A man has been charged with allegedly punching a nurse who was working at a COVID-19 testing site in Sydney's north-west.
The female healthcare worker told police she was working at the Dundas testing clinic on Monday when she was approached by an unknown man who was not wearing a mask.
It is alleged the man began filming the 31-year-old worker on his mobile phone before verbally abusing her about vaccinations.
The nurse, Rebekka Boicheska, spoke publicly about the incident, alleging the man dislodged her mask and punched her in the head.
"He approached me abruptly, we wear face shields and he put his camera towards my face shield and actually in my face shield," she alleged.
"I was obviously a little bit shocked, I turned back to immediately run back to safety inside the hub.
"Then the guy picked his phone up and he continued to film."
Ms Boicheska said she was incredibly shaken up by the alleged assault and said workers at her testing clinic were subjected to abuse every day.
"That's what we go through every day. We're just trying to keep the community safe.
"There are thousands of essential workers across Australia and we don't deserve to be treated like this. I'm OK but things could have been worse."
Ms Boicheska was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalisation.
She said she believes the man thought it was a vaccination clinic rather than a COVID-19 testing clinic and called for better security at testing clinics to protect frontline workers.
The 50-year-old man was arrested at a home in Telopea and has been charged with common assault, breaching public health orders and two counts of possessing prohibited drugs.
He was granted conditional bail to attend Parramatta Local Court next month.
Ms Boicheska says a local resident with four young children who witnessed the alleged assault, later turned up to support her and said she would give the police a formal statement.
"She came and she bought me some freshly made cookies," she said.
"So I mean there is good out of this, I would never have expected that."
