NPAQ calls for urgent action on safety and parking as Cairns nurses reach breaking point
State and local governments are blaming one another for external safety issues at Cairns’ hospital, as a campaign calls for additional off-site parking for staff.
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State and local governments are blaming one another for external safety issues at Cairns’ hospital, as a campaign calls for additional off-site parking for staff.
Nurses in Far North Queensland are facing increasing levels of physical intimidation, harassment, and even objects being thrown at them.
But Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Hospital point to the other as essential in resolving the issue.
Council chief executive Ken Gouldthorp said council had “consistently” encouraged Queensland Health to provide adequate parking for staff.
“Ultimately, the issue of dedicated staff parking for hospital workers is a matter between CHHHS and its employees,” he said.
The Cairns Post has launched Operation Safe Zone, calling for additional off-site staff parking, including a free shuttle service for workers.
It comes after frontline workers at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) revealed in a recent survey conducted by a nursing union they no longer feel safe leaving work after evening shifts.
Nurses said they were putting their hair in buns instead of ponytails so it can’t be grabbed, and carrying car keys in their hands while walking to their cars.
Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ) president Kara Thomas said on November 14, 2024 she sent a list of urgent requests to the council, urging collaboration with Queensland Health to develop immediate safe parking solutions.
This included better lighting within a 500m radius of the hospital, dedicated parking permits exempting staff from time restrictions, and a park-and-ride free service for hospital workers.
“Even establishing a hospital staff street parking permit system, with fees equivalent to hospital parking rates,” Ms Thomas said.
These potential solutions were presented to council and CHHHS, and Ms Thomas believes progress could be made if both parties collaborated.
“Nurses deserve to feel safe arriving at and leaving their workplace. Their lives, and the care they provide to your community, depend on it,” she said.
In a letter to the union, seen by the Cairns Post, Mr Gouldthorp said council and CHHHS executives met in December 2024 to explore a potential bus shuttle arrangement.
“Options have been presented to CHHHS for their consideration, and council remains open to working with them to assist in finding solutions,” he said.
When asked for updates on NPAQ’s November proposals, including the meeting with executives four months ago, the council responded with three sentences.
CRC acknowledged the parking challenges around the hospital precinct but reiterated initiatives remain the responsibility of CHHHS to fund and implement.
In comments attributed to a council spokeswoman, CRC stated it had previously provided additional parking in the area and had offered the hospital potential sites for a park-and-ride service.
“Any such initiative, however, remains the responsibility of CHHHS to fund and implement,” the spokeswoman said.
When asked if the council would collaborate with the hospital on parking exemptions for staff, the spokeswoman stated such decisions fall under CHHHS’s authority.
“While council is willing to assist in practical solutions that balance the needs of all precinct users, the responsibility for staff parking ultimately rests with Queensland Health,” she said.
The Cairns Post also asked council to identify the “potential sites” offered to the hospital but received no comment.
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