The mental health of Australians has been the cornerstone of my career. From my frontline work as a psychologist in major NSW hospitals to my current role as CEO of the Australian Patients Association, my focus has always been unwavering: putting patients first.
It is from this perspective that I find the looming mass resignation of 201 out of 260 public hospital staff specialist psychiatrists in NSW deeply troubling.
This drastic action, a response to unmet demands for improved employment conditions as part of industrial action, threatens to leave society’s most vulnerable without access to critical care. Such a co-ordinated withdrawal risks overwhelming an already fragile system, with devastating consequences for patients and their families.
This is not a viable outcome.
While a gradual loss of staff is damaging but manageable, a sudden exodus of this scale would be catastrophic. The stakes are simply too high for this course of action.
Psychiatrists are advocating for a 25 per cent pay increase to address critical workforce shortages in NSW, where one-third of public psychiatrist positions remain unfilled.
Beyond the issue of remuneration, psychiatrists are also spotlighting the severe strain on the NSW public mental health system.
Overcrowded emergency departments, psychiatric wards operating perpetually at capacity, and inpatient units often characterised by violence and overwhelming stress all point to a system in crisis. The personal toll on psychiatrists working in such conditions is immense.
Let me be unequivocal: public hospital psychiatric services save lives. These professionals are driven by a deep sense of purpose and social justice, tirelessly supporting those in crisis. They deserve fair pay, improved conditions, and our utmost respect. However, mass resignation is not the solution. I urge my colleagues to reconsider this drastic step.
For the sake of your patients, your colleagues, and the future of mental health care in NSW, I urge you to stay the course and fight for change from within.
The stakes are too high, and your voice has never been more needed.
Lisa Robins is CEO, Australian Patients Association