors should have access to part-time work in accordance with their industrial agreement.

Responsibilities of Doctor

To assist the employer in the development of rosters and changes in work practices.
To apply for leave as early as possible and, where possible, take leave at a time that is mutually convenient with the employer.
To only claim unrostered overtime retrospectively if it is required for immediate patient care and could not reasonably be undertaken by a doctor rostered on duty.
To inform your medical employment unit if usual working hours change.
Where possible, to put their own health needs first in their life.
To be mindful of the needs of other doctors when requesting leave or specific rostered hours.
To make reasonable requests for part-time work that help meet the employer’s service needs and be mindful of the needs of other doctors.

Responsibilities of Health Service

To prospectively consult doctors on matters that affect their working conditions, including rosters and work practices.
To have adequate leave cover for annual and professional development leave that is reasonably foreseeable.
Work units that provide internal leave cover should be adequately staffed to meet reasonably foreseeable leave needs.
Supervisors should support the legitimate claiming of unrostered overtime.
Doctors should not be intimidated into not claiming overtime, or be victimised if they do claim legitimate overtime.
Where possible, to respect doctors’ rights to work/life balance by worker-friendly rostering.
Where possible, to be fair to all doctors in the allocation of leave and development of rosters.
Where possible, to have a range of flexible part-time options for all doctor groups.

Why Doctors’ Health Matters

Research continues to show that many doctors face barriers to accessing healthcare, often delaying support for physical or mental health concerns. Doctors also experience higher risks of burnout, stress, anxiety, and professional fatigue compared with many other professions.

Supporting doctors’ wellbeing benefits:

Intern Oath

The Intern Oath represents the beginning of a doctor’s professional journey. It reflects a commitment to ethical practice, compassionate care, professional responsibility, and lifelong learning.

Developed by the AMA(WA) Doctors in Training Welfare Committee in conjunction with DHASWA

I swear in the presence of my capable and esteemed colleagues I will:

Look after myself and my colleagues in the face of adversity and 80 unfinished discharge summaries

Speak up against bullying, harassment or unprofessional behaviour in my workplace

Stay at home when I am sicker than my patients

Be hydrated enough not to initiate MET calls for my low urine output

First take my own pulse in an emergency, and check on my colleagues’ wellbeing as part of post resuscitation care

Ask for help if I am struggling, having a bad day, or having difficulty responding to 11 simultaneous pages

Prioritise my allocated education time over non-urgent administrative tasks

Not feel guilty over taking my half day or claiming hard earned overtime, and support my colleagues to do the same

Be a doctor to everyone but not my family, friends or to myself

Have my own GP and prioritise physical and mental wellbeing to set a good example, and to protect my patients

Prioritise my allocated education time over non-urgent administrative tasks

Not feel guilty over taking my half day or claiming hard earned overtime, and support my colleagues to do the same

Supporting Interns & Early
Career Doctors

Internship and early medical training can be exciting, rewarding, and
challenging. Long hours, emotional pressure, exams, and workplace stress can impact wellbeing and confidence.

Resources & Downloads

Download the full charter document outlining wellbeing principles for the medical profession.

Access the Intern Oath document for medical students and early-career doctors.

Explore workplace wellbeing strategies for healthcare organisations.

Find GPs and Clinical Psychologists experienced in caring for doctors.

A Commitment to Caring — For Patients & Ourselves

Doctors’ Health Charter

“Healthy doctors provide safer, higher-quality care.”

Doctors’ Health Charter

Why Doctors’ Health Matters

Supporting doctors’ wellbeing benefits:

Intern Oath

Supporting Interns & Early
Career Doctors

Resources & Downloads

Join Our Doctors for Doctors Network

DHASWA 24/7 Advice Line:

General Enquiries:

Address:

Stay in touch and follow us on social media

DHASWA 24/7 Advice Line

General Enquires

A Commitment to Caring — For Patients & Ourselves

Doctors’ Health Charter

“Healthy doctors provide safer, higher-quality care.”

Doctors’ Health Charter

Why Doctors’ Health Matters

Supporting doctors’ wellbeing benefits:

Intern Oath

Supporting Interns & Early Career Doctors

Resources & Downloads

Join Our Doctors for Doctors Network

DHASWA 24/7 Advice Line:

General Enquiries:

Address:

Stay in touch and follow us on social media

DHASWA 24/7 Advice Line

General Enquires

Supporting Interns & Early
Career Doctors