Canberra Health Services recorded 2,460 occupational violence incidents in 2024-25, more than double the 1,196 in 2021-22. Of the 2024-25 incidents, 1,088 were physical (ACT Legislative Assembly).
The ACT is further along than most jurisdictions in its response: it has a public occupational violence strategy with 12 priority actions, and it has rolled out Safewards in priority inpatient settings. A business case in the ACT builds on that work rather than starting from scratch.
What are the numbers in the ACT?
Incidents rose every year, and fastest in the last two.
From 2023-24 the figures include North Canberra Hospital, which became part of Canberra Health Services that year.
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,196 | 1,273 | 1,802 | 2,460 |
Source: answer to a question taken on notice, ACT Legislative Assembly. 2024-25 split: 1,088 physical, 1,230 verbal, 142 other.
Cost: no workers’ compensation cost is published for Canberra Health Services, so use your own claims data and national benchmarks. Nationally, a serious mental health claim means a median of about 35 weeks off work, and a psychological claim in comparable public hospital systems averages $90,000 to $190,000 (see the financial case).
What is the ACT government doing?
A strategy with named actions. Towards a Safer Culture – The Next Steps sets out 12 priority actions, identified in the evaluation of the first strategy, that "aim to reduce occupational violence" (ACT Government). A post-implementation review of the Safewards model of care is published alongside it.
Safewards is in place in priority settings. In March 2026 the government reported the "successful rollout of the Safewards model of care in priority inpatient settings" (ACT Government, March 2026).
The psychosocial rules have applied since November 2023. The ACT’s regulation changes and new code of practice on psychosocial hazards commenced on 27 November 2023 (ACT Government).
Which arguments land in the ACT?
In the ACT, lead with the incident trend and the strategy: the case is for sustaining and extending work the territory has already committed to.
- The incident trend. Incidents doubled in three years. Put your unit’s figures next to the service-wide trend.
- Sustain and extend Safewards. Models fade without refreshers, champions and fidelity checks. Funding them protects the investment already made, and extends the model beyond the first priority settings.
- Deliver the strategy. Show which of the 12 priority actions your proposal delivers, so the request reads as implementation, not a new idea.
- Compliance. The psychosocial code expects a system of controls for violence and aggression, with training as one part.
- Workforce. Every injury removes a nurse from a small workforce. Count the injury leave and backfill in your unit.
Where can the money come from in the ACT?
The ACT has the closest equivalent to NSW’s nurse-led fund, plus Canberra Health Services’ own budgets.
| Source | What it can pay for | Amount | Who applies | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra Health Services OV, education and WHS budgets | Programs that deliver the strategy’s priority actions | Internal | Directors of nursing, safety and mental health | Annual budget cycle |
| SYNERGY Innovation Scholarship | A nurse-led innovation project, mainly backfilling staff time | $5,000–$20,000 | Canberra Health Services or Calvary nurses, with an academic mentor | Usually opens around April |
| Lions Nurses’ Scholarship | A short course for an individual nurse | Up to $5,000 | NSW and ACT registered and enrolled nurses | Usually 1 August to 31 October |
| Nursing and Midwifery Professional Development Scholarship | Courses, conferences and innovation projects | Not stated | Individual nurses and midwives | Check for the next round |
Frame a SYNERGY application as a nurse-led project, such as "sustaining Safewards on our unit, with an evaluation". See Part 3.
Where do I find my own figures?
The service-wide numbers are public; your unit’s are in Canberra Health Services’ systems.
- Incidents: occupational violence, Code Black and Code Grey reports for your unit.
- Claims: workers’ compensation claims and days lost for your area, from your WHS team.
- Safewards: fidelity checks and the post-implementation review findings for your unit.
- Seclusion and restraint: your service’s rates, and the ACT Official Visitors’ reports (Official Visitors).
Frequently asked questions
How many violent incidents are there at Canberra Health Services?
Canberra Health Services recorded 2,460 occupational violence incidents in 2024-25: 1,088 physical, 1,230 verbal and 142 other. That is up from 1,196 in 2021-22.
What is the ACT’s occupational violence strategy?
Towards a Safer Culture – The Next Steps sets out 12 priority actions, identified when the first strategy was evaluated, that aim to reduce occupational violence in ACT public health services.
When did the ACT’s psychosocial hazard rules start?
The ACT’s psychosocial hazard regulation changes and new code of practice commenced on 27 November 2023.
Sources
- ACT Legislative Assembly, answer to question taken on notice: CHS workforce and occupational violence
- ACT Government, Towards a Safer Culture – The Next Steps
- ACT Government, Supporting a safer culture for nurses and midwives (March 2026)
- ACT Government, Strengthening mental health protections in ACT workplaces (October 2023)
- ACT Government, SYNERGY Innovation Scholarship guidelines