A bus driver in the ACT has warned about an increase in violent incidents against frontline workers since the COVID-19 pandemic began, describing an incident where a passenger threw a can at his head, and stating he believes such acts of aggression have become more common.
Launching an anti-violence advertising campaign, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said violence against public servants is occurring in various forms, including physical assaults against healthcare, emergency, and housing workers by clients and patients, verbal abuse towards parking inspectors, bus drivers, and shopfront workers, and online harassment of teachers by students and parents.
The Chief Minister stressed that every job in the community should be free from workplace violence, whether visiting a library, using public transport, or seeking assistance from a Walk-in Centre.
The anti-violence advertising campaign was launched to address and raise awareness about the issue.
You can view WorkSafe Victoria’s anti-violence campaign, ‘It’s Never Ok’ here