Evanston Park Eldercare nurse Natasha Lee Waters faces court

A nurse will defend allegations she tried to smother an aged-care resident with dementia using a pillow at a northern suburbs aged-care facility.

An aged-care nurse has faced not only court, but family members of the dementia patient police allege she assaulted.

Natasha Lee Waters, 40, on Monday appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on a charge of aggravated assault.

It was the first time Ms Waters, of Andrews Farm, had faced court on the charge after she was lost her position at Eldercare Evanston Park in April.

Police will allege the nurse attempted to smother the dementia patient with a pillow.

Present in court were family members of the elderly resident, who heard Ms Waters would be contesting the allegations.

The parents of alleged abusive nurse Natasha Lee Waters shield her from cameras as they leave the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Alleged abusive nurse Natasha Lee Waters leaves the Elizabeth Magistrates Court with her parents. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Eldercare Evanston Park where the aged-care resident was allegedly assaulted. Picture: Google

Leanne Thomas, for Ms Waters, told the court the allegation was denied and asked for the matter to be sent to a pre-trial conference – where legal teams are given a full brief of what a set of allegations are.

Magistrate Ben Sale told Ms Thomas he would instead adjourn the matter until February to give police prosecutors and her an opportunity to “conduct negotiations”.

When Ms Waters was sacked by Eldercare, chief executive Jane Pickering said earlier this year the facility had undertaken a “thorough investigation” following the nurse’s departure.

“The resident was not harmed and still remains in the care of Eldercare with the full support of the resident’s family,” Ms Pickering said.

Ms Waters will next face court in February.