Western Sydney nurse struck off after vile act involving aged care resident with dementia

A western Sydney nurse masturbated in front of a dementia patient after turning the lights off and closing the curtains to her private room, a tribunal has heard.

Ropes Crossing man Arnold Bulwayan Alunday, 48, had his nursing registration revoked for a minimum of three years on Friday, after he was caught masturbating in front of a 70-year-old dementia patient while working at a residential aged care facility.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) heard how Mr Alunday had taken the patient away from a movie night with another resident to go to the bathroom in her private room.

He then laid her down on her bed before removing his pants and underwear, then masturbating in full view of the patient.

He was caught by a female colleague who reported the August 2023 incident.

The Health Care Complaints Commission (the Commission) told the tribunal how, after being caught, Mr Alunday refused to engage in an investigation into the incident and “immediately” obtained employment with a different aged care provider as a registered nurse. No criminal charges were laid.

The Commission said the resident involved lives with early-onset dementia and that Mr Alunday “took advantage” of the fact that she would either have not remembered or not been believed if she reported the incident to another staff member.

“The Respondent took to avoid detection of his behaviour, such as closing the curtains, turning off the lights and performing the act in a private setting when he was aware that [his colleague] was tending to another patient, and the other AIN on shift was on break,” the Commission told the tribunal.

“These steps, make it clear that [Mr Alunday] knew what he was doing was wrong.”

The tribunal heard Mr Alunday admitted his “wrongdoing” to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, adding that he knew it was “really serious” and “something which a staff member should not do.”

However, the Commission told the tribunal that “the practitioner has not demonstrated any remorse or consideration of how the patient could have felt during the conduct.”

“His evidence given to the Council … was focused upon his own misfortunes, his family,” the Commission said.

“The conduct has a real potential to erode public confidence in the nursing profession.”

The exact facility was not named in the proceedings to protect the patient’s identity.

Mr Alunday migrated to Australia from the Philippines in June 2011, obtaining a Bachelor of Nursing from Western Sydney University. He was then first registered as a nurse in Australia in March 2023.

The tribunal cancelled Mr Alunday’s registration with a non-review period of three years. He was also banned from providing any health service during that time.