A former Federal Court judge will undertake an independent review into SafeWork SA's decision not to prosecute the employer of murdered outback nurse Gayle Woodford.
Ms Woodford was raped and murdered at night while working as the on-call nurse in the remote community of Fregon on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia during 2016.
SafeWork SA's own independent inquiry concluded that there was little chance of a successful prosecution against her employer, the Nganampa Health Council (NHC), but the state government has said those findings would now be reviewed.
SafeWork SA's findings into the circumstances around Ms Woodford's death came a year after a coronial inquest found her death at work could have been avoided.
The SA coroner handed down 12 recommendations in 2021, some of which are yet to be actioned by the relevant bodies.
Ms Woodford's death also prompted calls for more protection to be afforded nurses working solo in remote areas, with legislation known as Gayle's Law enacted in 2017.
Ms Woodford is survived by husband Keith Woodford, who has been campaigning for NHC to be held to account over what he considered failures that contributed to his wife's death.
Family 'worn down'
Dissatisfied with SafeWork SA's original findings over the NHC, Mr Woodford said he now felt a sense of relief for yet another inquiry into his wife's death.
"We were trying not to get our hopes up but when [the news] came through we just thought, 'common sense has prevailed', now that we have an investigation into SafeWork's behaviour."
Mr Woodford said he did not want any other family to be treated the way he said SafeWork SA had treated his.
"It's a terrible feeling when you've got a government body that is supposed to be helping you but they keep adding to the lows you've already got," he said.
John Mansfield AM QC will head up the review, where he will also focus on SafeWork SA's communication with the Woodford family during the inquiry.
"I've heard of [John] and that he's a straight shooter and he is independent, which is the main thing," Mr Woodford said.
In a statement, SafeWork SA welcomed the independent review into the adequacy of its investigation and its engagement with the Woodford family.
"SafeWork SA will provide all documents requested by Mr Mansfield for his consideration and looks forward to the release of his findings," it said.
Seeking better protection
State Member for Giles Eddie Hughes, whose electorate includes the APY Lands, said the newly elected Labor government would be putting more resources behind remote health service providers to meet the requirements of Gayle's Law.
Mr Hughes said that since the legislation had been introduced, he had heard funding allocated to give remote health workers escorts had not been adequate.
"What happened in the APY Lands was tragic, devastating for Gayle's family and also the remote communities themselves.
"We do really need to learn these tragic lessons that revise the resources and support our nurses need."
