‘Really serious’: Western Sydney nurse struck off after vile dementia patient act

A Western Sydney nurse has been barred from the profession after he was found to have masturbated in front of a dementia patient.

EXCLUSIVE

A Western Sydney nurse masturbated in front of a dementia patient after turning the lights off and closing the curtains to her private room, a tribunal has heard.

Ropes Crossing man Arnold Bulwayan Alunday, 48, was struck from nursing for a minimum of three years on Friday after he was caught masturbating in front of a 70-year-old dementia patient while working at an aged care facility.

The Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard how Mr Alunday had taken the patient away from a movie night with another resident to go to the bathroom in her private room.

He then laid her down on her bed before removing his pants and underwear, masturbating in full view of the patient.

The father lives in Ropes Crossing near Bankstown. Picture: Facebook

He has been struck from the health profession for a minimum of three years. Picture: Facebook

He was caught by a female colleague who reported the August 2023 incident.

The Health Care Complaints Commission told the tribunal how, after being caught, Mr Alunday refused to engage in an investigation into the incident and “immediately” obtained employment with another aged care provider as a registered nurse. No criminal charges were laid.

The Commission said the patient suffers from early-onset dementia and that Mr Alunday “took advantage” of that fact she would have either not remembered or not been believed if she reported the incident.

“The Respondent took to avoid detection of his behaviour, such as closing the curtains, turning off the lights and performing the act in a private setting when he was aware that [his female colleague] was tending to another patient, and the other AIN on shift was on break,” the Commission told the tribunal.

Mr Alunday obtained a Bachelor of Nursing from Western Sydney University in 2023.

“These steps, make it clear that [Mr Alunday] knew what he was doing was wrong.”

The tribunal heard Mr Alunday admitted his “wrongdoing” to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and said he knew it was “really serious” and “something which a staff member should not do”.

“The practitioner has not demonstrated any remorse or consideration of how the patient could have felt during the conduct,” the Commission told the tribunal.

“His evidence given to the Council … was focused upon his own misfortunes, his family.

“The conduct has a real potential to erode public confidence in the nursing profession.”

Fhe exact facility was not named in the proceedings to protect the patient’s identity.

He migrated to Australia in June 2011 from the Philippines and obtained a Bachelor of Nursing from Western Sydney University in 2023.

He was first registered as a nurse in Australia in March 2023.

Mr Alunday’s personal LinkedIn page states he is employed by Australian Unity as an assistant in nursing, however, the organisation told news.com.au he left in April 2020.

The tribunal cancelled Mr Alunday’s registration with a non-review period of three years. He was also banned from providing any health service during that time.

Originally published as ‘Really serious’: Western Sydney nurse struck off after vile dementia patient act