REFUGE WARNING
Haven for women and kids fixing access issues
AUTHORITIES have ordered a Gold Coast women and children’s refuge to boost security, deeming staff and residents are at risk from unauthorised access and potential “violence”.
Workplace Health and Safety slapped an Improvement Notice on The Salvation Army Southport refuge Still Waters, which shelters domestic violence victims, late last year.
Salvation Army Australia spokesperson Steve Speziale said Still Waters had “responded to the Improvement Notice by reconfiguring its reception area, adding a swipe card access to one door, and a lock and key to another door”.
AUTHORITIES have ordered a Gold Coast women and children’s refuge to boost security, deeming staff and residents are at risk from unauthorised access and potential “violence”.
Workplace Health and Safety slapped an Improvement Notice on The Salvation Army Southport refuge Still Waters, which shelters domestic violence victims, late last year. The inspector found the refuge had not “ensured, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision and maintenance of a work environment without risks to health and safety”.
“I observed no restriction for unauthorized personnel to access workers in the office environment, and workers and others in the rec room,” the notice read.
“There is a risk to the health and safety of workers and others by unauthorised personnel accessing these areas and being exposed to violence.”
Still Waters was initially given until April 1 to rectify the issue, according to the Improvement Notice seen by the Bulletin.
But Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in a statement to the Bulletin yesterday said The Salvation Army now had until May 1.
Salvation Army Australia spokesperson Steve Speziale said Still Waters had “responded to the Improvement Notice by reconfiguring its reception area, adding a swipe card access to one door, and a lock and key to another door”.
“The work has been carried out without interruption to services and will be finished this week, comfortably within the compliance date,” he said.
Mudgeeraba MP and shadow Minister for Women Ros Bates was concerned to hear about the notice at the facility, which she said sheltered domestic violence victims but was not a “high-risk” refuge.
Domestic violence perpetrators were often relentless in tracking down their victims after they had mustered the courage to leave, she said.
“Certainly you need to make sure if women are there, the perpetrators don’t know they are there,” Ms Bates said.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) did its Still Waters inspection on November 15 last year and issued the Improvement Notice that day.
“WHSQ has conducted enquiries at this workplace as a result of an incoming complaint,” a spokeswoman said.
WHSQ will “undertake further enforcement action” if the notice is “not complied with”.