Australia Post is taking drastic action after new data exposed a “terrifying” issue affecting its workers.
In 2021, postie Jayne White was doing her usual route, when she faced a confronting and life-changing experience on the job.
“I was delivering a parcel to the front door, and I noticed that the screen door wasn’t really latched properly,” she said.
“I called out, ‘Australia Post’, and two staffies came out. They seemed to be friendly enough, but then a third one came out and attacked me.”
The staffy bit Ms White on the hand, knee and arm – she still has the scars to prove it – and she was left unable to walk or move her hands for days.
“I bled all over the place,” she said.
“I ended up in emergency for three hours, and they thought that I’d broken my hand because the dog took it and shook it around like I was a toy.
“I couldn’t move my fingers for a few days, I couldn’t dress myself, I had to get help at home, and I had a tetanus injection as well.”
She proceeded to take a few days off work, returning gradually before taking on full duties again.
Eventually, she moved from her original location in Ipswich to Darra, Brisbane. But, her confidence has never been quite the same.
“I was terrified. I didn’t want to go back on that run,” she said.
“It’s definitely made me nervous when dogs approach.”
And, she’s not alone.
More than 1190 dog-related incidents involving posties have occurred nationwide in the past six months – with an average of nine each day.
Ms White even said another incident has since occurred at the house where she was attacked.
Darra has reported the highest number of incidents nationally. But, thanks to new safety measures from Australia Post, including providing all posties with citronella spray as a defence measure, Ms White said she’s not as worried.
“As soon as I see a dog wandering in the street, my heart races, and I just grab the citronella spray, and I’m ready for it,” she said.
“Before the citronella spray was introduced, I would encounter a dog and go, ‘No, I can’t do this anymore, I have to go home’. I was too traumatised. But now, with the spray … it’s a deterrent, and it gives you a chance to get away as well. It’s a very good safety measure.”
Australia Post has announced that it will cease deliveries to a property or street if a postie is threatened or injured by an aggressive dog.
Ms White also noted that the local councils in the areas she’s been delivering in have been extremely helpful and responsive to calls regarding dogs.
But, she said there are a few things that delivery recipients can do to keep posties safe.
“As it’s approaching Christmas and the school holidays, I find that customers are a bit complacent. When the children are at home, a lot of gates are being left open,” she said.
“What I’d like to say is, just because your dog is friendly to you and your friends and visitors, they’re not friendly to me. They don’t like the uniform, they don’t like the vehicle that I drive, they don’t like that I’m in their territory.”
Ms White added that customers can also leave delivery notifications or instructions, enabling posties to efficiently get your package to you without having to face your dog – for example, if you tell them to leave goods by the back door or in a letterbox, away from where the dog would be.
Australia Post advises dog owners to follow three important delivery steps – sit your dog safely in a contained place, make sure it’s somewhere that the dog can stay, and keep your dog secure to allow the postie safe access.
