AUSTRALIA
WorkSafe charges St Basil's aged care with workplace safety breaches over 2020 COVID outbreak

By Sian Johnson

The outbreak began with one staff member contracting the virus in July 2020.

(ABC News: Danielle Bonica )

Victoria's workplace regulator has charged a Melbourne aged care facility where 45 residents died of COVID in 2020 with alleged offences relating to staff safety during the outbreak.

Key points:

After a St Basil's staff member caught COVID in July 2020, the virus spread to 94 employees

WorkSafe alleges the facility failed to implement proper use of PPE to help prevent spread

Separate court action relating to a coronial inquest into the COVID cluster remains unresolved


The charges WorkSafe has brought against the St Basil's aged care facility in Fawkner relate to its alleged failure to implement the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) after one staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2020.

A subsequent outbreak at the aged care facility, which remains the subject of a coronial inquest, resulted in 94 staff members testing positive for the virus and 45 residents dying of COVID-related complications.

The facility could face fines of up to $1.49 million for each of the offences WorkSafe has alleged occurred under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The regulator alleges that St Basil's failed to require its workers to wear PPE, train them and ensure they were able to competently use the equipment and supervise its use.

Separate Supreme Court action relating to former managers of the facility giving evidence at the coronial inquest remains unresolved.

The WorkSafe charges relating to St Basil's are due to be heard in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on August 1.

The regulator said several other investigations into how the COVID-19 risk was managed at Victorian workplaces remained ongoing.