Nurse lashes out at rape strike claims
06.05.2008
A NURSE allegedly raped on a remote Torres Strait island three months ago has accused bureaucrats of implying she would not have been attacked if she had been more sensitive to indigenous culture.
The nurse, who has made her career in remote, indigenous communities, said yesterday Queensland Health had misrepresented the demands of her colleagues, who went on strike in protest and seeking better security.
Northern Area Health Services general manager Roxanne Ramsay has been reported as saying the promise of enhanced cultural-awareness training and better applicant screening was the key to ending the six-day strike by nurses on nine islands last month.
The 27-year old victim of the attack -- which allegedly occurred as she slept in her quarters on Mabuiag Island at 3am on February 5, -- said cultural-awareness training had nothing to do with the industrial action.
She told The Australian the department's assertions were ``degrading and unsupportive''.
Staff working on the islands were well aware of cultural matters and some of the victim's colleagues had more than 20 years' experience in Torres Strait.
The claim that greater screening of nurses and more thorough orientation were required ``reinforces that Roxanne Ramsay has no grasp of the changes the nurses are requesting'', she said.
``It indicates once again that Queensland Health is trying to cover up the real issues associated with this incident, and it also indicates that perhaps greater screening should be made of management,'' the victim said.
``Queensland Health has been negligent in their care of nurses on the Torres Strait Islands over a long period of time. The sooner they accept and acknowledge their negligence, and support their nurses employed on the outer islands, the better will be the long-term results of health care.''
Her stance was supported by Queensland Nurses Union health and safety officer James Gilbert. ``It wasn't a question of cultural-awareness training; it was purely safety and security, and these incorrect reports have certainly upset our members,'' Mr Gilbert said.
The Australian has previously revealed how the nurse, who has worked for five years in remote indigenous communities, repeatedly complained to Queensland Health about the lack of security in her quarters. The department had reports dating back years showing the buildings had faulty locks and screens, unreliable power supply and communication facilities -- yet had done nothing to rectify the situation.
