Senior doctors in South Australia have been found to have used a taxpayer-funded professional development scheme to claim lavish items including a $23,000 watch, a trip to Disneyland for four, and a wellness retreat in Bali, according to an anti-corruption investigation.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) probe into South Australia's professional development fund uncovered extraordinary expenses filed by senior medics in the state. The scheme allows claims of up to $23,000 annually for professional development activity costs and is open to consultants, medical practitioners, and registrars.
Between April 2025 and April 2026, SA Health spent $64 million on the scheme. However, the ICAC investigation revealed some astonishing claims made since its introduction.
Examples of questionable claims
- A $23,000 watch, with the same medical officer claiming $49,000 for four watches over three years
- A five-night trip to Disneyland for four people worth $3,400
- $23,000 in flights and accommodation in the French Alps to attend an online conference
- A $12,000 wellness retreat in Bali
- A $7,340 workbag
- A $1,260 fountain pen
- $68,600 in Apple products, including four watches, five iPads, and four mobile phones, from a single medical officer claim
ICAC Commissioner Emma Townsend said there needed to be greater clarity over what constitutes professional development amid the lavish claims. There is no doubt that the lack of clarity has contributed to the wide range of claims identified during the evaluation, including examples that appear to blur the lines between professional and personal development, she said.
Townsend emphasized that ongoing professional development is critical to maintaining high standards of patient care, supporting workforce capability, and ensuring practitioners keep pace with evolving clinical knowledge and practice. However, with significant public investment comes a responsibility to ensure those funds are used for their intended purpose and deliver value to the public health system and community.
Following the investigation, ICAC made a series of recommendations to prevent abuse of the scheme. These center on calls for greater clarity on what professional development includes and for tighter controls on the approval process.
SA Health chief executive Robyn Lawrence acknowledged the report, stating that the vast majority of medical officers are appropriately using the funding for important professional development purposes. However, SA Health accepts all the recommendations outlined in the report, which will provide medical officers with greater clarity over appropriate professional development spending and ultimately increase protection against corruption, misconduct, and maladministration.
Initial conversations with the South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association took place last year with the aim of introducing a guideline to support line managers when considering the appropriateness of professional development applications. This work was put on hold until the outcome of the ICAC review was known.
