After our last meeting we told the statewide mental health service and the department you’re worried about violence from patients and the risks it poses to your safety at work.

We raised with them the importance of making sure patients across facilities are being triaged appropriately, so that you’re equipped to help them and so patients get the treatment that they need and deserve.

We also told them it’s not on that you’re feeling unsafe and unsupported at work.

In their response, the department told us they’re doing everything they can to ensure your safety at work, and that they’re constantly adjusting their risk assessments as needed.

That’s all well and good, but we’ve asked to see their risk assessments before, and they still haven’t provided a copy to date.

You’re constantly going above and beyond when it comes to looking after the patients that are sent to your facility, but at the end of the day the department is the one with the obligation to make sure that you’re safe – and we don’t feel satisfied that they answered your concerns.

We’ll be getting in touch with the SMHS again this week to let them know that they need to provide actual answers to you. If they can’t make sure you’re safe they’re in direct breach of WHS laws, and we’ll have no choice but to talk to you about the possibility of industrial action.

We’ll keep you updated about how it goes, but if you have any further questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to contact me via HACSUassist on 1300 880 032 or by email.