‘Forgotten workforce’: Why Barwon Health’s allied health workforce might shrink

There may be less allied health workers available at Barwon Health if better senior representation within the organisation is not provided. Here’s why.

Allied Health professionals rallied outside Geelong hospital on Wednesday against a restructure. Andrew Hewat pictured, Executive Officer of Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The allied health workforce at Barwon Health could shrink unless better and genuine executive representation is provided, the union claims.

The Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) claims there is currently one allied health professionals director at Barwon Health who represents close to 700 workers and reports to the chief nurse.

They claim a proposed restructure would see the removal of this position, meaning allied health workers would be directed by someone outside of their field.

Practitioners are instead calling for Barwon Health to create one chief allied health officer position, on the executive team, who the director would report to.

According to VAHPA the proposed organisational restructure at Barwon Health would be “an attack” on allied health.

About 60 allied health professionals turned out to a rally against organisational changes on Wednesday. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Allied health professionals include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, podiatrists, speech pathologists, cardiac physiologists, radiographers, sonographers and radiation therapists.

There are almost 700 allied health professionals working at Barwon Health offering services across the emergency department, hospital wards, across outpatient and in home care services, and in rehabilitation.

A group of workers from Barwon Health held a rally on Wednesday afternoon in front of Geelong hospital.

VAHPA executive officer Andrew Hewat said he worked at Barwon Health on and off for 40 years until his recent retirement.

He said current staff could leave the organisation if better representation at the higher levels wasn’t provided, and recruiting new staff would be more difficult, leading to a lower quality and availability of services for patients.

“Part of the career pathway is looking for those senior positions (which wouldn’t be available under the restructure),” he said.

Andrew Hewat said staff morale was the lowest he had ever seen it amid the proposed changes. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“Barwon Health are leaving us out of the conversation … it will lead to a loss of (workers).

“We do feel like a forgotten workforce.

“If you don’t respect … resource (and) protect us, the services are going to deteriorate as a consequence.”

Mr Hewat said having an allied health professional in charge of allied health would ensure “the right people are in the right place at the right time to provide the best and most appropriate patient care”.

“Barwon Health is disrespecting allied health professionals and they won’t stand for it,” he said.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said the organisation was committed to working with staff and unions on the proposed changes and is confident it will benefit patients, carers and their families.

“The proposed structure is designed to strengthen the way we work across teams and

improve the way we coordinate patient-centred care,” she said.

“As outlined in the change impact statement there will be no job losses and no reduction in

the delivery of allied health services across Barwon Health.”

Since 2021 Barwon Health has employed approximately 80 additional allied health professionals.

Mr Hewat said staff morale was “the lowest I’ve ever seen” because of the proposed restructure.

He said members reported to him they were at the point of not knowing what to do next to try and get positive change.

“Throughout the pandemic, we kept saying it was the worst, but it keeps getting even worse,” he said.

“They’re beyond angry … to almost despair.”

Mr Hewat said there was a good turnout to the rally on Wednesday, with about 60 people and a lot of support from the community felt.

Originally published as ‘Forgotten workforce’: Why Barwon Health’s allied health workforce might shrink