Permanent employees who do not provide frontline patient care are being invited to apply for voluntary redundancy under a statewide workforce ‘realignment program’, with expressions of interest open until 12 November.
NSW Health has launched a statewide voluntary redundancy program targeting corporate, administrative, management and other non-frontline employees across all its entities.
In an email circulated to staff by local health district chief executives – seen by Health Services Daily – NSW Health announced the opening of its “optional realignment program”, inviting eligible permanent employees to express interest in leaving the organisation.
The program opened on Thursday 15 October and will accept expressions of interest for four weeks, until Thursday 12 November.
“NSW Health continues to adapt to the changing needs of the patients and communities it serves,” the email said.
“This includes regularly reviewing how we support our workforce and organise the delivery of health care across NSW.”
The email said delivering high-quality healthcare relied on both frontline teams and the corporate, administrative and management functions supporting them.
“It is important that we maintain the right balance of resources across the organisation as community needs continue to evolve,” it said.
“To support this, NSW Health is opening an optional program to ensure the balance of resources and capabilities are supporting healthcare needs of the community.”
Under the program, permanent employees who do not provide direct patient care will be eligible to express interest in voluntary separation, including staff with clinical or non-clinical professional backgrounds.
“As part of the program, NSW Health will invite eligible employees in roles that do not provide direct patient care, to submit an expression of interest if they wish to be considered for voluntary separation from NSW Health,” the email said.
“Staff in frontline roles are not eligible for the program.”
The invitation extends across all NSW Health entities, rather than being restricted to individual local health districts.
The email did not specify how many redundancies NSW Health was seeking, which positions or business units were expected to be affected, or the anticipated financial savings.
It also made clear that submitting an expression of interest would not automatically result in a redundancy offer.
“Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an offer of voluntary redundancy,” the email said.
“All EOIs will be carefully assessed against organisational needs and service delivery requirements to ensure NSW Health retains the capability, capacity and expertise needed to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the people of NSW.”
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Employees who choose not to participate will remain in their positions, as will those who apply but do not receive or accept an offer.
“Participation in the EOI process is entirely voluntary and employees who do not submit an EOI will continue in their roles,” the email said.
NSW Health said it had consulted with the Public Service Association, Health Services Union, Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation and NSW Nurses and Midwives Association about the program.
“We will continue to work closely with unions throughout the process to ensure a fair, transparent and consultative approach,” the email said.
Redundancy offers will be made in accordance with relevant government and NSW Health policies and award conditions.
Employees have been encouraged to seek independent financial and superannuation advice before accepting an offer, while those who leave will have access to career transition and outplacement support.
NSW Health acknowledged that the announcement could create uncertainty among employees.
“We recognise and value the contribution of every staff member across NSW Health and acknowledge change can create uncertainty,” the email said.
“We are committed to supporting our people through this process with openness, transparency and respect.”