NEWS-HR

Dozens of witnesses have been interviewed and more than 200,000 pages of documentation obtained as the state’s anti-corruption watchdog works to finalise its Oakden report. In his first newsletter of the year, independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander has given a rare insight into the progress of a blight in the healthcare bureaucracy.

A woman who allegedly secured a $245,000-a-year job with the South Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet thanks to a fake CV that claimed she had worked for some of the world’s largest technology companies has faced court charged with deception and dishonestly dealing with documents. Veronica Theriault, who ­appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from Perth, was appointed as the state government’s chief information officer in August on a three-year contract. She also allegedly told staff that she was “an experienced ICT professional with over 20 years in senior leadership positions”, and claimed to hold a number of degrees, including a master of business administration. There are also suggestions that Ms Theriault acted as her own referee under an alias. The CIO role required Ms Theriault, who was 44 when charged in September, to modernise the government’s information and communication technology strategy and oversee sensitive computer services. But just seven weeks into the role, Ms Theriault, who ­reportedly signed off her emails with the title “Chief Geek”, was sacked by DPC chief executive Don Russell and charged by the state’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Bruce Lander, following an investigation into the legitimacy of her ­application. Alan Corkill, believed to be Ms Theriault’s brother, also appeared in court yesterday after he was charged last year with deception and aiding and abetting Ms Theriault’s alleged offending. It is understood that Mr Corkill was allegedly appointed to a lucrative “service integration team leader” contract role during Ms Theriault’s tenure.

LTC Care Services Pty Ltd & Hunter Care Services Pty Ltd and Others has a s.576(2)(aa) (Promoting cooperative and productive workplace relations and preventing disputes) before Commissioner Saunders in Training Room realise Performance Suite 514, 2-8 Brookhollow Ave Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 for the second day.

A s.185 (Enterprise Agreement) application by Healthe Care Burnie Pty Ltd T/A North West Private Hospital for its Healthe Care Burnie Pty Ltd (North West Private Hospital) and Health and Community Services Union Hospital Staff Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been approved by Commissioner Johns in Melbourne on 30 January 2018.

Northern Sydney Local Health District is facing a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) before Vice President Catanzariti in Hearing Room 15- 1 – Level 15 in Sydney (Tang).

Bolitho & Castles and Others and St Vincent’s Private Hospitals Ltd have a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) loaded for argument before Fair Work Commissioner Booth in his Brisbane chambers this morning.

A Brisbane hospital has assured patients they were never under threat after a man posed as a doctor at the facility for months. Nicholas Brett Delaney was fined $3,000 on Monday after he stole credentials and walked the halls of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House between May and December last year.

Link Health and Community is fighting an unfair dismissal challenge (Rhodes).