NEWS-HR

WA’s Marie-Louise ‘ML’ MacDonald has been elected Retirement Living Council President. Nicholas Playoust (Managing Director – Retirement, AEH Group) and Tony Randello (Managing Director – Retirement, Lendlease), have been elected Vice Presidents.

Among any accolades or commendations that come Peter Maher’s way as he retires as Vinnies’ chief in Queensland none are likely to be more precious than a few words from one of his daughters. Looking back over more than 14 years in the chief executive officer’s chair, a comment from Peter’s daughter Belinda was up there among his most cherished memories. “One of the things (I remember) – and I think the highlight of my career, particularly with Vinnies – was when one of my daughters said to me, ‘Dad, I’m so proud of you …’,” he said. “That means more than anything else to a parent. So, that, to me, is what the society’s been about for me. “If that’s the message I’m giving my kids, that’s what’s important. “It’s not how much money I make or what I own or anything else like that. “That’s not what’s important. What’s the example I’ve set for my kids (is important).” Heading into retirement at the end of this month the 61-year-old’s looking forward to spending more time with those kids – Belinda and Juliette – and four grandchildren, with his wife Derrelle.

The Medical Council will pursue charges against Wellington doctor Deane Drew for allegedly entering multiple sexual relationships with vulnerable women patients. The media revealed in May that Wellington doctor Deane Drew is being investigated for pursuing women patients for sex over three decades at his central city practices. The first woman, Clara (not her real name) complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner in October 2016, followed by three more including Drew’s estranged wife, Catherine English. The Medical Council appointed a professional conduct committee (PCC) to investigate, which was initially expected to take 2-6 months. Two more complainants come forward during the investigation.

Karingal St Laurence Limited will face a s.365 (Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal) matter before Deputy President Boyce in chambers in Sydney (Fry).

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from the Sacred Heart Mission St Kilda Inc T/A Sacred Heart Mission for its Sacred Heart Mission Enterprise Agreement 2018 has been approved by Fair Work Commissioner Bissett in Melbourne on 18 February 2019.

East Arnhem Regional Council has a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) to answer before Commissioner Bissett in the Fair Work Commission Level 10 NT House 22 Mitchell Street Darwin at 1pm (Wunungmurra).

Activ Foundation will front a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) claim at 2pm in front of Deputy President Beaumont in Conference Room 12.34 in Perth (Heilbronn).

A WA woman found guilty of stabbing her former husband at a Perth playground in front of shocked onlookers has been banned from working as a nurse for two years. Michelle Fernandez has maintained she acted in self-defence when she stabbed Mark Fernandez with a 20cm kitchen knife as he carried their seven-year-old daughter at the Shelley foreshore in October 2015. Mr Fernandez’s injuries were so severe that a witness described watching his “guts fall out” like a “bag of sausages”. He needed more than 240 stitches to his chest, abdomen and other body parts before spending four months in a wheelchair recovering. Ms Fernandez could walk free from prison on parole in July 2020 despite having her conviction appeals thrown out. This week, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia disqualified Ms Fernandez from working as a nurse for two years from February 8, 2019. In a statement published on Friday, the State Administrative Tribunal found the 44-year-old “behaved in a way that constitutes professional misconduct by reason of her conviction”. “The Tribunal is satisfied that proper cause exists for disciplinary action against the respondent,” the decision read. “The conduct leading to conviction was not committed in the course of nursing practice, was not connected to her practice as a nurse, and did not involve injury to any patient.” Ms Fernandez was also ordered to pay $5000 towards NMBA’s tribunal costs.