NEWS-HR

The Federal Circuit Court of Australia has ruled that the adverse action claim brought by Sarah Jane Watson against Uniting Care NSW.ACT was misconceived.

High-profile Gold Coast cosmetic surgeon Cesido Colagrande has been handed a nine month suspended jail term after being found guilty of the sexual assault of a female patient in May 2015. The Southport District Court jury of six men and six women reached their verdict after deliberating for less than three hours today. Dr Ces — as he is known to his patients — was charged with the sexual assault of a female patient in 2015. The court heard last week Colagrande, 48, is alleged to have pulled the 24-year-old adult entertainer toward him and asked her to have sex with him during a follow-up consultation after a breast augmentation, in May two years ago. He is also alleged to have slapped her on the bottom and told her she had “blow job lips”. Colagrande pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual assault at the start of the trial last Monday. When he took the stand to give evidence last week, Colagrande denied the assault occurred. The court heard the office walls were thin and there were several patients in the waiting room at the time the doctor allegedly propositioned the woman to have sex in his office.

The Health Services Union and Scope will contest a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Cribb in the Fair Work Commission 11 Exhibition Street Melbourne at 10am.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Australian Capital Territory as represented by the Health Directorate will argue a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Deputy President Kovacic in the Fair Work Commission CML Building 17-21 University Avenue Canberra at 9.30am.

A former nursing home boss who paid herself $20,000 from the bank account of a disabled patient is back working in aged care after a six-month suspension. VCAT documents reveal Ruth Fields, formerly known as Ruth Welling, manipulated an intellectually disabled wheelchair-bound woman to make herself the ­patient’s legal financial guardian. Mrs Fields, who was chief executive of AdventCare at the time of the incident, has returned to work at a Cheltenham nursing home in an office role.

The Presbyterian Church of Victoria Social Services Committee is being pursued over a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) lodged by staffer Boyce.

The Health Services Union and Mirridong Services Inc are debating a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Harper-Greenwell in Court 3 & Conference Room B – Level 6 in Melbourne at 10am.

Three Townsville Hospital and Health Service staff have been stood down as part of an ongoing investigation into workplace bullying and harassment. In October last year it was revealed staff concerns over a “toxic” work environment had left some employees suicidal and seeking psychological help. Since then, 26 staff members have come forward, including Jodi Miller who tried to take her own life twice as a direct result of the bullying. Independent assessors were engaged by the THHS board late last year to review the workplace bullying, with three staff members since suspended with pay. THHS board chairman Tony Mooney could not confirm the positions of those who had been suspended and for how long they had been suspended.