'Bite Ballarat on the bum': union warns of allied health worker crisis
As Grampians Health grows into its new clinical services tower next year, there are fears there might not be enough allied health staff to support the increased number of patients. Subscribe now for unlimited. . .
As Grampians Health grows into its new clinical services tower next year, there are fears there might not be enough allied health staff to support the increased number of patients. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website& appThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaAllied health staff rallied outside Ballarat Base Hospital on Monday, July 27, as negotiations stall with the state government over a new pay deal for public sector allied health workers across Victoria. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, podiatrists, social workers, sonographers, radiographers, and a wide range of other allied health professionals help patients recover after surgery and illness and help provide supports toallow patients to be discharged. Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association members from Grampians Health rally at the corner of Drummond and Sturt streets in Ballarat during industrial action over negotiations for better pay and conditions. Picture by Nick PowellBut after 10 months of bargaining for a new pay deal and a state government offer that failed to address the issues, they are now taking industrial action. Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) chief executive Andrew Hewat said the current low pay and high workload meant it was difficult to recruit and retain staff, particularly in regional areas. "It's harder for them in the first place sometimes to attract people out (to the regions), then it's even harder to retain them if the conditions aren't competitive with what's available interstate or in the private sector," Mr Hewat said. "There's this complete, churn and burn where we're investing time, money and energy to train them, but we can't retain them because the wages and the conditions are not competitive with what else is on offer. "They really need to address that or they're going to struggle to maintain services. "At its largest point, Monday's rally, at the corner of Drummond and Sturt streets outside Ballarat Base Hospital, had about 50 attendees with numbers fluctuating as staff came out during their lunch breaks. Mr Hewat warned that the government was spending millions and millions of dollars on infrastructure, but failing to invest in staff to provide the services. "It's no good having buildings and equipment if you don't have the staff to run it. "Where there's development there needs to be investment in the staff and that is going to bite Ballarat on the bum if they don't have the conditions there to be able to attract people to work in the new buildings and work with the new equipment they're investing in. Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association executive officer Andrew Hewat at the Ballarat rally for better pay and conditions for allied health staff. Picture by Nick Powell"Healthcare is all about the healthcare providers. We need new hospitals, we need new equipment, but we also need the staff to provide that care and to run those services and they're just not factoring that into the equation. "The Ballarat rally followed a24-hour statewide strikeof thousands of allied health workers on June 16, and regional actions in Shepparton, Geelong, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Frankston. It is part of continuing escalation after the government's latest wage offer fell significantly below what VAHPA members were seeking. Mr Hewat said there were several hundred allied health professionals in Ballarat under the agreement who would be directly affected by the outcome of the pay deal. The offer, which landed most professions a rise of between 19 and 21 per cent, came despite the union calling for a 36. 1 per cent increase after the Fair Work Commission handed down a decision on allied health this year that closely mirrors the ruling used to deliver a landmark gender equity outcome for Victorian nurses in 2024. Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association members from Grampians Health rally at the corner of Drummond and Sturt streets in Ballarat during industrial action over negotiations for better pay and conditions. Picture by Nick PowellVAHPA members are also taking part in other work bans including weekly rolling three-hour stoppages, bans on collecting statistical data, billing, and making sure staff take their breaks. "These are having a cumulative effect and building pressure on the health services and we are hearing about it because they're coming to us complaining and we're saying don't complain to us, complain to the government because they're the ones that can fix this. "More from HealthAs it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.