A registered nurse has described the devastating impact of an alleged sexual assault by a colleague at a Melbourne aged care home, saying the incident has left her traumatised and unable to return to work.
The woman, who does not wish to be identified, was working at Newmans on the Park in Templestowe in April when the alleged attack occurred. She was helping a 90-year-old resident in their room when another staff member approached her from behind.
According to her account, the man grabbed her buttocks and crotch and made crude remarks.
“I was shocked to my core as this has never happened in my life,” she told the Herald Sun. “I wanted to scream and shout but I didn’t know how to cope with it. I felt so lost.”
The nurse immediately reported the incident to her supervisor and other members of the management team before lodging a complaint with Victoria Police. Officers later arrested a 47-year-old man from Ivanhoe in connection with the matter. He was interviewed and released as the investigation continues.
Following the incident, the nurse said she became so distressed that she returned to Malaysia to be with her family. “When I came back to Melbourne, all the emotions of fear, anger and anxiety kicked in,” she said. “I have never been the same. This event has affected my life in so many negative ways.”
She also alleged that the man had intimidated her prior to the incident, forcing her to cut her hair short in an effort to avoid unwanted attention.
The nurse has not worked since April and her WorkSafe compensation claim has been denied. The authority stated that claims may be rejected if the link between the injury and employment is not clear, or where there are factual disputes.
Her legal representative, Stuart Coutts from Arnold Thomas and Becker, criticised the handling of the case. “Conciliation has been unnecessarily delayed. She has been left without income and cannot access Centrelink benefits. She has already been traumatised and this process has added to her distress.”
Bolton Clarke, the organisation that operates Newmans on the Park, said in a statement that it upholds a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and discrimination.
“Employees found to have engaged in harmful behaviour are removed from the workplace and full support is provided to any affected team member,” a spokeswoman said.
The Victoria Police investigation remains ongoing and no charges have yet been laid.
