What's in this workplace violence and aggression policy template

A complete, customisable policy covering everything Australian organisations need to meet their WHS obligations on work-related violence and aggression (WVA). Includes:

• Purpose, scope, and legal context under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the psychosocial hazards legislation that applies in your state
• Policy statement covering physical violence, threats, aggression, and gender-based violence, including where domestic and family violence intersects with the workplace
• Roles and responsibilities across the PCBU, officers, managers, workers, contractors, volunteers, and HSRs
• The full hierarchy of controls, from elimination and engineering controls through to training and EAP support
• Incident reporting and response procedures, including duress alarms and de-escalation steps
• Post-incident support, notification, and record-keeping requirements
• Investigation, review, and consultation framework
• Policy administration table and a customisation guide so nothing gets missed

Ready to edit and implement.

How to use this resource

Insert your organisation's details, adjust the wording, get sign-off from leadership, then share it via induction and your psychosocial safety system. Keep the signed, dated version on file as evidence for regulators.

Why it matters

Workplace violence and aggression is a psychosocial hazard under Australian WHS law, carrying the same legal weight as physical safety. A policy alone isn't the control, applying the hierarchy of controls (elimination and engineering first, training and EAP last) is what actually reduces risk. Without a documented, reviewed policy, there's no evidence you managed it before harm occurred.

FAQs

Does this cover gender-based violence?

‍Yes, including where domestic and family violence intersects with work.

What counts as reportable?

‍Any incident where a worker felt unsafe, including verbal abuse and near misses, not just physical harm.

How often is it reviewed?

‍Every two years, or after any incident or legislation change.

Need support beyond the policy? See how Foremind handles critical incident response.

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