A recent investigation by WorkSafe ACT has found that nurses and allied health workers conducting home visits for Canberra Health Services (CHS) were exposed to life-threatening conditions, following a series of serious assaults.
The investigation, triggered by four violent incidents in March, concluded that staff had been placed in situations resulting in physical and psychological harm, with a serious potential for fatal outcomes.
WorkSafe ACT subsequently issued six improvement notices and one prohibition notice, citing ineffective risk assessments and unsafe alarm systems as key concerns.
Healthcare unions have long warned about the dangers faced by staff during home visits. According to Maddy Northam, ACT Regional Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), members have reported encounters with weapons such as axes, knives, machetes, and even firearms.
Despite raising these concerns repeatedly over the past two years, union representatives say little had been done to address them until now.
“It has taken an unprecedented prohibition notice from WorkSafe to finally see action from CHS,” Ms Northam said, highlighting the sense of frustration felt among staff.
Following the notices, CHS has implemented a range of changes, including the strengthening of risk assessment tools, mandatory training for staff undertaking home visits, and requirements for duress devices and location tracking. As a result, WorkSafe has now lifted the notices.
However, some believe these actions are too little, too late. Carlyn Fidow, ACT Branch Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), said many of their members had voiced safety concerns for years
“An apology after the fact is not enough,” she said. “Nurses and midwives want to see real, timely action to ensure their safety.”
Speaking to the ABC, CHS Chief Executive Dave Peffer acknowledged that occupational violence has been an ongoing issue within the service, stating that while some measures had been taken over the years, “it is almost impossible to foresee” some of the situations faced by staff.
Nonetheless, in a message to his workforce, he admitted, “As an organisation, we’ve let our team members down – and for that I am deeply sorry.”
In 2024 alone, there have been six reported assaults on nurses and allied health workers involved in home care services operated by CHS. More broadly, 43 instances of occupational violence were recorded across the organisation’s services.
Despite the recent improvements, many within the healthcare sector remain sceptical, emphasising that it should not require formal intervention from the regulator to prioritise the safety of frontline staff.
Yes it is shocking that frontline staff have experienced these confronting situation. It’s also important to bring attention to these matters and even have them recognised as a failure to protect them.
It would be beneficial to understand what the total figures. Eg was it a total of 50 home visits of which there were 6 reported instances of assaults and 43 instances of occupational violence over the 12 months of 2024?
Or was the total 1000, 10,000?
Agreed that even one instance is not acceptable, you may ask why is this relevant?
It is relevant when we compare the statistics of SIRS in Aged care.
During oct-dec quarter out of the total residents in facilities, just over 200k there were 7953 incidents where unreasonable force was used, 228 inappropriate use of restrictive practices and 300 unexpected deaths, all related to older Australians.
These were merely reported, yet little has been done to acknowledge accountability and no one has apologized to older Australians for the failure to protect them.
As someone who has worked as a nurse, many years ago, as well as in the field of child protection, training has to mandatory. Training needs to allow the person entering the home to take precautions, and deliver the service confidently. This can happen with the right training, yet so often I have seen even police react wrongly to threats or the possibility of abuse.
Again, services can be delivered properly and with compassion if the nurse is prepared and has the right training. What we don’t need is services limited or elderly people treated like criminals. There needs to be a clear understanding and if necessary, a two person team to assist. Yes, I know this means more staff and more money but the economics would come out in favour of helping people in their home, rather than in hospitals or clinics.