Industrial Relations

Director: Tony Olthof
Enquiries: Tel: (61 3) 9096 2539
Email: Tony.Olthof@health.vic.gov.au

The Industrial Relations Branch leads and manages the development and implementation of the Department's industrial relations strategy and policy to achieve positive industrial relations outcomes in the public health sector.

The core functions of the Industrial Relations Branch include:

• Providing professional advice and expertise to facilitate successful industrial relations policy development and strategy formulation to ensure successful industrial outcomes for the sector;
• Providing high level strategic and technical advice to the Minister and senior executives on industrial relations issues within the health portfolio;
• Providing case management support and advice to human resources and line managers on industrial relations matters to mitigate the risk of industrial disputation;
• Representing and advocating on behalf of the department in industrial relations forums and before Fair Work Australia;
• Overseeing all enterprise bargaining negotiations, industrial disputation and other significant industrial issues within the Department and the broader public health sector;
• Facilitating the implementation of productivity improvements and efficiencies in the public health sector through changes to workforce structures, systems & technology; and
• Developing and maintaining constructive and cooperative working relationships with the Department, public sector unions, employers and employer associations in the Health Portfolio;