Doctors at major public hospitals in Melbourne, including the Royal Melbourne Hospital and facilities in Parkville and Melbourne's CBD, will stop work on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 12:30pm until 4pm. The strike, organized by the Australian Medical Association Victoria (AMAV), is part of an ongoing pay and conditions dispute with the Victorian state government.

AMAV president Simon Jenkins stated that doctors have been negotiating for a better deal for 12 months without success. He highlighted that up to 50% of doctors in training report high levels of fatigue and stress, raising concerns about the potential for errors under such conditions. Additionally, many doctors and consultants reportedly do not receive overtime pay despite working after hours.

Emergency medicine doctors will not participate in the strike. The industrial action will force hospitals to reschedule appointments during the work stoppage.

The AMAV reported that 97% of its union members voted in favor of the protected industrial action, which is the first of its kind in Victorian public hospitals in two decades.

Sources