Bendigo Health records 584 occupational violence incidents, up 200 since July 2022
Shocking new statistics reveal abusive and threatening behaviour towards healthcare workers at one of the state’s biggest regional hospital is surging with workers facing daily threats.
Reports of abuse and assault on emergency workers are surging at one of the state’s largest regional hospitals, with the nursing union claiming staff are subjected to aggressive behaviour “nearly every shift”.
Shocking new statistics reveal a staggering increase in the amount of occupational violence at Bendigo Health, which recorded 584 incidents in the 2024-25 financial year – up nearly 200 since July 2022.
Incidents resulting in employees suffering injuries, illness, or conditions also rose from 33 per cent to 45 per cent over the same time period, according to Bendigo Health’s latest annual report.
Occupational violence is defined as any incident where an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted while at work.
A 2024 Bendigo Health staff survey revealed more than 30 per cent of respondents had experienced violence or aggression from a patient.
The growing trend is a “serious concern”, a Bendigo Health spokesman said.
“We want to acknowledge the real impact this has on our people … (they) are our highest priority and this year we have strengthened our commitment to creating a safer, more supportive workplace for everyone,” he said.
“While some of this increase reflects the stronger reporting culture we’ve worked hard to build, it doesn’t change the fact that any form of violence towards our staff is unacceptable.”
“Every incident matters and every incident must be reported so it can be addressed.”
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Maddy Harradence said the data did not truly reflect the reality Bendigo Health employees faced every day.
“We know many more incidents go unreported,” she said.
“At the end of a shift no one wants to stay back to complete an incident report. They are exhausted and just want to get home.
“ANMF has heard from members at Bendigo Health that nurses and midwives are experiencing verbal and physical abuse nearly every shift.”
Ms Harradence alleged a “shortage of mental health beds” and “unsafe staffing levels” were partly to blame for the rise in abusive behaviour.
“Nurses and midwives at Bendigo Health are already working at capacity … which can increase the risk of occupational violence and aggression occurring.”
Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said the trend was linked to Victoria’s crime wave.
“The level of violence in our hospitals is completely unacceptable, and it is a symptom of the crime crisis that is out of control in Victoria,” she said.
Ramping and ambulance wait times were also contributing, Ms Crozier said.
“We need to reduce these delays across our health system ... this failure is putting staff and patients at risk, and it must be addressed.”
A government spokeswoman said Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt had recently spoken to healthcare workers “to hear from (them) about what we can do to support them and prevent occupational violence in our hospitals”.
The spokesperson said the government had spent more than $47m on occupational violence aggression training initiatives since 2015.
