Health Ombudsman Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM said today’s sentencing of a health practitioner who provided massage services while subject to an interim prohibition order shows the system is working to keep Queenslanders safe.

Massage therapist Graham Schodde was today sentenced to a $20 000 fine with convictions recorded after pleading guilty in the Holland Park Magistrates Court to unlawfully providing massage services on three separate occasions, whilst subject to an interim prohibition order that placed restrictions on his ability to provide health services.

In sentencing Mr Schodde, Acting Magistrate Cooke noted that the reasons the interim prohibition order had been imposed against Mr Schodde was to protect the public and respond to unacceptable behaviour by practitioners. His Honour found that there was a high need for specific deterrence in this matter and a higher need for general deterrence.

“The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) actively monitors practitioners who are subject to an immediate action order,” Dr Coulson Barr said.

“The OHO’s number one priority is the health and safety of the public.

“We work closely with the state and federal agencies, including the police, to monitor practitioners who are subject to immediate action orders to keep Queenslanders safe.

“Breaching an immediate action order, such as an immediate registration action or interim prohibition order, is an offence. We continue to allocate valuable resources to monitoring practitioners who are subject to immediate action orders and today’s result is a testament to that commitment.”

Details of practitioners who are subject to immediate action orders are published on the OHO’s website www.oho.qld.gov.au.

Anyone with a health service complaint, or with information about a practitioner who is acting in breach of an immediate action order, should contact the OHO on 133 646.

—ENDS

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The Office of the Health Ombudsman is unable to provide any further comment in relation to the details of this matter.