News

Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) is aware of media reporting yesterday afternoon that a doctor recently engaged by our service as a locum orthopaedic registrar, through a third-party medical workforce agency, has been charged by police with offences involving child abuse material.

The individual is no longer working at AWH. We understand the seriousness of the charges and the matter is now before the courts. Due to legal restrictions and to respect the ongoing legal process, we are unable to provide further details at this time.

The doctor underwent standard credentialing through the agency prior to commencing, including professional references, a NSW Working with Children Check, a national police check, and medical registration verification. These requirements were also reviewed and confirmed by AWH prior to his commencement.

At this stage, there is no indication that any alleged misconduct has occurred at an AWH service or involved our patients or staff. However, we acknowledge that this news may be deeply distressing to members of our community. For members of the community seeking support, please contact our dedicated free community support hotline on 02 60517582.

We want to reassure the community that AWH remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our patients, families, and staff. We have strict protocols in place to safeguard vulnerable people, including children, across all areas of our service. These include rigorous pre-employment screening, mandatory training, and clear procedures for staff to identify and respond to concerns.

We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities. Anyone with concerns relating to criminal activity is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers on: 1800 333 000 

We remain committed to the trust placed in us by our community and will continue to prioritise safety, transparency, and care in all that we do.