Managing occupational violence
This page has information for health professional managers and their staff on how to respond and manage occupational violence.
This page is part of the Towards a Safer Culture Strategy.
Managing occupational violence (OV) is never easy but with the correct support and guidance the process can be simplified.
Definition
Occupational violence is any action, incident or behaviour that is not reasonable conduct, and causes a person to be assaulted, harmed or injured in their workplace. The workplace can be remote, in the community or at home. It also includes abuse through text, emails and phone calls.
Guidelines for health workers
As part of the initiatives to address occupational violence under the Towards a Safer Culture Strategy, these guidelines have been developed:
- Challenging Behaviour Guidelines – how to manage and respond to challenging behaviours that if not addressed may result in occupational violence
- Isolated and Remote Worker Guidelines – how to identify, manage, and respond to risk if you are in isolated or remote work environments.
Incident response toolkit
The Manager’s Occupational Violence Incident Response Toolkit can help you to:
- respond to an occupational violence incident
- report an incident
- support your teams and your own health and wellbeing
- engage staff in a review of the incident.
Download the Manager's Occupational Violence Incident Response Toolkit.
Factsheets
You can also find out more by downloading the following factsheets:
- Background - occupational violence factsheet 1
- Manager’s OV incident response checklist - occupational violence factsheet 2
- Occupational violence unpacked - occupational violence factsheet 3
- Occupational violence psychological and physical trauma - occupational violence factsheet 4
- Occupational violence triggers - occupational violence factsheet 5
- Occupational violence risk identification and controls - occupational violence factsheet 6
- Organisational barriers to practice change - occupational violence factsheet 7
- Organisational responsibilities - occupational violence factsheet 8
- Responsibilities when responding to an incident of occupational violence - occupational violence factsheet 9
- Post Incident - make people or environment safe - occupational violence factsheet 10
- Safety response - occupational violence factsheet 11
- Recognising changes in workers’ wellbeing - occupational violence factsheet 12
- Supporting others using the RUOK? model - occupational violence factsheet 13
- Assessing your capacity to support workers’ wellbeing - occupational violence factsheet 14
- Psychological first aid - occupational violence factsheet 15
- Employee Assistance Program - occupational violence factsheet 16
- Supporting self-care - occupational violence factsheet 17
- Creating a self-care plan - occupational violence factsheet 18
- Debriefing - occupational violence factsheet 19
- Workers’ compensation - occupational violence factsheet 20
- Support services - occupational violence factsheet 21
- Resources - occupational violence factsheet 22
- RiskMan reporting - occupational violence factsheet 23
Other initiatives
Safewards
Safewards is a program of evidence-based nursing interventions that is effective in reducing conflict and the use of containment (restrictive practices).
These changes are important strategies for health care workplaces that are looking to reduce the occurrence and impacts of occupational violence.
They also support a broader culture change where respect, inclusion, and collaboration are embedded across workplaces.
ACT Health led the trial of the Safewards model and interventions into ACT public health services from January to June 2021.
Download the Safewards Model of Care Post Implementation Review.
Find out more about Safewards.
Increasing occupational violence visibility
The Incorporating WHS into Team Meetings information sheet was developed to assist managers, health and safety representatives (HSRs) or staff members to effectively develop and communicate work health and safety content for team meetings.
Community awareness campaign
The Be Kind and Respectful to our Nurses and Midwives campaign aims to build the community's appreciation for the valuable work nurse and midwives do. It highlights the impact of unacceptable behaviour on their capacity to provide care.
Find out more about the Be Kind and Respectful to our Nurses and Midwives campaign.
Rights to a safe workplace
If you are a healthcare worker, you have rights to a safe workplace.
Download the documents below to help you identify and report unacceptable behaviours.
- Staff rights to a safe workplace – Canberra Health Services
- Staff rights to a safe workplace – ACT Health staff
Reducing occupational violence
The Statement of Mutual Expectations is for consumers, healthcare staff, students and volunteers.
The statement identifies how consumers and healthcare staff can best work together to reduce incidents of occupational violence.
Download the Statement of Mutual Expectations for Consumers, Healthcare Staff, Students and Volunteers.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Towards a Safer Culture Strategy or the implementation process, email NM.SaferCulture@act.gov.au.