Aged care CCTV trial technology provider revealed
Plans to trial CCTV monitoring in aged care homes, first announced in April last year, are a step closer with two sites and a technology provider chosen.
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It’s been a long time coming, but a trial of CCTV cameras in the state’s aged-care homes is “a step closer.”
The security project, which was triggered in part by the Oakden scandal, has for the past 14 months been plagued by red tape and allegations of corruption.
The Government said the camera surveillance would be trialled in two SA Health operated sites, Northgate House and Mount Pleasant Aged Care.
South Australian company Sturdie Trade Services will install equipment and provide a monitoring service.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade, pictured, said the pilot scheme, which has no starting date, will assess the viability of using audiovisual surveillance and monitoring within SA Health-operated residential facilities.
“In the shadow of Oakden and the Commonwealth aged care royal commission, protecting South Australia’s most vulnerable is one of the State Government’s highest priorities,” Mr Wade said.
“The trial was initially planned to start across five sites, however, responses to the tender have led to the project initially focusing on two pilot sites.”
Mr Wade said COVID-19 restrictions on visiting residential aged-care facilities had slowed the project. Office for Ageing Well director, Cassie Mason, said residents, families and staff would be consulted.
“We pride ourselves on delivering quality care to our residents, and their safety and privacy are our priorities,” she said.
“Residents are able to opt-in or out of participating in the pilot at any time, so a camera can be disabled if there is a change of mind.”
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In 2016, Adelaide woman Noleen Hausler had secretly installed a camera in her father Clarence’s room at an aged-care home at Mitcham which filmed a carer bashing the 89-year-old dementia-sufferer.
The carer was convicted and jailed. The horrific incident led for call for permanent CCTV in care homes.
In April 2019, Mr Marshall, flanked by Ms Hausler and Oakden whistleblower Stewart Johnston, announced a 12-month trial in five SA aged-care homes, to be monitored 24/7 by Belfast-based Care Protect and supported by $500,000 in federal funding.
But the deal with Care fell through, and Mr Johnston quit a committee overseeing the project, condemning public sector inefficiency and likening meetings to TV parodies Utopia and Yes Minister.