Tracey Joan Dawkins banned from nursing for four years for robbing three service stations in 20 minutes

A drug and alcohol rehab nurse has been banned after holding up three service stations in only 20 minutes – but she still works for the NDIS.

A drug and alcohol service nurse hooked on benzodiazepines went on a robbery crime spree, holding up three service stations in 20 minutes.

Tracey Joan Dawkins, 62, has had her nursing registration cancelled and has been banned from reapplying for four years after she was jailed in 2020 for three counts of robbery.

In a decision handed down by the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal in March, but only published last week, Dawkins admitted not only her criminal offending but also failing to report her arrest to the health services watchdog.

Dawkins was qualified and started working as a registered nurse in August 1981, but had sporadic disciplinary problems because of her prescription drug issues.

She was working as a clinical nurse with Drug and Alcohol Services SA which is attached to SA Health.

On March 15, 2020 Dawkins was driving an Alfa Romeo and wearing an akubra hat when she robbed three service stations in quick succession.

In all three cases she walked into the service station and placed a yellow note on the counter which read: “give me the money or else I’ve got a knife and will kill you”.

She then pulled a short knife with a serrated or jagged end.

Dawkins reiterated the threats out loud but the worker refused to hand over the money.

She left the store and drove a short distance down the road and pulled into another service station.

Once again she threatened the worker at the counter and was given $400 cash.

She left the store and drove to a third site where she received $450 after threatening a worker with a knife.

As she was leaving the third store she was stopped and arrested by police.

She was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of attempted aggravated robbery.

A District Court judge sentenced Dawkins to four years, two months and 12 days in prison with a non-parole period of 18 months.

She has since been released from prison but is still on parole.

The Tribunal cited Dawkins’ GP who said he had concerns about her returning to work because of her “binge substance abuse” issues.

The Tribunal heard that Dawkins currently works for an NDIS provider which deals with in-home and community treatment.

“Her tasks do not include the administration of tablets or other oral medicine,” the Tribunal concluded.

“She is however unsupervised when she carries out her duties at a customer’s home.

“The lack of supervision when providing care is for vulnerable persons is a matter of concern for the Tribunal given the respondent’s prior history which includes an incident of her taking medication intended for another person.”

Stephen Ey, for Dawkins, asked the Tribunal to backdate any suspension of his client’s ability to practise to when she was sentenced.

“In other words the disqualification would continue for a year or so after the respondent’s parole is due to come to an end,” the Tribunal wrote.

However, the Tribunal ruled that they were not satisfied the ban should be backdated, noting Dawkins had relapsed into drug use shortly after mandatory drug testing ended in the past.

The Tribunal banned Dawkins for four years starting in March this year.