We wrote to your Facility Manager, Alice De Graaf, recently and told her that UAW need to urgently address short staffing at Strathdevon as it is putting both residents and workers at risk.

We told Alice that workers are leaving the facility both mentally and physically exhausted and often dehydrated and hungry because they don’t have time to take their hydration and meal breaks they’re entitled to.

We also said that short staffing could have dire consequences for residents if they try to attend to themselves due to the long wait for staff members to help them with their needs. Workers are also concerned that wound care, toileting, pad changes and medications are taking longer to be dealt with due to the lack of staff on each shift.

We've reiterated to Alice that a solution is needed ASAP. To push management to fix the issue, please fill in as many internal hazard reports as possible every time you are short-staffed and forgo any duties that do not directly relate to the resident care if you do not have the time.

Remember there is strength in numbers. If you know any of your colleagues who are not yet HACSU members, encourage them to join so that we can continue to raise these issues on behalf of all members as a united force.

We'll update you once we hear back from Alice. Meanwhile, if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us via HACSUassist on 1300 880 032.