Aged care worker sentenced to home detention for assaulting elderly residents
Phoebe Schwager, 22, assaulted six vulnerable elderly residents in a dementia unit. She was sentenced to 15 months home detention.
Schwager worked as an assistant nurse at Uniting Garden Suburb's dementia wing. Schwager assaulted six elderly residents between October 2024 and February 2025.
The six residents were vulnerable people who could not protect themselves. Judge Roy Ellis rejected a jail sentence.
He gave her an intensive correction order with 15 months home detention. Ellis said Schwager was the wrong kind of person for aged care work.
He said she was not equipped for the job and fought back poorly against its demands. She will also do 200 hours of community service.
- 22
- Age
- 6 elderly residents, 2 staff
- Victims
- 15 months
- Home detention sentence
- 200
- Community service hours
Why it mattersThis case shows risks to vulnerable elderly people in aged care settings. It raises questions about how workers are screened for these jobs.
AustraliaThe sentencing highlights aged care safety concerns in NSW and the vulnerability of dementia patients in residential facilities.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
