Former Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility services manager Julie Harrison banned from industry for 10 years

A senior staffer at the infamous, disgraced, prison-like Oakden nursing home that neglected residents has been slapped with a 10-year work ban.

The former manager of a disgraced, prison-like SA nursing home who engaged in “appalling conduct over a prolonged period” has been banned from the nursing industry for a decade.

The SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal has found Julie Harrison, formerly of the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Facility, engaged in professional misconduct.

It is the third time Ms Harrison has been censured over her eight-year tenure at the home which, a coronial inquest heard, was “run like a zoo” by “manipulative, incompetent” staff.

In addition to being condemned by former State Coroner Mark Johns in 2018, Ms Harrison’s conduct led to a finding of maladministration, by ICAC, against her and four others.

ICAC also found the facility, which was a specialist service for older people with dementia, was “medically unsafe” to the point that residents were suffering neglect.

It said Oakden resembled a “depressing” prison where elderly people were left in “shameful” conditions – but that ministers and senior health bosses did nothing to intervene.

In its ruling, SACAT said Ms Harrison was genuinely remorseful for her actions but that in no way offset the seriousness of her conduct nor displaced her duty of care to the residents.

“Ms Harrison shared the responsibility for the care of a very vulnerable group of members of our community,” it said.

“There can be no doubt that she must have been aware of their appalling neglect and abuse at the hands of the health workers at Oakden over whom she had control.

“If not, then she ought to have known.”

Julie Harrison outside the Coroners Court in 2018. Picture: Greg Higgs

In 2018 – after almost a decade of whistleblower allegations, police reports and pleas for help from the families of residents – ICAC lifted the lid on abuse and incompetence at Oakden.

Then-Commissioner Bruce Lander dubbed it “a disgrace, a shocking indictment and a shameful chapter in SA history”.

In Ms Harrison’s SACAT case, it was alleged she failed to ensure safe and competent nursing care was provided to residents.

She allegedly failed to take action on issues raised, to develop and implement reform, or to be open and transparent with residents, families, staff and other stakeholders.

SACAT found the allegations proven, ruling Ms Harrison had engaged in professional misconduct and disqualified her from nursing registration for 10 years.

“There can be no excuse for health staff neglecting and abandoning the Oakden consumers or worse, abusing and assaulting them including the unauthorised and inappropriate use of mechanical restraints and subjection to inhumane treatment,” it said.

“These were some of the most vulnerable members of our society afflicted by age, mental illness and mental incapacity.

“They deserved to be treated with respect, humility and empathy and not just for the convenience of the Oakden staff.”

On Monday, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia chair Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey welcomed the findings.

“It sends a powerful message of deterrence to the health system, nurses and all managers, that standards must be upheld to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” she said.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency chief executive Martin Fletcher agreed.

“The tribunal outcome is crucial in further ensuring all practitioners and managers make the safety and wellbeing of their patients their paramount priority in the future,” he said.