16 November 2022
Yet another aged care facility has been forced to remove CCTV from its staff room following advocacy from the ANMF (SA Branch) and members.
The CCTV camera was removed from Clayton Church Homes Onkaparinga Valley Residential Care in Woodside after concerns were raised by the ANMF (SA Branch) on behalf of members.
It follows the removal of CCTV cameras inside staff rooms at Gawler Grande Views and Olive Grove Aged Care in recent months due to a breach of the Surveillance Devices Act 2016 (SA).
In July a camera was also removed from a tearoom at Estia Health Hope Valley, and in May, Bolton Clark (Allity) Ridgehaven, an aged care facility in Adelaide’s north east, scrapped plans to install a security camera in its staffroom – on both occasions the action followed our advocacy.
“We support the use of security cameras to improve safety and security outside of facilities,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“However, filming staff members during their meal breaks and down time inside a location where there are no residents or visitors, we believe, is a breach of privacy and only builds mistrust amongst staff towards the employer.
“We maintain our position that installing CCTV at aged care facilities is a band-aid solution, rather than
addressing the systemic issues plaguing the sector, including insufficient staffing numbers and skills mix, lack of training, inadequate funding and poor outcomes for older people such as poor nutrition.’’
An independent review released earlier this year found an aged care CCTV trial in South Australia failed to meet the needs of residents and staff.
The 12-month trial, run by the former Liberal government and carried out at two aged care sites between March 2021 and March 2022, was fraught with problems of technology accuracy, workload management, privacy concerns and delays.
We will continue to advocate …..... if you have any concerns please contact Member Assist.