For several months, the HSU has been engaged in consultation with the SCHN over the proposed Clinical Operations Restructure. Since the initial HSU members-only meetings, nearly all issues have been resolved, with the one outstanding item being the grading of the Allied Health Site Director roles at Randwick and Westmead.

The HSU presented a formal position paper to the Network on 5 June, articulating members’ views on the grading of this position. HSU workplace delegates from Allied Health led the development and endorsed this position. You can view the paper here.

The HSU has not received a formal response to the arguments put forward in the position paper. However, the Network has adjusted the Position Description for the role. We continue to request the Network or Ministry provide a formal response articulating why they don’t agree with the HSU position.

HSU workplace delegates are in clear support of the restructure but believe that Allied Health should not be an afterthought to higher-paid professions. Adequately classifying Director roles is an important step to improving the recognition and support of all Allied Health staff.

The HSU understands that as of last week, the Network, on instruction from the Ministry, has given staff an ultimatum: accept the lower grading Director positions, or Allied Health won’t get the restructure which is desperately needed.

The HSU is disappointed in this adversarial approach, which limits the ability for real discussion on improving Allied Health staffing and patient outcomes. However, as this is the Network’s position, it’s time for HSU members to come together and decide on the next steps.

A members-only meeting will be held on Wednesday 11 October at 12:30-1:30pm for members to discuss and vote on how to proceed with this dispute.

The meeting will be held on zoom. Registration is required and can be completed here.

This is a members-only meeting. If you know someone who is affected, tell them they can vote if they join the HSU prior to Wednesday’s meeting.