Together, we’re making lasting change.
ACT Junior Doctors Class Action
Junior doctors in the ACT have reached a landmark $31.5 million settlement in their fight for unpaid overtime.
The settlement was approved on 18 December 2024 by the Honourable Justice Snaden in the Federal Court of Australia.
The Court has approved that the Australian Capital Territory and Calvary Health Care ACT will pay the following amounts to resolve the class action:
$25,340,000 representing compensation to be paid to the Applicant and Group Members eligible to participate in the Settlement Scheme.
$2,860,000 in respect of the legal costs and disbursements.
$3,300,000 in respect of the costs of administration and distribution of the Settlement Sum to the Applicant and Group Members.
Our firm, together with Gordon Legal, have been appointed as Scheme Administrator of the Settlement Scheme.
“Junior doctors are almost at the point of no return. Enough is enough. We can’t go on like this”
– Dr Betty Ge, ACT Doctor.
In recent surveys conducted by the Medical Board of Australia, Canberra doctors have complained of bullying, harassment, and underpayment.
Less that 1 in 5 doctors surveyed said they were always paid for their unrostered overtime – the lowest proportion in the country.
“For the future of our profession, we must all listen to what thousands of trainees have told us and work together to build a culture of respect…
We must keep our trainees (doctors) safe and make it safe for them to speak up.”
Dr Anne Tonkin. (Chair, Medical Board of Australia ) ‘Junior docs overworked, underpaid, bullied’,Canberra Times, Feb 2 2021.
Our approach is tailored especially for ACT Doctors in Training.
Partnering up.
To help prosecute this action, we have chosen to partner with Gordon Legal.
Their group litigation, industrial and employment team in Melbourne offers a depth of experience and access to resources.
Working in service.
Litigation is expensive, and we understand junior doctors may not have the means to fight this action alone.
Together with Gordon Legal, we will conduct this case on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis.
Change that lasts.
Compensation does not alone achieve lasting change. That’s why our calls for change don’t stop there.
To bring awareness to these issues we will highlight the need for extra resources, education and training to change the way junior doctors are treated in their workplace.
