Department of Health

Occupational violence and aggression - security

Security services in health services play a key role in the prevention and management of occupational violence and aggression. The Department of Health and Human Services is helping health services to develop a more consistent and coordinated approach to their security arrangements.

The department has surveyed health services' security arrangements to identify best-practice models. The survey has looked at security responses, training and management, and how these arrangements translate to a safer environment for staff and patients.

The department has also commissioned an independent expert review of existing security arrangements, including site visits to 15 health services (metropolitan and rural) and consultation with sector representatives (including security personnel, clinicians, occupational health and safety staff, managers, professional associations and unions).

The Loss Prevention Group of Australia Public Health Services Security Model Review Report - Executive Summary provides an overview of the findings and recommendations.

Security guidance

Guide for security arrangements to prevent and manage occupational violence and aggression: guiding principles

This guide has been developed to assist Victorian health services to put appropriate security arrangements in place to provide a safe environment for staff, patients and visitors.

Each health service is responsible for reviewing their security arrangements against these guiding principles to identify gaps and areas for improvement.

Security risk assessment tool: preventing and managing occupational violence and aggression

This tool has been developed to assist Victorian health services to assess security risks associated with preventing and managing occupational violence and aggression in line with the requirements of the Guide for security arrangements to prevent and manage occupational violence and aggression: guiding principles (2018).

It lays out the steps involved, the factors that need to be considered to meet the requirements of the guide and provides worked examples.

Occupational violence and aggression case study: security-trained personnel as an effective control

This case study details the context, process and outcomes for a metropolitan health service reviewing its security arrangements as part of the introduction of their organisational framework to prevent and manage occupational violence and aggression. The case study focusses on using security trained personnel as an effective control.

Other resources

The Australian Attorney-General has developed a protective security policy framework that provides policy, guidance and practice advice for governance, personnel, physical and information security. The framework incorporates a range of resources, including security principles and training resources.

Protective security policy frameworkExternal Link - Attorney General's Department

Reviewed 16 April 2024

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Contact details

Worker Wellbeing Department of Health

50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
whwb@health.vic.gov.au
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