Monash University have decided not to renew the contracts of six professional staff members employed at the Bendigo and Warragul campuses of Monash Rural Health. They have made this decision without consultation and in contravention of Section 14 of the Monash Academic and Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement (2019). This significant workplace change will diminish the support available to medical students undertaking rural placements, compromising their placement experiences. Research (McKillop et al. 2017) shows that placement experience is a key factor in medical practitioners’ decisions to practice in rural settings, so this decision jeopardises rural health workforces and the health and wellbeing of rural communities. Furthermore, this decision undermines the importance of Monash Rural Health in rural communities across Victoria, where it is highly regarded as a medical workforce partner and research institute. This move threatens Monash University’s social license to operate in these communities.

We, the undersigned, condemn the changes to Monash Rural Health, instigated by Monash University without appropriate consultation. We demand that Monash University:

1)      Reinstate the six staff members who have been advised that their contracts will not be renewed at the end of 2024;

2)      Engage in a consultation process with the respective designated work groups to understand the need for these roles and the impact any changes will have;

3)      Give all staff secure, ongoing employment.