Some 965 medical interns are beginning their careers as doctors in Victoria's public health system this year.
They will be trained across 27 public health services, with 695 commencing in major Melbourne hospitals, and 271 in regional areas.
Today, the Premier and Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt visited them at St Vincent's Hospital, to introduce them to Victorians and congratulate them on their journey.
This year's intake of interns is backed by a $203 million Allan Labor Government health workforce investment.
This includes $47 million to support Victoria's mental health workers including continuing the psychology registrar program and Junior Medical Officer psychiatry rotations program.
The investment supports the workforce at all stages of their career, including access to education.
The new interns join more than 123,000 public healthcare workers across Victoria. Under our Government:
- The healthcare workforce has grown by more than 50 per cent
- That's more than 40,000 additional nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals and hospital staff
- There are 83 per cent more doctors working in Victoria's public hospital system.
Medical interns play a vital role in the system by delivering essential patient care helping hospitals run well.
Under the guidance of senior doctors, interns rotate through a range of specialties over 47 weeks, including medicine, surgery, emergency, mental health and other clinical areas.
This year, the largest metro intern intakes are Monash Health, Western Health, and Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Regional hospitals welcoming large cohorts of interns include Barwon, Bendigo and Grampians health services.
Only Labor invests in our health system, and only Labor is making health care easier for families to access.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We know one of the biggest cost-of-living worries for families is something going badly with their health. That's why we're investing in public hospitals, nurses and doctors - to help you when you need it."
"More doctors = more care."
As stated by Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
"We're delivering more doctors in our health system, a payrise for nurses, and opening nine new and upgraded hospitals this year."
"Our medical interns are getting world‑class training across metropolitan, regional and rural health services, all while making a real difference to Victorians who rely on their care."
