Family called to pick up injured Cleveland Youth Detention Centre staff instead of ambulances

Shocking claims of injured staff at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre being taken to the hospital by their families rather than by ambulance have surfaced.

Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

Shocking claims of injured staff at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre being taken to the hospital by their families rather than by ambulance have surfaced.

It comes after a series of serious assaults on staff, which left three officers with broken noses, a broken eye socket and fractured arm.

A family member of a worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Townsville Bulletin that family members had been called to collect officers injured by detainees “so they don’t have to call an ambulance”.

These violent incidents have left staff unconscious and with serious injuries, requiring treatment at hospital.

Shocking data revealed there were 194 alleged assaults on staff by detainees at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in the last financial year.

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The family member told the Bulletin the number of reported incidents was “the tip of the iceberg”.

A Department of Youth Justice spokeswoman said all staff involved in these types of incidents were provided with support, including assistance from a full time on-centre staff wellbeing officer and access to external professional debriefing services.

The department refused to answer questions on how it handled assaults after a source told the Bulletin an ambulance was only called after a serious incident.

She said the state government had invested in extra security, including body-worn cameras.

“Any assault on staff is unacceptable and normal procedure is for assaults to be referred to police for investigation,” the spokeswoman said.

The family member said some staff were fearful of inmates inside Cleveland Youth Detention Centre who were “experienced criminals”.

“There’s just no consequence, the kids run the prison,” they said.

Despite the number of ­assaults, the department spokeswoman said the return rate by workers was high.

“The final return to work rate for the Department of Youth Justice in 2018/2019, following a WorkCover claim, was 99.25 per cent,” she said.

“Youth detention centres are complex and difficult working environments, however the work can be very rewarding. Over 40 per cent of youth detention staff have over five years of service and 15 per cent over 15 years service.”

The Bulletin last week reported two officers were seriously injured by a 16-year-old with another having their arm broken by a 17-year-old boy bashing them with a phone.

Originally published as Family called to pick up injured Cleveland Youth Detention Centre staff instead of ambulances