Page 1090 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 3 May 2022

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MS BERRY: Yes, there is a draft ACT languages action plan and a position paper, which has been developed as a result of the motion in the Assembly last year. The ACT languages action plan is designed to address those systemic issues that have been impacting on a school’s capacity to deliver languages. Once we have cleared the final draft of that plan, we will begin consultations within the community to finalise that plan.

MR BRADDOCK: Is there a time line for that consultation process?

MS BERRY: Not at this point in time.

MR DAVIS: Minister, can you detail how native language speakers in the Canberra community have been consulted on the development of language education in schools?

MS BERRY: I will have to take the detail of that question on notice. Some of that work might have been done with Tara Cheyne in her role as Minister for Multicultural Affairs. I will take that question on notice and provide some more detail to the member.

Dhulwa Mental Health Unit—safety

MR MILLIGAN: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. The Canberra Liberals have been told that Dhulwa nurses fear for their safety and that five Dhulwa nurses were on workcover due to being physically assaulted. Minister, how many Dhulwa nurses are currently on workcover leave and for what reasons?

MS DAVIDSON: Thank you for the question. I will take that on notice.

MR MILLIGAN: Minister, how do you respond to the fact that so many of our mental health nurses are on workcover leave due to being physically assaulted on the job?

MS DAVIDSON: This is why it is so important that we are working with their union on the terms of reference for the inquiry and selecting the right independent chair to make sure that the long-term future of Dhulwa sees our Canberra community and our nurses at Dhulwa able to have the best clinical care and a safe workplace. I will be keeping everyone updated as the work progresses.

Our work, in collaboration with the ANMF, to improve workplace safety will not end with the commencement of the inquiry. I have heard what the nurses have been saying about needing their skills and experience to be valued and for staff to be engaged in decision-making about how to operationalise any recommendations for change in their workplace.

For that reason, a task force to oversee the implementation of the recommendations will be stood up by Canberra Health Services and I would very much welcome the ANMF’s participation in that task force as a key voice for the staff.


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