Page 1146 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 4 May 2022
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Madam Speaker, it is exciting to see that the culture review program has completed such a significant amount of work, with 82 per cent of the actions implemented. Culture change takes time, and we know that there is much more to do. That is why we will continue to focus on making these changes sustainable across our health system. But in doing so, it is important to acknowledge the incredible work that is happening across the system right now to make our organisations great places to work.
Each organisation in our public health system and every individual team alongside the broader culture review program team have come together to bring these changes to their workplaces. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen excellent work across the system towards reforming culture. We know it is still incredibly hard in our health services right now. The pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic continue, and each organisation remains focused on supporting its staff.
Over the past few weeks, I have been taking the opportunity to engage with the staff at each organisation, now that visitor restrictions have been eased. Many of the nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals and support staff I have spoken with are tired, even exhausted. As a government, we are continuing to listen and respond to what they are telling us so that we can support them to do what they do best. That is why we are taking decisions every week like reducing hours at the AIS vaccination clinic to better reflect demand and engaging the support of private hospitals to address the challenges.
As we approach the final months of the formal culture review implementation program, the oversight group has discussed how we will ensure that there is a continued focus on culture reform through to the delivery of the third annual review. The oversight group’s terms of reference have been updated to reflect its focus in 2022 on embedding culture reform and accountability in business-as-usual structures.
The oversight group will continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations beyond the end of the formal program. This means the strong governance framework that has structured the culture reform process across the territory will also continue as part of the transition to business as usual.
We all recognise that cultural reform across the health system will benefit not only the entire workforce of the three services but also consumers, their families and carers and our non-government partners. The ACT government’s goal continues to be to create an environment where our workforce feels supported, valued and empowered to deliver exceptional health care. I present the following paper:
Workplace Culture within A.C.T. Public Health Services—Biannual update on the implementation of the recommendations of the final report—Update to Assembly resolution of 13 May 2021—Ministerial statement, 4 May 2022.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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