Workplace Violence Against Health Workers Continues to Increase Across Australia
22 Jul 2026
The report shows assaults are becoming a more common cause of work-related injuries requiring hospital treatment, prompting renewed calls for stronger safety measures in healthcare settings.
Source: Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and RACGP newsGP
The AIHW reviewed work-related injuries that led to hospital admission between 2015–16 and 2024–25. During this period, 7,416 healthcare workers were hospitalised because of injuries sustained at work.
The number of hospital admissions caused by assaults rose from 49 cases in 2015–16 to 126 cases in 2024–25. This increased the rate from 4.3 to 8.1 cases per 100,000 healthcare workers over the 10-year period.
Falls remained the leading cause of injury in 2024–25, accounting for around one in three hospital admissions. Assaults were responsible for 15% of cases, followed by injuries caused by contact with objects such as tools, machinery or sharp equipment at 13%.
The report also shows that assaults have moved from the fourth most common cause of injury to the second. By comparison, assault ranks much lower among injury hospitalisations across the broader Australian population.
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cath Hester said healthcare workers often care for patients in difficult and unpredictable situations. She said factors such as overcrowded hospitals, increasing demand for services, older patients, cognitive conditions and mental health issues can all contribute to a higher risk of workplace violence.
Dr Hester said reducing this risk requires practical changes. She highlighted the importance of safer healthcare environments, including appropriate clinical spaces, low-stimulation rooms, effective emergency alert systems and access to trained security staff where needed.
She also said all healthcare employees, including doctors, nurses, reception staff and support workers, should receive regular training in communication and de-escalation techniques to help manage challenging situations safely.
Dr Hester believes incidents in general practice may not always be reported because many GP clinics operate with fewer resources than large hospitals. She said better reporting would provide a clearer understanding of the problem and help guide future safety improvements.
The report found positive progress in one area, with hospital admissions linked to overexertion and repetitive movements falling significantly during the study period.
Fractures were the most common injury, making up 28% of hospital admissions. Soft tissue injuries accounted for 15%, while 10% involved open wounds.
Most injured healthcare workers spent little time in hospital. Around 81% were discharged within one day, including 55% who went home on the day they were admitted. A small number required longer hospital stays, with 1% needing intensive care and 24 people requiring continuous ventilatory support.
A separate AIHW report examined injuries that occurred after patients were admitted to hospital. It found one in every 182 hospital stays involved a hospital-acquired injury. Falls were responsible for half of these injuries, with older people and men most commonly affected.
Workplace Violence Against Health Workers Continues to Increase Across Australia
Source: Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and RACGP newsGP