Our culture

Barwon Health’s vision is together with our community we build health lives inspired by world class standards. To achieve our vision we believe in and are guided by our values which determine our behaviours.

Values and Mission

Values

Respect - We respect the people we connect with
Compassion - We show compassion for the people we care for and work with
Commitment - We are committed to quality and excellence in everything we do
Accountability - We take accountability for what we do
Innovation - We drive innovation for better care

Mission
With our consumers at the forefront, we excel in delivering efficient integrated care, education and research to advance health and wellbeing for all.

Diversity

LGBTIQA+

Barwon Health is working toward creating a culture of inclusive practice, and has a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) committee to support this. The Barwon Health Internal LGBTIQA+ committee is dedicated to creating an environment that meets the needs of the LGBTIQA+ consumer community, working closely with the new Barwon South West Regional LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Working Group. The Barwon South West Region LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Working Group led by Barwon Health, is a regional network of representatives who align themselves with, advocate on behalf of, and celebrate a diversity of bodies, identities and individuals within the LGBTIQA+ community. The network collaborates to knowledge share and cascade resources to develop a consistent and best practice approach and yearly strategic plan to make the region safe and inclusive for the LGBTIQA+ community.

Organisations include:
• Barwon Health
• Deakin University
• Geelong Rainbow Inc
• Greater City of Geelong
• Bethany
• Well ways
• Ambulance Victoria
• Diversitat
• Epworth
• Worksafe
• Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre
• Department of Education
• Colac Health
• Great Ocean Road Health

Mature Workforce

With the ageing of the Australian population, it is now more important than ever to encourage experienced workers to remain in the workforce and to pass their skills and knowledge onto others. Aging faster than the rest of the State, particularly the people over 85 years of age. By 2021, nearly 25% of the population will be over 65 years of age. In Queenscliff and the Surf Coast this age group will comprise close to 50% of the population. The long-term success of any business depends on the ability to tap into a diverse body of talent, knowledge and skills. Age-friendly recruitment practices can widen the applicant pool to help you find the best person.

Disability

We are an inclusive employer welcoming people from all backgrounds, and are increasingly investing more time and efforts in creating a disability confident organisation, which ensures inclusion and enables employment for people with disability.

One initiative that is coming to Barwon Health is a Disability Employment Resource Kit for managers to help them prepare for, recruit, support and manage employees with disability. The aim is to increase confidence in the organisation and remove any barriers that have in the past been limitations to achieving an organisation that is inclusive to all.

We are driving increased efforts to provide support networks for employees with disability, including our existing EAP program, Staffcare, as well as partnering with external organisation that are able to come in and provide additional support to employees with disability if needed.

We treat all employees the same at Barwon Health, and encourage all people with disability to join our inclusive community.

Aboriginal Employment Plan

As part of Barwon Health’s commitment to workforce diversity, inclusion and service access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, their Aboriginal Employment Plan will assist in the employment of Aboriginal people in both clinical and non-clinical roles within the organisation. More importantly, Aboriginal people employed through the Aboriginal Employment Plan will be part of the overall Barwon Health team and not necessarily in Identified Aboriginal positions; ensuring that Aboriginal employees are an integrated and valued Barwon Health staff member.

Employing Aboriginal people across all departments of Barwon Health will assist in developing a culturally responsive organisation that promotes the benefit of preventative health services and the importance of accessing health services at the earliest opportunity. Both will greatly assist in closing the unacceptable gap that currently exists between the health outcomes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the wider Victoria community.

Barwon Health Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Barwon Health is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We have zero tolerance for child abuse. Everyone working at Barwon Health is responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse.

We will ensure that our systems protect children from abuse, and will take all allegations and concerns very seriously and respond to them consistently in line with the organisation’s policies and procedures. If any person believes a child is in immediate risk of abuse, call the Police on 000.

Last Modified: Monday, 24 February 2020

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