BALLARAT Health Services will hire an external consultant specialising in mediation and workplace issues following revelations of a culture of bullying and harassment.
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In a statement released late on Monday afternoon, BHS confirmed it had engaged with alternative dispute resolution specialist Peacemaker ADR following “concerning” allegations revealed in The Courier.
This is despite BHS strongly denying any workplace culture issues within Mental Health Services teams existed only days earlier.
Its comes as representatives from Victoria’s four major health unions expect to hold meetings with Wendouree MP Sharon Knight in hope of addressing what has been described as a disturbing culture of bullying and harassment. The Courier has been inundated with feedback from current and former employees confirming the problems.
The Health Workers Union claim the revelations are only the “tip of the iceberg”.
“In my opinion, the culture of Ballarat Health Services is a disgrace. In all my years in the health industry, I’ve never seen anything like it,” HWU acting secretary David Eden said.
Describing the feedback from staff as “deeply concerning” Mr Eden said he was aware that St John of God had gone through a similar problem during the 1990s.
“They are now one of the best health providers in country Victoria,” he said.
“BHS have some absolutely fantastic staff working for them but they have not been provided with opportunity.”
The statement from BHS said all employees had the right to be treated “fairly with dignity and respect”
“BHS management has not been given a copy of the union survey referred to in the article. However, we are taking steps to ensure our employees have another avenue to raise any concerns they have in an independent and confidential setting,” the statement read.
“As a way forward BHS has engaged an experienced external consultant specializing in mediation and workplace grievance resolution.”
The statement said arrangements for the independent review would be announced shortly.
Mr Eden said the meeting with Ms Knight was initiated because employees were at crisis point despite repeated pleas for help to BHS management.
“I very much doubt the board of management are aware of how terrible things are at BHS,” he said.
Mr Eden called for a full scale investigation into staffing practices at the facility.
