A CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY (CSU) research team is inviting feedback from visitors and patients on their perceptions of body-worn cameras (BWC) worn by security staff at Port Macquarie hospital.
Chief Investigator for the independent evaluation project, Dr Amanda Davies from the Charles Sturt School of Policing Studies, leads the team of researchers.
Dr Davies has previously evaluated the NSW Police Force BWC trial and then the state-wide roll-out and was the lead investigator/researcher for the NSW Sheriff’s Office BWC trial conducted in 2024.
A 12-month trial of body-worn cameras was launched at Port Macquarie Hospital in August.
Security staff can activate the cameras in response to incidents involving aggression and violence in the hospital, where there is risk of harm to staff, patients or others.
“The purpose of the trial is to evaluate whether body-worn cameras are effective in de-escalating incidents where there is an imminent risk to safety,” Dr Davies said.
“This does not replace existing de-escalation practices.
“One of the groups we would like to receive feedback from are the community members who visit the hospital either as a patient or a visitor.”
Feedback on the trial can be provided to a survey which runs until Sunday 30 November.
Complete the survey at https://csufobjbs.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PIEqTR4cipzrRc.
More detailed information about the NSW Health BWC research project can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/securityreview/Pages/body-worn-cameras.aspx.
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