Source : Perth Now news
Investigations are underway after a nurse was allegedly sexually assaulted at a high-security hospital used to house mentally ill prisoners.
Police are investigating the alleged assault that occurred on Monday at the Thomas Embling Hospital.
It’s believed the nurse was assaulted by a patient of the hospital.
Thomas Embling Hospital, Victoria’s only forensic mental health facility located in Fairfield, treats patients found not guilty of serious violent crimes because of mental illness.
WorkSafe Victoria says they are aware of the allegations, and inspectors are making inquiries to determine whether further action is needed.
Nurses union secretary Maddy Harradence said she was aware of the “serious incident” and would focus on supporting members during “this difficult time”.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with Forensicare to strengthen the safety and wellbeing of our members now and into the future,” she said in a statement.
In a statement Forensicare, the hospital operator, said its primary concern was for the people involved and supporting their welfare, safety and wellbeing.
“We are working closely with relevant authorities and providing police with all necessary assistance to support their investigation,” it said.
“Out of respect for the privacy and wellbeing of those involved, we will not comment further while the police investigation is underway.”
The incident comes as politicians and advocacy groups highlight rising violence against healthcare workers.
The Victorian Greens have backed calls from frontline doctors and nurses for specialist security and more staff.
New figures reveal violence in Victoria’s public hospitals has surged by more than 60 per cent in four years, with a record 26,730 incidents last year – an average of 73 every day.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia has previously called for 24/7 specially trained security staff who are part of clinical teams in emergency departments, and the re-establishment of the Victorian Violence in Healthcare Taskforce.
Its Breaking Point: An Urgent Call to Action on Emergency Department Safety report, released last year, drew on a survey of Directors of Emergency Medicine at ACEM-accredited emergency departments and found that nine out of 10 respondents had witnessed violent incidents.
National figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in July show assault has now climbed from the fourth to the second leading cause of hospitalisation for injuries among healthcare workers.
By comparison, assault ranks seventh for the general Australian population.
Assault-related hospitalisations among healthcare workers rose from 49 in 2015-16 to 126 in 2024-25 – a jump in the rate from 4.3 to 8.1 per 100,000 healthcare workers.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
