Sunday 16 April 2023
There has been another critical incident in Western Australia’s juvenile justice system yesterday, again highlighting the risk posed to the workplace health and safety of staff in youth custodial settings. This is a further example that the McGowan Government urgently needs to listen to a broad range of juvenile justice stakeholders to address the problems facing the system.
The CPSU/CSA is aware of a severe incident at Unit 18 yesterday that involved a number of injuries to staff, including one worker urgently sent to hospital.
The CPSU/CSA will be meeting with our members at Unit 18 as we continue to fight for their workplace health and safety. The union will continue to support our membership as they cope with the cumulative impact of yet another traumatic incident.
The Union urges the Department of Justice to prioritise workplace health and safety at Unit 18 as our members will likely have to remain at the Casuarina facility while repairs to Banksia Hill Detention Centre continue to remain unresolved.
Quotes attributable to CPSU/CSA Branch Assistant Secretary, Melanie Bray:
“Our thoughts today remain with the injured staff at Unit 18. Every worker should be able to come home safely from work after every shift.
“The Department of Justice needs to urgently do more to ensure the workplace health and safety of its employees. It should not take industrial strike action from union members to ensure that they go to work and come home safely.”
ENDS
- The CPSU/CSA advocates for the workplace health and safety of around 200 Youth Custodial Officers in Western Australia’s juvenile justice system.
- The CPSU/CSA covers 44,000 general public sector workers including child protection officers, youth custodial officers, park rangers, Perth Zoo veterinary scientists and dental technicians.
- Due to prior commitments, neither CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary Rikki Hendon, or Branch Assistant Secretary Melanie Bray are unavailable for comment.
