Alaina’s story: a fight for safety and justice

Twenty-five-year-old Alaina began her nursing career as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) at an aged care facility on the Gold Coast, where she found fulfilment in providing essential support to vulnerable residents.

But one night changed everything. When Alaina was assaulted at work by a resident who had a history of aggressive behaviour, she was not only left to grapple with physical and psychological injuries, but she could no longer do the job she loved.

Alaina’s workplace incident

Alaina was rostered to work an overnight shift alone. She was assigned to care for a resident with a well-documented history of aggressive and inappropriate behaviour, not only to other residents of the aged care facility but also to members of staff.

Despite clear warning signs, the facility failed to roster adequate security and follow its own high-risk resident management policies.

On the night of the assault, the resident’s behaviour escalated. Alaina followed the limited training she had received by creating distance between herself and the resident and requesting assistance from the registered nurse on duty.

Unfortunately, that help never came. Instead, she was told to manage the situation on her own or to contact police — a shocking response that left her unsupported and vulnerable.

‘He was yelling, carrying on a bit, and not making much sense”, says Alaina. “I was pretty scared at this point.”

The assault that followed was swift and violent. Alaina was forced onto the floor, pinned down, and repeatedly struck. While Alaina’s physical injuries eventually faded, the mental and emotional impacts led her to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, inevitably leaving her unable to return to work.

Alaina’s right to workers’ compensation

From the beginning, it was clear that Alaina's fight was about seeking accountability for the psychological and physical work injuries she suffered. Alaina sought recognition that the assault that occurred was not an unfortunate incident, but a foreseeable and preventable workplace failure.

Despite clear medical evidence proving her inability to return to her former role, Alaina was subjected to persistent and invasive scrutiny throughout her work injury compensation claim process. She was even required to provide weekly updates on her daily activities to justify wage payments, which only compounded her sense of loss and isolation.

Alaina reached out to Maurice Blackburn for legal assistance from our expert work injury lawyers. Our team worked diligently to ensure Alaina received the work injury compensation she deserved.

We secured statements from colleagues and her new employer, providing essential insight into the ongoing challenges she continued to face despite her new employment. Additionally, we obtained medical opinions confirming the lasting impact of her injuries and thoroughly reviewed the facility’s internal policies and records.

It became clear that Alaina's incident was neither isolated nor unavoidable. Her employer had received repeated warnings about the resident's violent behaviour. While these safeguards existed on paper, Alaina was left to face them alone when she needed them.

Alaina’s journey to recovery

While the work place injury compensation cannot erase the trauma, it acknowledged Alaina’s pain and the institutional failures she endured.

Today, Alaina is a practice manager and enrolled nurse in a busy GP clinic. She has found a new path forward, though she acknowledges the unfortunate reality that her career will never return to the aged care sector she once loved.

Alongside her unofficial support dog, Tillie, Alaina has shown extraordinary resilience in the face of life-altering adversity.

Alaina’s story highlights a critical issue that too often goes unaddressed and unspoken: the expectation that violence and trauma are simply “part of the job” for healthcare workers.

Psychological injuries can devastate lives and futures — they deserve the same respect, protection, and justice as any physical injury.

“For me, Alaina’s case was never just about compensation. It was about standing beside someone who had been let down by the very systems meant to protect her — her workplace, the insurance process, and at times, the broader support network.” says Melanie.

“It’s satisfying to settle any claim; it’s the best and most rewarding part of my job. However, to settle Alaina’s claim, who I had formed a great connection with, was a fantastic and very rewarding experience.”

Alaina’s courage in pursuing her psychological workplace injury claim and sharing her experience sends a powerful message to other frontline workers: you do have the right to speak up, be heard, and seek the support you deserve.

At Maurice Blackburn, we are proud to support clients like Alaina. Their stories remind us that legal work is about guiding people through life’s most challenging moments, ensuring that no one faces these struggles alone.

Getting help with a work injury claim

If you've been injured at your workplace or as part of your work, you may be eligible to make a workplace injury claim. Our dedicated workers' compensation lawyers are here to help you get back on track so you can focus on getting better.

Use our free claim check tool to find out if you're eligible for a workers' compensation claim, send us a message or call us on 1800 111 222.