Melbourne aged care nurse charged for 'working after testing positive to COVID-19'

A Melbourne aged care nurse has been charged after she allegedly worked multiple shifts at an aged care home after testing positive to COVID-19.

WorkSafe has charged the 36-year-old nurse with two breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act over her alleged actions between July 26, 2020 and August 2, 2020.

WorkSafe alleges the nurse worked multiple casual work shifts at Menarock Aged Care Services Rosehill facility in Highett, in Melbourne's south-east, after she tested positive to COVID-19 and was told not to attend work.

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The nurse has been charged with recklessly placing, or potentially placing, another person in danger of serious injury by attending the workplace after returning a positive PCR test without lawful excuse.

The maximum penalty for an individual for this offence is five years imprisonment and a fine of 1800 penalty points, which was $297,396 at the time of the alleged offence.

She has also been charged with failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of persons at the workplace.

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The maximum penalty for an individual for the offence is a fine of 1800 penalty points, which was $297,369 at the time of the alleged offence.

It is not alleged the nurse's actions resulted in the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.

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WorkSafe's investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak at the aged care home concluded the operator had not breached its OHS obligations and had provided extensive training regarding COVID-19 awareness.

The nurse's charges will go before Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on September 7.

A number of other investigations relating to the control of COVID-19 related risks in workplaces remain ongoing.