Albury Wodonga Health CEO Bill Appleby Resigns from Board Amid Escalating Staff Safety Concerns

Bill Appleby, chief executive officer of Albury Wodonga Health, has resigned from the hospital's board following months of mounting staff unrest, multiple votes of no confidence and growing concerns over patient safety, workplace culture and leadership decisions at the cross-border health service. The resignation, confirmed March 23, 2026, comes after Appleby had been on leave, with Linda Hudec serving as acting CEO. Staff and clinicians have repeatedly cited failures in governance, transparency and handling of critical issues as reasons for eroded trust. The tenure was marked by controversy over a $588 million hospital redevelopment and a Safer Care Victoria review that highlighted 'escalating medical workforce behaviours' and risks to service quality. Tensions peaked with the disciplinary treatment of senior clinicians and parliamentary calls for an administrator to take over the service.