Victoria emergency staff demand round-the-clock security as workplace assaults surge

Victorian emergency department clinicians say workplace violence has reached record levels, with assaults on doctors and nurses increasing 44% in three years and a 21% jump last year alone. Physical attacks such as punches, kicks and spitting, alongside sexually-or racially-charged verbal abuse, are now described as routine, contributing to burnout and staff departures. The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia are demanding 24/7 specialist security guards in every ED and a dedicated taskforce reporting directly to the health minister.

Government data record nearly 24,000 violent incidents in public hospitals last year—about 65 each day—and at least 230 staff were hospitalised after assaults in the 2024/25 financial year, the second-highest tally in Australia. Officials note that overcrowding, long wait times, rising substance use and limited mental-health beds exacerbate the problem, while opposition parties propose pilot protective-services officers. The colleges warn that without decisive action, staff safety and patient care will continue to deteriorate.