Violence Against Queensland School Staff Quadruples in Three Years
Reports of violence and aggression against school staff across Queensland have surged nearly fourfold in just three years, according to new data tabled in State Parliament.
Figures show school-based employees lodged 20,833 reports of occupational violence and aggression in 2025 up from just 5,748 incidents in 2022. The reports include teachers, teacher aides, cleaners, and administrative staff.
Brisbane’s Metro South region recorded the highest number of incidents, with more than 5,300 cases, followed by Metro North, the South East, and Central Queensland. While most incidents required only first aid, eight staff members were hospitalised last year.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education said the “occupational violence and aggression” (OVA) reporting category was first introduced in late 2021 and that growing awareness has led to more reports being filed.
“The department has strongly encouraged staff to report any workplace health and safety incident including near misses where no harm occurred. Collecting this information is vital so that action can be taken where required,” the spokesperson said.
The department reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on school-based violence and confirmed it is finalising a comprehensive OVA strategy in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU).
It also highlighted its ongoing “No Excuse for School Abuse” campaign, which aims to raise awareness about unacceptable behaviour toward school staff.
To bolster safety and wellbeing, the government is rolling out 140 additional Workplace Health and Safety roles across Queensland using a cluster model to work directly with principals on risk management, hazard assessment, and violence prevention initiatives.
The State Government has also boosted its annual “Behaviour Boost” funding to $45 million, supporting schools to employ or expand hours for psychologists, guidance officers, and behavioural specialists. An additional $2.5 million has been allocated for grants to help schools equip staff with better tools and training to manage poor behaviour.
Through this program, about 350 new full-time-equivalent staff have been added to state schools.
However, Opposition Education Spokesperson Di Farmer said the figures reveal a system under strain, with school staff increasingly feeling unsafe in their workplaces.
“Schools are workplaces. But increasingly, our school staff are not feeling safe there,” Ms Farmer said.
“The Education Minister promised over a year ago to act on classroom violence but he’s done nothing while violent incidents continue to rise. Our school staff are not punching bags.”
The Opposition argues the government has failed to prioritise the issue, leaving teacher safety and working conditions to the Industrial Relations Commission while focusing on high-profile events such as the 2032 Olympics.
Education unions say the data underscores why more teachers are leaving the profession early and why it’s becoming harder to attract new educators.
MAN TV will continue to follow developments as the Department finalises its statewide strategy to address violence in Queensland schools.
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