Labor Will Keep Health Workers Safe At Work
Every worker deserves to feel safe in the workplace – including in hospitals.
A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will crack down on violent offenders and deliver $30 million for lighting, CCTV and other practical ways to make hospitals safer places to work.
Members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) have been asking for it.
So have allied health professionals, doctors, pharmacists, aged care and disability support workers, mental health workers, hospital staff, and more.
Only Labor will deliver it – because only Labor backs healthcare workers.
Workplace Protection Orders to keep violent people out of hospitals
Like all health workers, nurses can face threats, abuse and violence just for doing their jobs.
It’s a disgrace.
They should be focused on their patients, not having to worry about their own safety.
We’ve cracked down on violence against health workers, but there’s more to do.
Currently, some nurses say they have individually obtained Apprehended Violence Orders to keep violent threats at a distance – a demanding process that’s even harder in regional Victoria.
That's why Labor will expand our Workplace Protection Orders (WPO) scheme to hospitals.
• A WPO will limit or ban violent and abusive offenders from hospitals for up to 12 months
• Anyone who breaches an order faces up to two years in prison or a fine up to $50,000
We’ve delivered WPOs for retail and transport – now we’ll deliver them for workers in hospitals.
If these workers are in danger, they deserve to know the system is behind them.
This change provides an additional option for dealing with incidents before someone gets hurt.
Proven, practical ways to make hospitals safer
Nurses tell us they don’t want armed police inside hospitals where patients are being treated.
What they do want are sensible, practical and proven ways to deter violence.
That’s why Labor will deliver $30 million for practical ways to make hospitals safer.
Hospitals will be able to apply for grants to fund:
• Better lighting across hospital grounds
• More CCTV to deter violence and abuse
• Duress alarms so staff can call for help
• Secure areas to protect frontline workers
• Locks and barriers to restrict access to staff-only areas
• Safe retreat areas where workers can seek protection
Better security means safer shifts, peace of mind and more time spent caring for patients.
These are just some of the ways Labor is supporting health workers and their safety.
Only Labor backs our nurses and midwives
We hired 17,000 more nurses and midwives.
We’re hiring more to slash ED wait times, and we’re keeping them safer at work.
It’s at risk under a Liberal-One Nation Coalition who will cut $40 billion from frontline services and Americanise health care – putting profits before patients and nurses.
Their cuts plan would put 31,700 jobs at risk, including nurses.
Jess Wilson thinks there’s nothing wrong with Americanising our health system.
Victoria’s nurses couldn’t disagree more.
Quotes attributable to Premier Ben Carroll
“Workers in hospitals deserve a safe shift. Every ward. Every hospital. Every day.”
“Violent offenders have no place in our hospitals – we’ll keep them out.”
“We hired 17,000 more nurses and midwives, we’re hiring even more to slash ED wait times, and we’re keeping them safer at work.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt
“We’re investing in proven and practical ways to deter violence, so healthcare workers can focus on caring for patients instead of worrying for their own safety.”
