By Luke Voogt
The State Government will conduct a “forensic audit” of Bellarine Community Health (BCH) following alleged misuse of funds, Bellarine MP Lisa Neville has announced.
The audit would examine all transactions related to a BCH employee’s alleged dental service fraud, Ms Neville said.
“The community of the Bellarine need to be assured that their money is used appropriately,” she said.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will conduct the audit, including an examination of BCH’s financial controls and its response to the alleged fraud.
BCH’s annual general meeting identified “significant” concerns with its ability to meet community needs, Ms Neville said.
“We will continue to press Bellarine Community Health to make the changes needed to rebuild confidence in the community.
“We also need to consider whether other organisations are better placed to deliver the services our local residents need.”
BCH board chair Hazel Ingram said the health provider would co-operate with DHHS.
An external auditor audited BCH each year and found its financial statements in order for the past financial year, Ms Ingram said.
The previous state-commissioned review found that BCH’s governance, financial and risk management processes were sound, she said.
Ms Ingram disputed Ms Neville’s criticisms of BCH’s ability to provide services to the Bellarine.
“Feedback from clients and partner organisations about service delivery and service delivery by staff was overwhelmingly positive.”
A small “group of the community”, Bellarine Aged Care Association (BACA), had run “a sustained campaign” against BCH, Ms Ingram said.
BACA president Tim Walsh said BCH had sold two community aged care facilities in 2014 without adequate consultation.
“Our campaign has simply been to bring back transparency to BCH,” he said.
The aged-care facilities were built with government grants and local fundraisers.
BACA collected about 3000 signatures in a petition last year demanding BCH return the funds of the sale.
BCH – which is largely state-funded – is not the first local health service the government has targeted this year.
Last month Health Minister Jill Hennessy appointed a delegate to Geelong Hospital’s board and ordered a review of its finances, after it recorded a $13m deficit.
