Barwon Health issues safety alert to staff after recent carpark concerns as Geelong nurses tell of their fears

Barwon Health staff are being told to walk to their cars in pairs after a number of frightening alleged incidents involving at least one male offender.

Barwon Health has issued a safety alert to staff after Geelong hospital nurses had their cars broken into at night.

Staff are being encouraged to walk together after late shifts as a “safety precaution” as Barwon Health conducts a risk assessment of the carparking situation around the hospital.

Nurses raised concerns after opportunistic thieves broke into cars parked around the hospital last month.

The Barwon Health Andrew Love Cancer Centre parking area off Swanston st parking by permit only. Picture: Mark Wilson

Nurse Grace, not her real name, said she was now too afraid to walk back to her car at night.

“I would be too scared to go by myself,” she said.

“I do the old ‘maybe I should be talking on the phone to somebody when I’m walking back to my car’.”

She added some female staff members had resorted to being picked up and dropped off.

Walking back to the Geelong Gaol car park after a late shift in April this year, Grace said her car had been broken into and various items stolen.

She noticed the unknown thief had jammed a photo ID card into the passenger seat door to force their way in.

A thief broke into a Geelong nurse's car after a late shift last month. Photo: Supplied

Items were jammed into the door.

A little more than a week later, Grace was again at the scene of another break in as she walked through the multi-level parking lot off Myers St.

“I actually caught the guy in our carpark at about 9pm at night trying to break into one of the girl’s cars,” she said.

When she asked him what he was doing, he told her he was looking for a “place to sleep” before he got on a bike and rode away.

Grace said she couldn’t understand why the “low lives” were targeting staff members’ cars.

“They know we are nurses … why would you do that when we are the type of people who are trying to help others?” she said.

Another nurse Sophie, not her real name, said staff were “on edge” in light of the recent alleged incidents.

“It is making us all really anxious,” she said.

“I have overheard staff talking about some of the incidents that have happened.

“We have heard one nurse was potentially attacked.”

Victoria Police have been contacted for comment on the alleged incidents.

Sophie claims the hospital “should be doing more” to protect its staff.

“They are telling us to walk in pairs to our cars,” she said.

“That is not always possible and I feel quite isolated and scared.

“I think they are keeping it a bit too hush-hush.”

A Barwon Health spokesman said members were now able to request a security escort where necessary and said colleagues should walk together at night as a “safety precaution”.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe in their workplace,” he said.

Following the break-ins, Grace said she tried to reach out to the City of Greater Geelong to advocate for more lighting to be put up around the hospital.

“I think (council) needs to be doing more about our public parking around the hospital,” she said.

In response, council CEO Ali Wastie said she would be “open to a discussion” with Barwon Health and Victoria Police about the safety of nurses at the hospital.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe and these reports are concerning,” Ms Wastie said.

Before the pandemic, it is understood a volunteer service at the hospital had been offered to drop nurses off at their cars at night.

Since the pandemic, it is not clear whether or not this service has been reinstated.

Following feedback from staff, the Work Health and Safety team at Barwon Health issued a safety alert on May 13, which encouraged staff to “buddy up” and “walk in pairs” at night.

In the alert, seen by the Geelong Advertiser, Barwon Health confirmed a risk assessment for parking around the hospital was “undergoing consultation”.

They urged staff to report incidents to police.

Originally published as Barwon Health issues safety alert to staff after recent carpark concerns as Geelong nurses tell of their fears