Secret report found health workers training program at centre of corruption probe ‘flawed’

A secret report into the training program at the centre of a damning government corruption probe warned of critical failings before the scheme was cut short.

A secret report into the training program at the centre of a damning government corruption probe warned of critical failings before the scheme was cut short.

The damning assessment, by independent consultants Jim Kent and Associates, was prepared for the Department of Health and Human Services following a detailed review in 2019.

It followed the awarding of a $1.2m contract to the Health Education Federation — an entity linked to the Health Workers Union — to provide occupational violence and aggression training to health workers.

The comprehensive 168-page review found significant failings with the course, including that trainers lacked experience and familiarity with health services.

Participants from the Royal Childrens’ Hospital and Bendigo Hospital complained that the training was inadequate.

“Unless this format changes remarkably there is no way (it) will be accepted by our group...(the presenter) has got no knowledge of hospital, dealing with a hospital environment,” one participant said.

“Guards that have had very little hospital exposure will have just as much knowledge as our presenter.”

Another said that despite the extensive training materials, the course had proved useless.

“I don’t think anything we have been taught here leads to us being classified with better powers in a more site specific, more job specific way,” they said.

“It’s rehashing crap we already know.”

Jenny Mikakos told IBAC she believed there to be a ‘clear commitment from the Premier’s office’ that HEF would be awarded the election commitment contract. Picture: Getty Images

The review recommended a comprehensive overhaul of the program including improved course material.

“It was an absolute dog’s breakfast,” one source familiar with the program said.

An Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission probe last week found the training contract was awarded without a competitive tender process on the eve of the 2018 election.

It was also awarded despite concerns by public servants who were improperly pressured by a senior ministerial adviser.

Former health minister Jenny Mikakos told IBAC she believed there to be a “clear commitment from the Premier’s office’ that the HEF would be awarded the election commitment contract.”

Relations between the Andrews government and the HWU had been rocky during the government’s first term.

Labor sources said it was in the interest of the government to avoid a public feud with the union during the election campaign.

The training program did not proceed past mid-2020, with Covid cited as contributing to the issue.

Participants from the Royal Childrens’ Hospital and Bendigo Hospital complained that the training was inadequate. Picture: David Crosling

But sources have told the Herald Sun that DHHS staff were unhappy with the program that was proposed by the union.

Witnesses told IBAC the contract “should never have been awarded” to the HWU and the watchdog found they were “given privileged access and favourable treatment”.

The IBAC report found that staff raised serious concerns about the contract and did not think HEF was capable of delivering the scheme.

“From the outset, it was apparent to DHHS officers that HEF was not equipped to deliver the training,” the report found.

“Many of the risks that DHHS staff had identified during the procurement process came to fruition, resulting in delays and disputes.”

IBAC Acting Commissioner Stephen Farrow said the investigation revealed breaches of duties and obligations of ministers, ministerial advisers and senior public servants.

“Our investigation showed that the HWU was given privileged access and favourable treatment in its access to ministerial offices,” he said.

“Advisers in the Premier’s Private Office and the Minister for Health’s office also interfered in the management of the HEF contract to obstruct consideration of its termination and to ensure it continued.

“The DHHS awarded the contract to HEF without a competitive procurement process due to senior staff in the department believing it was the minister’s and government’s preference, and because of ongoing pressure from both the Minister for Health’s Adviser and Secretary of the union.

“This conduct by senior public servants falls short of the required Victorian public sector standards.”