A health clinic in Osborne Park, Perth, has faced repeated incidents of a jogger using its doorstep as a toilet, causing concern and frustration among staff. Initially perceived as an isolated incident when it first occurred in December, the behaviour has now taken place multiple times, with CCTV footage revealing the jogger’s actions.
Chief executive Melita Markey of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia expressed her dismay about the situation. What began with one apparent act of distress has escalated, with further occurrences noted in March and April. During one incident, the woman was almost seen by a passing car, and on another occasion, she was caught stopping her fitness tracker before defecating on a disability access ramp. Markey emphasised the health hazards arising from such behaviour, highlighting that it poses risks not only to staff and clients but also to the individual involved. The discovery of such incidents has caused significant distress for employees as they arrive for work each day.
In response to these ongoing events, the clinic has reported the matter to local authorities and has engaged professional cleaners to manage the biohazardous waste. Additionally, staff have displayed a sign indicating that the jogger has been captured on CCTV, yet the woman continues to target the facility despite nearby public toilets and a 24-hour petrol station.
The clinic’s concerns extend to the wellbeing of the jogger, with clinical psychologist Grant Brecht suggesting that her recurrent behaviour could be indicative of underlying psychological issues, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Markey voiced a belief that the jogger may be in need of assistance, expressing a willingness for the individual to seek help from the clinic’s general practitioners.
The most recent incident took place last week, while another local optometrist’s entrance is also believed to have been a target of the jogger. The staff are hopeful that, by raising awareness and encouraging the jogger to reach out for help, they may address the underlying issues contributing to her actions.