The Department of Social Services will defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) instigated by an ex-staffer (Larzabal) before Deputy President Kovacic in his ACT chambers today.
August 24, 2017
An elderly woman who died after spending the night in a near-freezing shipping container in Tasmania needed around the clock high-level care, an inquest has heard. Janet Mackozdi, 77, died of hypothermia in July 2010 while sleeping in the converted container at her daughter and son-in-law’s Mount Lloyd property. Five years later, Jassy Anglin and husband Michael Anglin were convicted of Ms Mackozdi’s manslaughter. An inquest into her death is examining broader issues of elder abuse and whether her family withheld care intentionally and depleted her money for their personal use. Today it heard from two health staff, one who gave an aged care assessment of Ms Mackozdi the year before her death after she’d fractured her neck. Social worker Merrilyn Orr found she needed “a high level of care” and assistance eating. Ms Orr said it was her opinion 24-hour care was required even after Ms Mackozdi’s neck brace was removed. One of Ms Mackozdi’s general practitioners spoke of the challenges her family would have faced in providing adequate at-home care. “I think it would have been a very, very difficult thing to do,” Dr Sujeewa Fernando said. Ms Mackozdi had dementia and mobility problems and weighed just 37kg when she died. She was placed in a bed in the shipping container on a July night in 2010 as the family’s dilapidated hut was full of boxes from moving house. It is estimated the temperature dropped to as low as 0.1C overnight. Her body was found the next morning. The Anglins drove her to Royal Hobart Hospital but initially claimed she had died on a road trip to Mount Field National Park. On Monday, Constable Nicholas Monk, said the converted shipping container had inch-wide gaps around the door and air from outside would have flowed in. Ms Mackozdi’s financial planners, as well as other doctors and family, are expected to give evidence at the inquest this week.
August 24, 2017
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Back In Motion Braybrook T/A Back In Motion Group Baybrook for its Back In Motion Health Group Braybrook Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been approved by Commissioner Lee in Melbourne on 22 August 2017.
August 24, 2017
A health worker was knocked to the ground and kicked by a gang after he was asked for a cigarette outside Dandenong Hospital. Police say the victim, a 47-year-old patient transport officer from Pakenham, was standing outside the hospital on David Street about 3.30pm on Tuesday when he was approached by three men. He was asked for a cigarette and declined. The men then argued with the victim, knocking him to the ground. He was then “kicked numerous times” while on the ground, a police spokeswoman said. A good Samaritan came to his aid, as did one of the man’s colleagues, who suffered some minor scratches and bruising during the incident.
August 24, 2017
The Turnbull Government has appointed Ms Christine Grant and Mr Phillip Gordon as Co-Chairs of the Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation for three year terms.
August 23, 2017
A deadly gastro virus which has left a Brisbane aged care home in lockdown all month has been linked to the deaths of seven residents. The outbreak first hit several weeks ago, claiming the lives of two residents at the Regis aged care facility in Yeronga. Claims of poor hygiene and understaffing from families of residents were denied by Regis, which also denied gastro was the cause of the initial deaths. The centre has been in lockdown for 26 days, and five more residents, including two last Friday, have died. A Regis spokesperson on Tuesday night reiterated “there have been no deaths confirmed as being as a result of gastro”. “As advised previously, Regis has experienced an episode of gastroenteritis at the Yeronga facility. It was first identified on 28 July. We are pleased to say that the episode is nearing completion,” General Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Services said. “As of today, we are undertaking an industrial clean of the facility in preparation for the ceasing the gastroenteritis protocols tomorrow. “Protocols remain in place in one wing as a precautionary measure. “Regis has continued to work closely with the Public Health Unit as part of our established protocols and also implemented our infection control processes. “During this period there have been seven deaths at the facility. These residents had a range of pre-existing ailments and while they may have been affected by gastroenteritis, in no case has gastroenteritis been recorded as the cause of death.” The first two deaths at the home came as a gastro outbreak spread across three Australian states a fortnight ago. In addition to the Queensland deaths, 20 aged care and child care facilities in Melbourne were hit with a highly contagious stomach flu. Meanwhile, NSW Health said there had been a 34 per cent increase in viral gastroenteritis notifications across the state over the previous year. Back in Brisbane, at least 91 more cases of gastro were reported on a cruise ship which docked in the city on August 10. On-board testing found norovirus to be the cause. Regis’ Wynnum facility in Brisbane was hit with a gastro outbreak in June, which affected 15 residents but did not result in any deaths.
August 23, 2017
Visitors are urged to avoid the Mary Coram aged care unit at Goulburn Valley Health due to a gastro outbreak. ‘‘We would like family and visitors to avoid the ward unless absolutely necessary,’’ a hospital spokeswoman said. ‘‘If they want to visit they are asked to call the hospital beforehand to see whether they can come in, to help avoid the spread of gastro.’’ It is believed the outbreak started yesterday. ‘‘We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause,’’ the spokeswoman said.
August 23, 2017
Bynoe Community Advancement Cooperative Society LTD has a (s.394 – Application for unfair dismissal remedy) complaint on its hands in Normanton (Douglas).
