A Gold Coast Health nurse accused of abusing his position in a youth mental health ward to stalk and sexually abuse teenage girls has been refused bail in a Queensland court. The man, referred to in court as Mr Jackson, was arrested and charged on Saturday night. Magistrate Nerida Wilson denied his application for bail.
According to the charges laid against him, Mr Jackson faces six counts of stalking and two counts of indecent treatment of a child. He has also been charged with one count each of sexual assault, abuse of office, possessing child exploitation material and creating child exploitation material. The charges relate to his role within the health service.
The court heard that Mr Jackson was arrested in the International Departures Lounge of Brisbane Airport. He told police he was travelling to Asia for dental work, but had not yet booked a return flight. That detail was among the factors raised during the bail hearing.
Mr Jackson had been suspended from his role at Gold Coast Health since September 2025, when the police investigation into his alleged offences began. Police prosecutor Jacinta Raven told the court he had been the subject of several complaints. Those complaints came both from the families of children treated through Gold Coast Health's Child and Youth Mental Health Service and from staff within the service.
The court heard that the children he is accused of targeting were unable to remove themselves from his presence because they had been admitted to a mental health facility. The allegations centre on conduct within a youth mental health ward, where the young patients were in a particularly vulnerable position. The case has caused concern within the health service and the wider community.
Magistrate Nerida Wilson denied the bail application, finding that Mr Jackson posed an unacceptable risk of re-offending and of attempting to flee the jurisdiction. As a result, he remains in custody. The matter is due to return to court next month, when the case will move to its next stage.