A government program seeks to address violence against teachers in Queensland. 

The Queensland Government has launched a new campaign - ‘No Excuse for School Abuse’ - aimed at tackling increasing levels of occupational violence and aggression (OVA) in schools. 

The campaign responds to the mounting pressures on educators both from students and, in some cases, parents. 

It seeks to raise awareness about the unacceptable nature of any form of physical, verbal, or online abuse against school staff. 

The campaign will run across platforms including social media, YouTube, and Google.

“The majority of parents and carers treat our teachers and school staff with respect, but this campaign is about drawing a line in the sand, making it clear to those who don’t that we will simply not tolerate any level of physical, verbal, or online abuse in our schools,” said Education Minister Di Farmer.

“If the average person knew what teachers put up with every single day in terms of occupational violence, they would fall off their chair,” she said. 

The initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Miles Government, which includes ongoing investments to support Queensland’s education workforce. 

The strategy encompasses psychological first aid training, improved incident reporting mechanisms, and the development of safer school spaces. 

Additionally, pre-service teacher training will now include classroom behaviour management and interventions designed to reduce violence and support staff wellbeing.

Brisbane State High School Principal Greg Pierce noted the strain caused by post-COVID anxiety, observing that “my colleagues in secondary schools are dealing with increased levels of anxiety and stress from both parents and students”. 

The campaign’s launch follows a May 2024 workshop attended by various stakeholders, including union representatives and professional associations, where key focus areas such as incident management, education, and workplace design were identified as critical to addressing OVA in schools.

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