Values /
Why values at work are important
Values represent what we believe is important and worthwhile, organisational values underpin the way we approach our work and how we treat each other.
While the reasons behind an individual’s valuesare complex and personal, when your own work values are aligned with the people you work with, its easier for teams to build good relationships and make the right choices for themselves and others.
Having values which are aligned to those of your team also makes it easier to understand and work toward the goals of your team, branch and ACTHealth.
People in our community come to us at their most vulnerable and the way we treat them is extremely important. Both compliments and complaints from consumers in ACT Health are largely to do with our behaviour. Given that organisational values exist to drive and support our behaviour at work, its important to select values that represent all of us.
What are the values in ACT Health?
In late 2008, teams across ACT Health were asked which values they considered the most important in their work. It was important to ensure the organisation’s value set complimented the five previous corporate values (Care, Excellence, Honesty, Respect and Collaboration), and other values within the organisation, while representing everyone in ACT Health. The values identified by ACT Health employees are:
- Care
- Excellence
- Collaboration
- Integrity
In working to these values we havea shared understanding about “what matters” to all employees of ACTHealth regardless of profession or the position they hold.
What do these values look like?
Values can be demonstrated differently depending on the type of work you do, how your team works together and even the roles different team members take on, whether formal or informal.
Teams across ACT Health sent in examples of how the values are demonstrated in their workplaces and their answers were incorporated into the following definitions:
- Care - Go the extra distance in delivering services to our patients, clients and consumers. Be diligent, compassionate and conscientious in providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone. Be sensitive in managing information and ensuring an individual’s privacy. Be attentive to the needs of others when listening and responding to feedback from staff, clinicians and consumers.
- Excellence - Be prepared for change and strive for continuous learning and quality improvements. Acknowledge and reward innovation in practice and outcomes. Develop and contribute to an environment where every member of the team is the right person for their job, and is empowered to perform to the highest possible standard.
- Collaboration - Actively communicate to achieve the best results by giving time, attention and effort to others. Respect and acknowledge everyone’s input, skills and experience by working together and contributing to solutions. Share knowledge and resources willingly with your colleagues.
- Integrity - Be open, honest and trustworthy in communicating with others, and ensure correct information is provided in a timely way. Be accountable, reflective and open to feedback. Be true to yourself, your profession, consumers, colleagues and the government.