When will the QTU stop talking about OVA?
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 3, 22 May 2026, page no.14
Occupational violence and aggression (OVA) is not a philosophical problem, a mindset issue, or something educators “manifest” by acknowledging. It is a documented, growing, statewide crisis. And the number of incidents coming out of Queensland schools make that reality impossible to ignore.
In the past three years alone, reported OVA incidents in Queensland state schools have almost quadrupled, rising from 5,748 in 2022 to 20,833 in 2025. This surge is not a matter of perception — it is a matter of record, tabled in the Queensland Parliament and confirmed by the Department of Education’s MyHR reporting system. Every region — without exception — saw steep increases over the past three years.
These are not abstract numbers. They represent teachers and school leaders who have had a finger bitten off, been stabbed with scissors and pens, punched by parents, smeared with faeces, and threatened with death, rape and so many other forms of violence. They represent disrupted learning for thousands of students and a disincentive to join or remain in the profession. They represent a dire and urgent need for systemic change.
I travel the state to deliver professional development on WHS, working with members to ensure they are able to recognise, report and respond to occupational violence and aggression, responding to individual calls and emails from members feeling unsafe in their workplace, and growing the HSR Shield. I see daily the extraordinary efforts Queensland teachers and school leaders make to meet the increasing complexities of students and communities.
This is not a niche issue. It is not confined to particular schools, sectors, or regions. It is systemic.
And that is why the QTU cannot stop talking about OVA.
Silence does not keep teachers safe. Silence does not reduce risk. Silence does not meet the department’s obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act. Under WHS law, the department must identify hazards, control risks, and ensure a safe work environment — an environment that includes every classroom, every playground, and every school in Queensland.
The QTU continues to advocate for:
- Criminal Code reform that recognises violence against educators as a serious offence
- a genuine zero-tolerance stance on OVA
- prevention-focused strategies, not just response mechanisms
- fit-for-purpose reporting systems, adequate staffing, and proper post-incident support
- safer school design, specialised behaviour support, and consistent departmental action.
I would love to stop talking about OVA. I would love it if it became a relic of the past — a problem solved and a chapter closed.
But until the data stops climbing, until the incidents stop occurring, and until every educator can walk into their workplace without fear, we must keep talking about it — loudly, persistently, and unapologetically.
Download your QTU Zero Tolerance poster here.
Find OVA prevention training here.