Lorrie Hicks: TAFE Nambour teacher suing Qld Govt for $370K

A Sunshine Coast woman is suing the State Government for more than $370,000 over claims working in a damp, mouldy building for six years gave her a chronic disease.

A Sunshine Coast woman who taught in a mouldy TAFE building for six years is suing the State Government for more than $370,000 after she claimed the damp, humid conditions left her with a chronic disease so debilitating she coughed until her bladder prolapsed.

Mountain Creek woman Lorrie Nita Hicks, 71, said, in her statement of claim lodged in Maroochydore District Court, she had been left with chronic inflammatory response syndrome, been forced to quit the marital bed, coughed so hard her bladder prolapsed, and had lost “many of the amenities of life” following her time at TAFE’s Nambour campus.

According to the claim, Ms Hicks was a teacher in the D Block, which was shut down in May 2019 for full fumigation and deep cleaning to remedy a mould infestation, between at least 2012 and July 2018.

Former TAFE Nambour teacher Lorrie Hicks, 71, of Mountain Creek. Picture: File

During that time, Ms Hicks alleged she became “aware of complaints of mould, dampness and high levels of humidity in D Block” and noticed, in 2012, “that she was beginning to feel unwell and had symptoms including eye irritation, coughing, chest infections, breathlessness and headaches”.

“The defendant was aware of the complaints of mould in the building from at least 2012 after the plaintiff and other staff had complained of respiratory conditions, (which) on at least one occasion resulted in a co-worker of the plaintiff lodging a worker’s compensation claim for a similar respiratory conditions,” the claim, prepared by partner at Travis Schultz & Partners, Tim McClymont, alleges.

Ms Hicks claimed she was diagnosed in May 2018 with CIRS, one month before she resigned her position after 26 years of loyal service to TAFE Queensland.

In addition to the aforementioned damage allegedly caused, Ms Hicks claimed she was permanently reliant on antibiotics, Panadeine Forte, Rhinocort and other medication; suffers breathlessness and sensitivity to humid or damp environments; suffers persistent eye irritation, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infections; has lost income; and is unable to enjoy former recreational and social activities.

The D Block at Nambour TAFE was sealed ahead of treatment for moulding in May 2019. Picture: File

Her injuries were as a direct result of TAFE Queensland and, by extension, the State Government, failing to “undertake testing, ensure adequate ventilation (and) implement appropriate safeguards”, Ms Hicks alleged.

According to her claim, Ms Hicks is seeking $370,850 in damages and compensation, as well as an undisclosed additional amount in interest and lost past and future superannuation.

In an interview Ms Hicks granted the Sunshine Coast Daily in 2019, she alleged the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training must have known about the mould, as the issue had been raised constantly and noted in the minutes of monthly staff meetings from 2014-2016.

The State Government is yet to file a defence, although former Training and Skills Minister Shannon Fentiman has previously claimed “there were found to be no safety issues at TAFE Queensland Nambour campus during Ms Hicks’ employment.”

Travis Schultz & Partners principal Travis Schultz told the Sunshine Coast Daily Ms Hicks’ case highlighted the need for “employers to be vigilant when it comes to management of environmental risks.”

“Mould is well known to be a serious risk to workers where there is regular and significant exposure,” he said.

“If nothing else, Ms Hicks hopes that her case will increase awareness of the issue and see best practice risk management applied in all work environments.”