The Junior Medical Officers who recentlystarted back at public hospitals will benefit from several new projects under a$1 million package aimed at improving their health and wellbeing.
NSWHealth Deputy Secretary, People, Culture and Governance Phil Minns, said the JMO Be Well Program has provided fundingfor eight new projects across the state over the next three years.
"The NSW Government is committed toaddressing burnout and mental health issues among our hardworking young doctorswith local programs that best address their needs," Mr Minns said.
"It is part of a comprehensive plan toimprove the training and working environment of Junior Medical Officers andensure they have a long, rewarding career in our world-class public healthsystem."
Asat June 2018 there were 7,693 full time equivalent Junior Medical Officersworking for NSW Health, an increase of 18 per cent over the past five years.
The new projects are in addition to the JMO Wellbeing and Support Plan launchedin November 2017.
"I'm confident these initiatives will providea real benefit to Junior Medical Officers as they progress through theirtraining," Mr Minns said.
The new projects followthe release of the second Your Trainingand Wellbeing Matters Survey, which shows the number of junior doctors who agree theirhospital supports junior doctor training has increased, up five percentagepoints to 74 per cent.
The eight new projects under the JMO Be Well Program are:
- Nepean Blue Mountains: Enhancing JMO mental health and wellbeingthrough culture interventions. A project to assist JMOs to assess, monitorand optimise their wellbeing through programs administered by trainedfacilitators, backed up by targeted research to identify cultural factorsinfluencing JMOs confidence, performance and wellbeing.
- Sydney Local HealthDistrict: BTOK for JMOs. Funding toexpand the rollout of the successful BPTOK program to all interns, residentsand senior resident medical officers.
- South Eastern SydneyLHD; JMO Mental Health First Aid – trainthe trainer. A project to train those who supervise and work with JMOs intechniques to assist JMOs in distress or facing difficulties in the workplace.
- St Vincent's Hospital Network:Centre of Excellence for AboriginalJunior Doctors. A project to specifically support Aboriginal junior doctorsin their training, and encourage them into leadership positions.
- Murrumbidgee LHD: Pre-Reg Ready! A program to assist JMOswith the stresses and pressures of rural rotations and in transition to moresenior roles.
- NorthernSydney Local Health District: Rethinkingthe Medical Workforce at Royal North Shore Hospital. A project to undertakea systematic evidence based evaluation of JMOs' workloads to identify areas ofpressure and develop solutions, such as workforce redistribution and worksubstitution.
- Hunter New England LHD: Return to Work Program for JMOs. A program to assist JMOs withreturning to work after an absence, such as parental leave, using simulationtechniques.
- Illawarra ShoalhavenLHD: Balint group support for JMOs.This project introduces an established technique of facilitated group programsto assist JMOs support both patients and each other.
More detailsabout wellbeing initiatives and the JMO survey are available on the NSW Healthwebsite at www.health.nsw.gov.au/jmo-wellbeingand www.health.nsw.gov.au/training-wellbeing-survey
