8 June 2020
Article from April edition of INPractice
In response to escalating violence against nurses, midwives and personal care workers at sites around South Australia, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) has announced a partnership with Crime Stoppers designed to create a safer environment for health care staff and to stop attacks.
As the nation’s most trusted information reporting service, Crime Stoppers provides people with the opportunity to anonymously share what they know about unsolved crimes and suspicious activity.
“This partnership reinforces ANMF (SA Branch)’s commitment to the implementation of practical and effective measures to address violence in the workplace and ultimately keep nursing and midwifery staff and the wider community safe,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
Crime Stoppers spokesperson Sharon Hanlon
and ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary
Adj Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM signing
the new partnership to prevent violence in car parks.
“While we welcome the work that has been done by SA Health on their Challenging Behaviour Strategic Framework, health care workers need practical solutions implemented now. This partnership announcement is another step towards making work sites safer.
“Prominent signage will be placed around car parks which have sadly been the site for a number of serious assaults, including one incident last year which left a nurse with stab injuries to her neck,’’ Ms Dabars said.
Crime Stoppers spokesperson Sharon Hanlon said everyone has a responsibility to keep their eyes and ears open to identify and put a stop to those wanting to harm others.
“An average of 25 crimes are solved each and every week in South Australia thanks to information provided by the community to Crime Stoppers, and we hope that people share what they know to make sure our nurses and frontline health staff stay safe,” she said.
ANMF (SA Branch), in partnership with Crime Stoppers, will be working with sites across SA to roll out the implementation of this initiative.
Become a Crime Stopper
If you have any safety or security concerns, please report these to your managers and lodge an SLS where appropriate.
This extends not only to safety issues within your workplace, but also any security concerns you have when arriving and leaving the site.
If you see a crime occurring or need police assistance, call 000 in an emergency or 131 444 to have police attend.
For anyone who has information about an unsolved crime or suspicious behaviour they can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
Click here to read the April 2020 edition of INPractice