MOCA 6 update - March 2023
Queensland Health presented a revised MOCA 6 offer to ASMOFQ in January 2023 and ASMOFQ provided in-principle agreement to this offer on 3 February 2023.
ASMOFQ has been drafting this new agreement with Queensland Health throughout March, with an aim have it completed soon so that it can be put to ballot for doctors. If this ballot is succesful, then the agreement can be certified by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) and once this occurs, then back pay can be issued.
There are a number of significant wins and improvements for junior doctors within the offer.
The annual wage increase will be 4 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent for the three years of the agreement, and will be back paid from 1 July 2022. Furthermore, there will be a cost-of-living-adjustment payment (COLA) each year of up to 3 per cent depending on the inflation rate of the preceding 12 months.
Overtime provisions have been strengthened such that junior doctors will no longer require prior approval for situations such as late ward rounds, over-run in theatre or outpatient clinics, patient admissions or discharges, clinical handover, and managing a medical emergency or patient transfer. This should enable easier claiming and consistent payment of overtime.
The fatigue provisions have been improved so that junior doctors will have better access to a 10 hour break between shifts or periods of work. Furthermore, there will be system wide review of doctor fatigue and as well as the development of a workload management kit.
A framework to support doctors with disabilities and/or impairments will be developed and implemented. Queensland Health will also conduct a review of the practicalities of implementing longer term contracts for junior doctors.
