The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) is demanding urgent action from the NSW Government to address the crisis of severe understaffing in mental health services.
For over a decade, the NSW public health system has been struggling to recruit and retain psychiatrists. NSW had 140 vacancies before the mass resignation in January 2025, when 200 public hospital psychiatrists resigned in protest as a result of the government’s inaction in addressing the crisis.
The matter went to arbitration at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on 17th March.
As part of the arbitration proceedings, ASMOF is calling on the Minns Government to act immediately to fix the crisis by meeting the following conditions:
- Urgently recruiting additional psychiatrists to fill vacancies
- Fully funding training and registration fees to attract new donors
- Providing a 25% pay increase for psychiatrists to stem the flow of doctors leaving NSW
- Establishing a formal Psychiatry Workforce Committee to oversee staffing and recruitment
- Implement a structured dispute resolution process to improve working conditions
ASMOF President Dr. Nick Spooner has warned that the government’s refusal to take action puts lives at risk, stating that “[patients are] waiting for days in emergency departments, deteriorating, because there simply aren’t enough psychiatrists left in the system.”
This has caused emergency department delays, bed closures, and dangerous conditions for both patients and staff.
Mental health patients are waiting for up to 90 hours for care that should be available within hours, according to Dr. Spooner.
“The solution to this crisis is not complicated. It’s about valuing psychiatrists, paying them fairly, and ensuring that NSW has enough doctors to provide the care patients deserve.
“The Minns Government has a choice — fix the problem or let the system collapse completely.”
The NSW Industrial Relations Commission arbitration between ASMOF and the NSW Government will occur from 17th to 21st March.
