Evidence that confidential care for doctors works

Doctors’ Health SA commissioned an independent evaluation to better understand the impact of our program and where it should grow next. Drawing on 2,786 patient encounters, the evaluation found that DHSA provides a valuable, multi-service model of care that supports doctors and medical students with different needs, at different points of help-seeking. It also found that many users intended to engage more regularly with their GP after contact with DHSA, and that rural outreach is especially important for doctors with complex needs.

The evaluation recommended continuation of the DHSA program, expansion of rural outreach, stronger routine patient feedback collection, a new needs assessment of doctors’ health, and further work to understand barriers to access for international medical graduates and specialists.

This matters because doctors need confidential, profession-specific pathways into care, and because supporters, partners and funders deserve evidence that this model is making a difference.

Read the 2025 Program Evaluation Summary Report [PDF] here.