Professor Andrew Way has been appointed to help lead a major turnaround at Albury Wodonga Health (AWH), stepping into a challenging period for the regional health service as it works to restore confidence among staff, patients and the wider community.
Professor Way, an experienced health executive and former chief executive of Alfred Health, was appointed interim chief executive officer of AWH in March 2026 following the resignation of previous CEO Bill Appleby. His arrival came after a period of workplace tensions, leadership concerns and calls from medical staff for improvements in governance and culture.
A key focus for Professor Way has been rebuilding relationships across the organisation and creating a more collaborative environment between hospital leadership, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. His leadership experience in large healthcare systems has been viewed as important as AWH attempts to address internal challenges and strengthen its services for the border community.
Before joining AWH, Professor Way spent more than a decade leading Alfred Health in Victoria, where he was involved in major clinical, operational and digital transformation programs. His experience managing complex healthcare organisations has been highlighted as one of the reasons he was selected to guide AWH through its current transition.
The turnaround effort follows a difficult period for Albury Wodonga Health, with staff raising concerns about workplace culture, leadership communication and decision-making. An independent workplace culture review by Safer Care Victoria identified areas where improvements were needed, and AWH committed to implementing the recommendations from the review.
One of the major issues facing the organisation is the future of the $558 million Albury Hospital redevelopment project. The redevelopment has generated debate among healthcare workers, community groups and local leaders, with some advocating for a new hospital on a separate site rather than expanding the existing facility.
Professor Way has acknowledged the importance of listening to community concerns while ensuring the health service continues delivering safe and effective patient care. His approach has focused on improving communication, supporting staff and ensuring clinical voices are considered in future decisions.
During his interim leadership period, some clinicians and community representatives welcomed signs of change, saying they hoped his experience could help restore stability at the organisation. However, significant work remains to address long-standing concerns and rebuild trust across the health service.
Albury Wodonga Health provides healthcare services to communities across the Victorian and New South Wales border region, serving a large regional population. The organisation operates major hospital campuses in Albury and Wodonga and plays a critical role in providing emergency, specialist and community health services.
A permanent CEO, Susan Delroi, was later appointed by the AWH Board and commenced in July 2026, bringing further leadership change as the organisation continues its transformation journey.
The future success of Albury Wodonga Health will depend on rebuilding staff confidence, improving workplace culture, delivering sustainable healthcare services and ensuring major infrastructure decisions meet the needs of a growing regional population.
