Schools are being urged to tackle the increasing incidents of violence

The Independent Education Union (IEU) has urged non-government school employers to tackle rising violence and harassment towards teachers and support staff.

In a statement from the union, NSW/ACT deputy secretary David Towson highlighted growing concerns about abuse and sexual harassment by students at both Catholic and independent schools.

“Our members are reporting increasing incidents of student violence and sexual harassment against teachers and other staff in schools, and we are calling on their employers to provide a clear picture of what is happening and what they are doing about it,” Towson said. said.

The IEU represents more than 32,000 staff at Catholic and independent schools, early childhood centers and post-secondary institutions in the region. The union has written to all Catholic dioceses and the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) asking for meetings to discuss the issue, although some parties have not yet responded.

Recent figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research revealed the scale of the problem. According to a report published in The Sydney Morning Herald, there were almost 2,300 attacks on school buildings in the year leading up to June 2024, a number just below the 2,460 of the previous year.

In addition to the rising number of assaults, cases of intimidation, stalking and sexual touching are also increasing, as is the possession of weapons. The police are increasingly called upon to intervene in school-related incidents.

Pushing for stronger protections in schools

“This problem is escalating across all school sectors and is unacceptable,” Towson said, calling for urgent action to ensure staff safety. He urged employers to implement confidential reporting mechanisms, conduct thorough investigations and take appropriate action against students who commit violence or harassment.

The union also emphasized the need for training programs aimed at preventing harassment. These would raise awareness among both staff and students about the impact of harassment and outline strategies for intervention and prevention.

Towson was referring to the Respect@Work reforms passed at the end of 2022, which place a legal responsibility on employers to root out unlawful behavior in the workplace. These reforms require employers to take action not only against cases of gender discrimination, but also against sexual harassment and behavior that creates a hostile environment. The legislation emphasizes employers’ duty to tackle student misconduct towards staff members.

“This affirmative duty places a legal obligation on employers to take meaningful action to prevent unlawful conduct in the workplace, including conduct by students toward employees,” Towson said.

“We urge all non-government school employers to clarify the scale of the problem and take real action to create safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces that all staff are entitled to.”