Page 2498 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 1 August 2018
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They found that corporate and clinical governance frameworks and supporting documents have provided staff at all levels and designations with clear direction and accountabilities around their role in safety and quality. They also found that the ACT Health leadership team are clear about the direction, their own roles and responsibilities and the expectations of the organisation. People are being held accountable, but they are also recognised at all levels by the director-general with a personalised phone call to acknowledge and thank them for their work. This has been very powerful in assisting with cultural change.
Finally, they found that there is a new workforce strategy under development which will include details of the workforce accountabilities and responsibilities in safety, quality and risk. There has been targeted education to ensure that staff are aware of their roles in this new environment.
These comments show that we already have external validation that confirms that there is a significantly positive shift in the workforce culture across the organisation. This is why I am proposing an amendment to Mrs Dunne’s motion and why I do not believe a board of inquiry is a necessary or appropriate use of resources at this time. I now move:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that ACT Health:
(a) believes everyone has a right to feel respected, supported and safe at work;
(a) has a policy of zero tolerance towards bullying and takes allegations of bullying very seriously by investigating complaints and taking appropriate action in relation to its employees; and
(b) has an Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Policy that outlines ACT Health’s commitment to providing a safe and harmonious work environment that enhances the achievements of both individual and organisational goals;
(2) further notes that:
(a) the Minister for Health and Wellbeing and the Interim Director-General of ACT Health have made numerous public statements reiterating that the ACT Government has zero tolerance for bullying and that there are safe and respectful pathways available to people wishing to complain about bullying within ACT directorates;
(b) the work undertaken over the past few months with the reaccreditation of Canberra Hospital and Health Services was a testament to the great work of all staff and the leadership team, demonstrating that there is an improving culture at ACT Health;
(c) the ACT Health Services Commissioner has a mandate to receive complaints about the provision of health services in the ACT as an independent party external from ACT Health;
(d) complaints can also be lodged with the ACT Ombudsman, the Auditor General and the Public Sector Standards Commissioner, including through the Public Interest Disclosure (PID) process;
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