Public high school teachers in the Australian Capital Territory are facing a daily reality of physical violence and severe disruption, with incidents ranging from being kicked and punched to having furniture thrown at them, according to anonymous educator accounts.
A Culture of Fear and Inaction
Multiple teachers, who spoke to The Canberra Times on condition of anonymity due to government restrictions on speaking to media, described an environment where assaults have become routine. "It's a regular occurrence, it's daily," one high school teacher stated. They detailed experiences including being scratched, strangled, and slapped by students.
The educators emphasised that many of these acts would be considered criminal assault in any other setting. A major point of frustration is the perceived lack of effective tools to manage these situations. "There is nothing we can do ... we are not permitted to do anything, we basically just have to deal with the aftermath," one teacher explained, noting that responses often focus on evacuating other students from the area.
Reporting Burden and Worsening Behaviours
Teachers report that the administrative burden of documenting incidents is itself a significant challenge. Filing a report for being sworn at or yelled at can take up to 20 minutes, forcing educators to choose between paperwork and essential tasks like lesson planning or student assessment.
While acknowledging complex student needs, teachers say behaviours have deteriorated over the past decade. "Even the mid-level behaviours are increasing, the swearing at teachers, the harassment of other kids," one teacher said. They expressed particular concern for the majority of students who attend school respectfully, questioning who advocates for their right to a safe learning environment.
The official framework in ACT schools is Positive Behaviour for Learning, which Education Minister Yvette Berry said aims to promote positive conduct and supportive environments. In practice, teachers say positively framed requests can sometimes trigger extreme reactions, such as a student flipping a table.
Rising Numbers and Government Response
Data from the ACT Education Directorate confirms the scale of the issue. Occupational violence is listed as the most significant risk to staff since the 2020-21 financial year. Reported incidents have climbed sharply, from 7,328 in the last financial year to 9,627 in 2024-25.
Minister Berry stated that any violence in schools is unacceptable and that she takes the matters seriously. "Occupational violence in ACT public schools is rising and I understand we need to do more to address this," she said.
The government points to a review into the prevention and management of occupational violence that began in December 2023. The second phase, including a review of work health and safety policy, was delayed but slated for implementation in Term 3, 2025. Minister Berry encourages all incidents to be reported, citing the existing "good culture of reporting" in ACT public schools.
However, teachers on the ground call for more immediate and tangible resources. "We all know we need the difficult students in schools, but give us the resources to do it," one teacher pleaded, highlighting the tension between supporting individual students with complex needs and ensuring safety for all.
