Torres Strait Nurses

[greatshakes]

Hi all.

A bit of a concern re the Nurses and now teachers leaving in Torres Strait. (We lived there for 2 1/2 years between 1981 -84). Security is always a concern and one has to wonder how Government regards a nurses value as part of a vital community support when they can't even guarantee safety after being warned of this safety breach some time ago. As you go further away from Thursday Island itself, the posts are much more isolated and to think the nurses can't even lock themselves in from danger would be a concern. It's not as though you can catch a ferry or plane straight away to get out of danger. Maybe it's a job where the presence of a male nurse might be an advantage. I'm not saying female nurses can't cope but sometimes when the position exposes people to danger outside the immediate job and the Government does little to safeguard those workers who serve to assist others, there needs to be immediate and unified action to bring the problem to people's notice. Wonder how many jobs are being advertised for that region at the moment?

[nyapa, RN]

There are really bad problems in some remote communities in the Northern Territory too. People have had to be flown out of there. I don't think a male nurse would make any difference. Violence is violence...

I am not talking about the majority of communities by the way. Many of them have a wonderful reputation. And there are nurses that wouldn't work anywhere else. I really hate the way that the media have been painting them. I work in the main regional hospital, and I love looking after community people...