The prime leaders in the ACT’s health sector have agreed to join together to improve workplace culture and staff engagement across the sector in response to the recent independent review.
The final report of the Independent Review into the Workplace Culture within ACT Public Health Services was released last week making 20 recommendations.
The joint response of the ACT Health Directorate, Canberra Health Services and Calvary ACT will result in the organisations working together to implement the recommendations and drive cultural change.
Director-General of the Health Directorate, Michael De’Ath said the leaders saw the release of the final report as a turning point for the staff who worked in the health services.
“The findings present the opportunity for the Territory’s public health system to acknowledge the serious cultural issues within its workplaces and to move forward together,” Mr De’Ath said.
“The independent review has been important for our public health system and for the staff who work in our health services.”
He said that through the governance processes that would be established, including a new Implementation Steering Group and Team, the health leaders would work together to ensure every recommendation of the review was implemented.
Chief Executive of Canberra Health Services, Bernadette McDonald (pictured) said the review provided an invaluable opportunity for staff to speak up at a time when the new organisation was working collaboratively to finalise its organisational structure and develop its vision, role and behaviour.
“Considerable work to address issues raised in the report is already well under way, including the development and delivery of training courses for staff, the institution of an Occupational Violence Working Group and the introduction of an Employee Advocate role,” Ms McDonald said.
Her comments were echoed by Regional Chief Executive Officer of Calvary ACT, Barbara Reid who said progress had already been made with the rollout of an improved reporting system that enabled staff-to-staff issues to be confidentially reported.
“We plan a substantial increase in training and skills development for our leadership and management team members that will assist them to develop more positive workplaces, increase employee engagement and effectively resolve issues that impact on workplace culture and employee satisfaction,” Ms Reid said.
The 90-page report of the review can be accessed at this PS News link.
