NEWS-HR

Sexual crimes in Victorian hospitals have doubled in the last year, with a person now raped or assaulted on the wards every four days. There were 83 sexual offences recorded in Victorian hospitals in 2016, new police data reveals. But the peak body against sexual crimes in Victoria said that figure was actually much higher because very few patients or hospital workers who are a victims comes forward to police. Victoria Police spokeswoman Lisa Beechey said sexual offences were the “most underreported personal crimes in Victoria”.

Stellarcare Pty Ltd is facing an unfair dismissal claim by ex-staffer Ladlow.

A 78-year-old resident at an apartment complex for the elderly shot and killed an assistant manager over accusations of theft.

Staff at a Victorian public hospital have been told to spend more time focusing on their jobs instead of binging on movies and surfing the net while at work. Ballarat Health Services has warned its 4000 staff to cut down on excessive personal internet use after an internal audit revealed its public servants were spending too much time downloading music and watching films on Netflix. The public hospital says staff were abusing the free, taxpayer-funded internet so much, it was slowing down its computer network, leaving vital programs unable to run properly. Despite the crackdown, the hospital admitted it will continue to allow its staff to surf the internet for personal use

Yvonne Inguz is alleging that QNA Health Care Services Pty Ltd has failed to make superannuation payments (both compulsory and by way of salary sacrifice) on her behalf. But the president of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Richard Bruxner has ruled he does not have the jurisdiction to hear the claim.

Hawkesbury District Health Services Limited has succeeded in convincing the NSW Workers Compensation Commission to review the injury claims of Sin Yu (Anna) Lam. The NSWWCC ruled that “the Medical Assessment Certificate given in this matter should be revoked, and that the degree of permanent impairment is not fully ascertainable.”

Victorian ambos sometimes use painkiller Fentanyl to deal with job stress – but the paramedics union denies 10 Geelong staff were sacked or disciplined due to the drug. Ambulance Employees Australia secretary Steve McGhie says about 20 paramedics were interviewed as part of an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigation of Ambulance Victoria. But Mr McGhie says the 10 Geelong staff in question resigned or were disciplined for behaviour in their personal or social life that breached the professional code of conduct – not because of the drug. Mr McGhie says while Fentanyl misuse isn’t a “huge issue” among paramedics, he says about six people in recent years have developed a dependency, largely because of undiagnosed mental health injuries incurred at work.

Sao Duarte has lost her unfair dismissal claim against The Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of NSW because Deputy President Booth ruled that “she was unable to undertake the inherent requirements of her job as a result of incapacity.”