Threat to raped Torres Strait nurse was ignored
By Tony Koch
March 04, 2008 06:47am
Article from: The Australian
A NURSE on remote Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait has been raped by an intruder more than a year after the Queensland Government was warned her accommodation and that of others in the region lacked even basic security, putting them at "extreme risk".
The Queensland Government ignored the internal report it received in November 2006, despite its authors warning of significant risks to staff "that need to be addressed immediately".
Following last month's attack, the 27-year-old victim - who worked alone on the island and had pleaded for improved security - was flown to Cairns where she was admitted to hospital.
The conditions in which nurses, teachers, police and other public servants are expected to live when posted to Cape York and Torres Strait island communities have been the source of constant complaint for more than a decade.
The Queensland Nurses Union said yesterday that the state Government had been given a month to get security for all health facilities in the Torres Strait or nurses would withdraw their services.
Queensland Health has repeatedly refused to release the damning report, which has been leaked to The Australian, but in a statement yesterday said it would immediately improve security.
The nurse had been on the island only a few weeks before the attack, which occurred at 3am on February 5.
Police subsequently arrested a 22-year-old Mabuiag Island man and charged him with rape and burglary. He appeared in the Torres Strait Island court on February 15 and was remanded in custody.
A 17-year-old accomplice was charged with burglary.
The nurse, who was on 24-hour call, had constantly complained to her immediate superiors about the lack of security of her living quarters, which are above the island's medical clinic. She works alone and there is no doctor or police officer on the island, which has about 300 residents.
Mabuiag Island had sought a permanent nurse appointment for years, and the victim of the attack was the first to be given the position. Her colleagues yesterday told The Australian the woman had made repeated complaints about the lack of security and she feared for her safety, but there was no response from Queensland Health.
The nurses were also critical of what they said was a culture of secrecy being maintained by Torres Strait Island administrators and police to not reveal the real truth about violence in the region, particularly against non-indigenous workers.
In November 2006 a report titled Torres Strait Risk Assessments was compiled by Russell Grigg and Bruce Irvine, security managers with the Townsville Health Service District.
They inspected all accommodation on all islands and their summary said: "The security risk assessment found that the level of general security afforded to the Torres Strait Health Service District is of a poor standard and exposes Queensland Health staff to extreme risks.
"There are some significant risks that need to be addressed immediately to ensure the district meets its obligations under the Workplace, Health and Safety Act 1995, which is to provide a safe working environment for its staff."
The inspection of the nurse accommodation on Mabuiag concluded that the "identified hazard" was "extreme".
Its lists of security faults in the premises included poorly maintained doors and locks, no security cameras, inadequate fire systems, no aggressive behaviour management training for staff and inoperable security systems.
In one case there was only one phone line into a community, "which gets bogged down and alternative CDMA communication (is) not reliable". And the report warned that following an incident, there was considerable delay in organising support.
In a written response yesterday, Queensland Health said it took the safety and security of staff "very seriously" and on Mabuiag the rusted window and door screens would be replaced with Amplimesh.
The security perimeter fence will be upgraded to inhibit access and all door locks to the premises are being changed." the document said.
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