Monash Health has appointed the inaugural leadership team for the Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health.
Monash Health is pleased to share the appointments to the leadership team of the Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health (VCAAH).
Dr Caitlin Barr will lead the VCAAH as Director of Allied Health alongside Abby Foster, Deputy Director, Research; Grant Scroggie, Deputy Director, Workforce; and Tracy Sheldrick, Deputy Director, Workforce – Rural and Regional.
The VCAAH, hosted and managed by Monash Health, was established with $3.4 million in funding from the Victorian Government to support statewide workforce planning and to improve allied health professional practice, service design, and system policy.
Danielle Ryan, Chief Allied Health Officer at Monash Health, was excited to welcome the new leadership team.
‘This is such a talented and passionate leadership team stepping into these roles at VCAAH. Their experience and dedication to person-centred care, and our workforce, will make a real difference as we work together to support Allied Health across Victoria,’ said Danielle.
The team will begin working together in February as operations commence throughout 2026.
To learn more, visit the Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health website, and you can subscribe to the VCAAH newsletter to receive future updates.
Dr Caitlin Barr, Director of Allied Health
Dr Caitlin Barr is an audiologist, researcher and sector leader known for bringing evidence and empathy together to redesign health systems with the people they serve. With executive experience across advocacy, research, service design and sector reform, Caitlin has spent her career championing person-centred, connected models of care. As the inaugural Director of VCAAH, she will lead the establishment of a centre dedicated to strengthening, supporting and celebrating Victoria’s allied health workforce.
On her position with VCAAH, Caitlin reflected, ‘I’m honoured to step into this role. Allied Health professionals change lives every day, and VCAAH is a rare opportunity to create something truly enabling for them — a centre that listens deeply, collaborates widely and drives meaningful, practical change.’
Abby Foster, Deputy Director, Research
Dr Abby Foster is a self-confessed research nerd working. Growing up in regional Victoria, Abby was the first female in her family to go to university, and the first to go on to do her PhD. She trained as a speech pathologist and has spent her career working across academia and the Victorian public health system as a clinician, manager, researcher and educator. At the centre of her work is a values-centred desire to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups in clinical practice and in research.
On her appointment, Abby said, ‘I believe allied health clinicians have the power to change the world – and research is one of the most powerful tools we have to make that change real. I’m excited to create research that drives meaningful impact for allied health clinicians and the communities we serve. Research should be fun, accessible, and embedded in everything we do, because when we lead with evidence, we lead with purpose.’
Grant Scroggie, Deputy Director, Workforce
Grant is a Physiotherapist with more than two decades experience spanning strategic, operational and frontline clinical leadership. He has built a career focused on enriching workforce culture, strengthening workforce capability, and supporting clinicians to deliver the highest quality, person-centred care. With extensive experience in Allied Health inter-professional clinical operations, Grant brings a collaborative and empowering approach to fostering excellence in practice, underpinned by strong regulatory and professional governance knowledge and experience.
In discussing his appointment, Grant said, ‘I’m excited by what’s possible when we collaborate to shape the future of Victoria’s Allied Health workforce, and the VCAAH provides a unique platform to turn shared vision into practical action.’
Tracy Sheldrick, Deputy Director, Workforce – Rural and Regional
Tracy is a Speech Pathologist and allied health leader with extensive healthcare experience across metropolitan, regional and rural settings. This is complemented by expertise in allied health workforce policy and strategy developed through work at the Victorian Department of Health. Tracy’s background spans senior leadership and management roles, clinical education, and research, providing a broad and practical perspective on service delivery and workforce development. With a strong commitment to strengthening the allied health workforce, particularly in regional and rural communities Tracy is passionate about the impact allied health professional have on the people they support and the vital role they play in delivering high-quality care.
In discussing her appointment, Tracy said, ‘I am thrilled to step into this role. I am deeply passionate about allied health and strengthening the workforce, and I’m excited by the chance to focus on supporting the regional and rural allied health workforce, who do incredible work for their local communities. I look forward to listening, collaborating and creating change that truly matters.’
