Addressing Occupational Violence and Aggression

With thanks to Richard Fisher, a Team Teach trainer in Australia, for his support in the production of this resource. Please note: this content was originally produced for organisations in Australia, but is relevant for practitioners worldwide.

We all have the right to feel safe and protected in the workplace. None of us expects to encounter violence or aggression while carrying out our professional duties.

Sadly, however, across education and social care organisations in Australia, occupational violence and aggression (OVA) is becoming increasingly common. This is also sometimes referred to as ‘workplace violence and aggression’ (WVA).

This troubling phenomenon is having a detrimental impact on the health, wellbeing, recruitment, and retention of employees in these sectors. The question is: how can we address occupational violence and aggression, and create positive, supportive environments that protect the safety and wellbeing of our staff?

What is occupational violence and aggression?

While its exact definition varies across jurisdictions, Queensland Government, Australia describes occupational violence as, “any action, incident or behaviour that departs from reasonable conduct in which a person is threatened, harmed, or injured by another person in the course of, or as a direct result of, his or her work.”

While this definition is broad, it can include, but is not limited to, behaviours such as:

• • Any form of assault, such as biting, spitting, scratching, hitting, kicking, punching, pushing, tripping, grabbing, or throwing objects

• • Any form of aggression

• • Intentionally coughing or spitting on someone

• • Any form of sexual assault or indecent physical contact

• • Intimidating behaviour that creates a fear of violence

• • Sexual harassment

• • Online abuse of workers

• • Hazing or initiation practices

• • Domestic violence when this occurs at the workplace

It’s important to note that occupational violence can occur between practitioners and the individuals they support, but also between professionals and individuals’ family members.

Occupational violence and aggression in the education sector

According to the Australian Catholic University’s Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey 2023, almost half of school principals reported being physically attacked in 2023. This is a 78% increase from 2011 when the survey was launched.

Almost all of the physical assaults (96%) were carried out by students. However, 65% had been threatened with violence by parents and caregivers, and 88% of principals also said they had been subject to cyberbullying.

Against a challenging educational backdrop – including worsening staff shortages – the report found that 20% of school leaders were moderately or severely depressed. Others admitted being at risk of serious mental health concerns, including burnout, stress, and sleeping issues.