By Bonny Burrows
Kooweerup Regional Health Service will upgrade its security measures to increase staff and client safety.
The recipient of $57,380 State Government funding, the health service will install additional CCTV onsite and upgrade its staff duress system and general security infrastructure.
Employees will also receive de-escalation awareness training to better deal with potential personal security risks.
KRHS chief executive officer Frank Megens said the additional measures would benefit everyone who used the health service.
“This is an important security upgrade across our entire organisation,” Mr Megens said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Region Daniel Mulino said staff and workers would be safer and more secure.
“I have zero tolerance for violence or aggression of any kind against our hardworking doctors, nurses and paramedics,” Mr Mulino said.
“Cardinia has an incredibly dedicated health and mental health workforce who deserve to feel safe and protected in the important work that they do.”
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said healthcare workers were at the frontline when it came to dealing with “vulnerable, challenging people”.
“We will support them to do their important work, in safety,” Mr Foley said.
The upgrades are funded from the State Government’s $20 million Health Service Violence Prevention Fund, aimed at reducing violence at hospitals and mental health services through improved facilities.
