WAPU DEMAND OVERHAUL ON HEALTH AND WELFARE

22 February 2024

The WA Police Union is demanding for the rights of officers that have been broken on the job and are not being considered for medical retirement. WA Police Union has raised this issue with Commissioner of Police in the strongest terms.

Police Officers injured on the job are being left in the dark because WA Police’s Health and Welfare are not humanising our members. WAPU has received a growing list of concerned and distraught members who are being threatened with their entitlement to sick leave and their pay stopped because they are not capable of returning to work. WAPU is concerned not enough is being done to protect the physical and psychological wellbeing of our members. WAPU is also concerned about the welfare of members having their pay stopped thus leading to further financial pressures and stress during their sick leave.

WAPU President Paul Gale is concerned the lack of resourcing to WA Police Health and Welfare Services and the convoluted process is further damaging officers who have been broken by the job thus unable to return to work.

“I have heard of members being away from the workplace for weeks and the Agency not checking on their wellbeing. This reflects poor practices and lack of empathy toward our current serving members. The current attitude of ‘we lose one, we recruit another to replace them’, is prevalent.

“Officers with years of experience are slipping through the cracks and the Commissioner of Police is responsible for this. Police Officers need to be supported while serving the community, and well after their service.

“WA Police have the legislative framework to medically retire officers if they are certain an officer may never return to operational policing. Unfortunately, an officer cannot request to be medically retired, they are required to wait for WA Police to deem them worthy of medical retirement.

“I ask the question, how can two years away from work, and evidence from medical professionals deeming an officer not fit to return to work, not prove enough for an expediated decision?

“Our members are exposed to the worst of society, witnessing, and undertaking tasks that cannot be forgotten. WA Police not only need to recognise this and bolster their health and welfare services to ensure that our members are not falling through the cracks, but they also need to overhaul their processes, follow legislation so our members can feel cared for and valued,” says President Gale.

Reney Nairn – M: 0484 135 951 or E: reney.omar@wapu.org.au