Page 463 - Week 02 - Thursday, 11 February 2021
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Boomanulla Oval; and grandstands and amenities at Narrabundah Park, to name a few.
In Woden, Weston Creek and Molonglo we have completed the Stromlo Leisure Centre. If anybody has not visited yet, I really encourage you to get up there. It is an amazing facility, funded by the ACT government and operated by the YMCA. We have also upgraded the pavilion at Waramanga district playing fields, redeveloped Phillip oval, and undergone planning and design for Stromlo district playing fields. They are just a few of the things that the ACT government has done in upgrading and providing sports facilities for community clubs all across the ACT.
MADAM SPEAKER: Before giving the next call, I remind members of standing order 117 and the rules for all questions. I understand your interest, Mr Davis, in Mpowerdome, but I hope you were not seeking to ask the minister to announce executive or government policy. I remind members about the standing order rules of engagement.
Health workers—occupational violence
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, on 7 February this year, a constituent who is also an emergency doctor said that he is attacked by ice addicts and other illicit drug users almost every day at work. What is the government doing to protect emergency and frontline workers from being attacked while doing their job?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: As members would be aware, Canberra Health Services released its occupational violence strategy last year. Calvary hospital also is very focused on this. It is becoming a more and more significant issue.
One of the things that we have been doing is ensuring that people feel empowered to report occupational violence. The type of violence that Mr Hanson refers to is very serious. One of the elements of the strategy and one of the elements of the work that we are doing is to introduce a code grey that will call in additional support in relation to a situation that can be de-escalated. We have a whole range of other supports that do not go specifically to the type of situation that Mr Hanson is talking about, but the Occupational Violence Prevention and Management Committee has a broad representation of ACT Policing, the ACT Ambulance Service, Corrections ACT, WorkSafe ACT, Carers ACT, healthcare consumers and the Mental Health Consumer Network, as well as managers and staff from Canberra Health Services, who are working through these issues.
It is a very difficult situation when you have drug-affected people in the emergency department. It is something that I recently discussed with wardspeople in a meeting about their experience. Canberra Health Services and Calvary hospital will continue to work with staff on what strategies they can use to ensure that these incidents are minimised and appropriately addressed—preferably that they do not occur at all.
MR HANSON: Minister, what specific support services are available to emergency and frontline workers who suffer physical or mental injury, including PTSD, as a result of being attacked on the job?
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