New report concerning violence and aggression in workplace settings across Australia released

New Report on Workplace Violence and Aggression Released by Safe Work Australia

Safe Work Australia has released a fresh report examining violence and aggression across Australian workplaces. Findings confirm what many safety professionals have suspected: incidents involving workplace violence are rising sharply, with serious implications for workers and organisations alike.

"Our recent data report Psychological health and safety in the workplace highlighted a concerning upwards trend of workplace violence and aggression," Safe Work Australia said.

"Using Australian Bureau of Statistics and People at Work survey data and insights from other sources, our new report further examines this trend to provide a view of the prevalence, causes and impacts of violence in Australian workplaces."

Key Findings from the Data

Based on the report, severe workers' compensation claims for assault and workplace violence exposure have risen by 56% over the past five years. This data underscores a pressing psychosocial hazard that safety teams cannot afford to overlook.

Emergency response sectors and frontline employees appear particularly exposed, reflecting broader psychosocial pressures documented across multiple industries. Organisations reviewing their risk controls may find it useful to reference a workplace violence report form to capture incidents consistently and support early intervention.

For businesses benchmarking their approach against broader compensation trends, our earlier coverage of a report comparing workers compensation programs in Australia and New Zealand offers useful context on how claims data is tracked regionally.

Why This Matters for Safety Professionals

Rising aggression at work signals an emergency-level concern requiring urgent attention from safety leaders. Addressing psychosocial risk factors early can reduce both human and financial costs tied to workplace violence claims.

Some practical steps worth considering include:

• Reviewing existing incident reporting processes, including tools like a workplace bullying report form for related conduct concerns
• Strengthening policies addressing harassment, such as a documented workplace harassment and conflict policy
• Exploring technology solutions, including body-worn cameras, discussed in our piece on how SafeWork introduces body-worn video cameras to mitigate violence and aggression

Safety professionals looking to stay ahead of emerging trends may also benefit from attending the Workplace Health and Safety Show, where psychosocial hazard management is regularly discussed.

To find out more, go to the Safe Work Australia website.