Junior doctors in Australia face intense workloads, with registrars in New South Wales averaging 54.8 hours per week and 17.3% working 70 hours or more, according to an Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation survey. It was also reported that Postgraduate medical trainees score worse than average across three domains used to measure burnout.
Junior Doctor Work Hours Across Australian States
Long working hours remain standard practice for medical trainees nationwide. In South Australia, 24% of doctors in training log over 50 hours per week, with half reporting heavy or very heavy workloads. Similarly, the 2025 Medical Training Survey conducted by Ahpra revealed that 45% of more than 18,000 respondents experienced heavy or very heavy workloads.
Dr Emma Hodge, a Queensland doctor completing specialist training in medical administration, noted that clinical tasks, exam preparation, and study frequently push work past rostered hours. Shift work and emotional responsibilities often crowd out personal care activities like exercising and seeing friends.
Culture of Unpaid Overtime and Financial Pressures
Despite heavy schedules, unremunerated hours are common. Ahpra’s training survey found that 12% of doctors in training never receive pay for unrostered overtime, and 19% never submit a claim for those hours.
Regional variations persist in reporting and claiming practices. In New South Wales, where doctors in training earn the least, only 45% of ASMOF survey respondents claimed all their overtime due to strong cultural pressure against it. Meanwhile, 19% of residents in Queensland reported receiving explicit advice not to submit overtime claims, and 38% of over 1,300 junior doctors in Western Australia cited systemic or cultural barriers as the primary deterrent against claiming.
Systemic Versus Individual Drivers of Medical Burnout
Dr Tom Morrison, a neurosurgery registrar and junior vice-president of ASMOF, argued that the responsibility for addressing fatigue belongs to the healthcare system rather than individual practitioners. Dr Morrison recounted finishing a shift at Liverpool Hospital at 10:00 pm, being called back in from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, and starting his next shift at 7:00 that morning.
Strategies for Managing Burnout
To mitigate burnout, practitioners are encouraged to connect daily tasks to their purpose and treat mistakes as learning opportunities instead of definitive failures. Setting long-term career goals is recommended to maintain short-term motivation, while advocating for systemic change addresses the drivers of the problem.
Support networks are considered vital, with advice to prioritise quality time with family and close friends and to communicate work pressures openly to loved ones. Other suggested steps include maintaining a regular GP, asking for help early, and establishing a “third space” for unwinding outside of home and work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Junior Doctor Burnout
What percentage of junior doctors report heavy workloads?
According to Ahpra’s 2025 Medical Training Survey, 45% of more than 18,000 respondents described their workload as heavy or very heavy. In South Australia, 50% of doctors in training report heavy or very heavy workloads.
How many hours do medical registrars work on average in New South Wales?
Registrars in New South Wales average 54.8 hours per week, with 17.3% clocking up 70 hours or more, according to data from an ASMOF survey.
Why do junior doctors avoid claiming overtime pay?
Survey data indicates that 12% of trainees never get paid for unrostered overtime and 19% never claim it. In New South Wales, only 45% of ASMOF respondents claimed all overtime due to cultural pressure, while 19% of Queensland residents reported being explicitly advised not to submit claims.
What strategies do specialists recommend for managing individual burnout?
Practitioners are also advised to protect their time off by turning off work emails on rest days and pursuing hobbies to maintain an identity outside of medicine.
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