NT nurse allegedly assaulted in Tiwi Islands community of Wurrumiyanga

A remote community nurse was flown out of a community on the Tiwi Islands after a recent alleged assault.

A NURSE has allegedly been assaulted on the Tiwi Islands, prompting calls for more respect for healthcare workers in remote communities.

The woman, who was staying in NT government housing on the island, was flown out of Wurrumiyanga after the “confronting” incident.

According to an anonymous source, the incident was allegedly an attempted sexual assault.

But with investigations still ongoing, NT Police could only confirm the incident was an assault.

A Wurrumiyanga community member said the incident was out of character for the island. Picture: Floss Adams.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Northern Territory assistant secretary Angela Phillips said the union had been made aware of the incident but had been provided no further information.

“If our members don’t want to contact us and let us know what happened, we can’t force our members to speak to us,” Ms Phillips said.

“It’s very confronting to those when it happens to them, and they don’t want to draw attention to themselves.”

Ms Phillips said incidents like assault were not limited to the public nursing sector but also occurred within the private nursing sector.

“It does happen and it shouldn’t happen at all – it’s not a frequent occurrence but we’ve just got to make sure that our people are safe out there,” she said.

NT Duty Superintendent Meghan Funnell said Northern Territory Police were investigating.

Ms Funnell said officers were looking into “an unlawful entry and assault in a Tiwi Islands community in which an offender allegedly entered an inadequately secured premises and assaulted a female occupant in the early hours of Saturday morning”.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles confirmed the staff member had been offered support and counselling services and NT Police were continuing to investigate the incident.

“NT Health has a number of safety systems in place for remote staff, including recommendations already implemented as part of the 2016 Remote Area Nurse Safety Review,” she said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles. Picture: Floss Adams.

“This is regularly assessed and work is ongoing to ensure workers are supported appropriately.”

Ms Fyles said the safety of remote primary health workers was “paramount” and deserved to live in a safe environment.

A Warrumiyanga community member, who did not wish to be named, said the incident was out of character for the island.

“People on Tiwi are lovely and have a good relationship with clinic staff,” they said.

“It’d be opportunistic I’d hope.”

The incident remains under police investigation.