Zero tolerance for occupational violence
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 19.
The QTU has declared tackling occupational violence as one its top priorities for 2025. Here’s some tips on how to spot it in your workplace and what should happen next.
RECOGNISE
What is occupational violence?
“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 their work.” (Page 6 of DoE Occupational Violence Procedure)
What does your employer say?
“The department has a zero-tolerance stance towards occupational violence, and responses must be evidence based, measured and preventative.” (DoE Occupational Violence Prevention Procedure, 2021)
REPORT
Why report occupational violence?
To create a formal record of the incident as occupational violence, which ensures that:
- individual incidents can be risk managed and addressed
- incidents can be tracked and monitored
- occupational violence in the workplace is brought to the attention of those required to protect employees.
Occupational violence is NOT just part of the job!
Info and resources for QTU members can be found on the QTU website here (https://www.qtu.asn.au/occupationalviolence).
RESPOND
Schools must respond to occupational violence on two levels, by:
- responding to an incident
- responding to an identified risk.
Immediately after a violent incident, you should:
- ensure the safety of yourself and others
- where possible, safely render assistance
- provide first aid and arrange medical care as necessary
- provide psychological “first aid” (support the emotional wellbeing of staff and students) as necessary.
Check for a delayed response to the incident, which may not occur for hours/days/weeks.
Response review process
The workplace health and safety review process involves:
- looking for causes
- reviewing risk control measures
- identifying new control measures
- implementing outcomes.
Employer’s responsibilities
The Department of Education has a legal responsibility and duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers and others in the workplace.