WA Healthcare Workers Face Violence Every Two Hours, New Data Reveals
Exclusive figures from the Department of Health have uncovered a disturbing reality for frontline healthcare workers in Western Australia. In 2025 alone, staff were subjected to violence and aggression approximately once every two hours, totaling more than 4,300 incidents throughout the year. This equates to roughly 12 attacks per day, highlighting a severe safety crisis within the state's healthcare system.
Shocking Statistics Across All Health Services
The newly collated data, which marks the first comprehensive collection by WA Health, reveals that workers faced a range of feral behaviors on a daily basis. These included:
- Biting, spitting, and scratching
- Kicking, punching, and shoving
- Tripping and grabbing
- Sexual assaults, including indecent physical contact and unwanted sexual advances
Prior to 2025, incident data was held separately by individual health service providers using inconsistent definitions, making accurate comparisons impossible. The standardization of reporting has now exposed the alarming scale of the problem.
Geographic Breakdown of Incidents
The distribution of violence was relatively even across different health jurisdictions, though some areas recorded higher numbers due to their operational scope:
- WA Country Health Service reported the most incidents at 1,251, attributed to its extensive network of over 100 hospitals and health services statewide.
- South Metropolitan Health Service (encompassing Fiona Stanley, Fremantle, Rockingham, Peel, and Murray District hospitals) recorded 991 incidents.
- North Metropolitan Health Service (including Sir Charles Gairdner, Osborne Park, Joondalup, King Edward Memorial, and Graylands hospitals) experienced 934 incidents.
- East Metropolitan Health Service (covering Royal Perth, Bentley, Armadale, Kalamunda, and St John of God Midland hospitals) had 898 incidents.
- Child and Adolescent Health Service (Perth Children's Hospital and mental health services) reported 270 incidents.
Enhanced Safety Measures Implemented
A WA Health spokesman emphasized that the department "takes the safety of patients, visitors, and staff extremely seriously." He added, "Every day, our staff show up to care for the community with professionalism, compassion, and dedication, and they deserve to feel safe and respected while doing so."
In response to the escalating violence, health service providers have progressively strengthened safety protocols tailored to their specific environments. Key measures include:
- Personal duress alarms for staff
- Body-worn cameras for security personnel
- Expansion of the WA Country Health Service virtual security centre
Virtual Security Centre Expansion
The 24/7 virtual security centre, first launched in February 2024, uses specialized CCTV technology to provide real-time support for regional and remote hospital staff. Initially rolled out to sites in Bridgetown, Collie, Meekatharra, Hedland, Karratha, Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing, and Halls Creek, it has since expanded to 60 locations across rural and remote WA.
This expansion covers the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West, and South West regions, enhancing real-time monitoring and response capabilities. The centre's workforce has also grown to manage increased operational demands.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat noted that the expanded service is already making a positive impact, particularly at smaller WA Country Health Service sites. "Staff at nursing posts are reporting greater peace of mind since the rollout," she stated, underscoring the importance of these security enhancements in protecting frontline healthcare workers.
