As a profession that is approximately 90 per cent women, many nurses know the personal pain of coping with violence. The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) are strong advocates that every woman and nurse deserves to feel safe in all areas of society.
That’s why ACN has decided to join the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Led by United Nations Women, ACN is calling for all Australians to have a zero-tolerance approach to violence against nurses to create a safer society for all.
When we fail to take action on violence against nurses, everyone loses.
Take action now by sharing this page to your socials
Did you know?
Violence against women is one of the most pervasive human rights infringements across the world. For a long time, it has been hidden from public view and tolerated as a private matter. Those attitudes are changing with time, but rates of violence remain stubbornly unchanged.
A woman is killed by an intimate partner on average every 10 days in Australia
Source: National Plan to end Violence Against Women and Their Children, 2022
Violence against women is costing Australia $21.7 billion a year.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia (PwC). 2015. A High Price to Pay: The economic case for preventing violence against women
Almost 10 women a day are hospitalised for assault injuries perpetrated by a spouse or domestic partner.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019. Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia: Continuing the national story
Up to 95% of health care workers report being harassed or assaulted at work
Source: Work Safe Victoria, 2020
Learn more about ACN's policy work
How prevalent is violence against nurses?
While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated anecdotal reports of violence against nurses, it has long been an issue. Learn more about the full extent of violence against nurses in this 2019 episode of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News program, 7:30.
Please note that this video contains graphic depictions of verbal and physical assault.
Source: Nurses Break their silence on the rise of workplace violence. 7:30 program, ABC News, 2019
Take action
Be the voice. Spread the word.
Show your support by spreading awareness of #ProtectNurses on your website, social networks or within your health service organisation.
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EDM suggested messaging
As a profession that is approximately 90 per cent women, many nurses know the personal pain of coping with violence, whether it be in their workplace or in their home. [Organisation] is proud to join the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to #ProtectNurses.
Make sure to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ProtectNurses and share your voice on what can be done to make society safer for us all.
Check out ACN’s Resources: https://www.acn.edu.au/protect-nurses
Meet the Nurses and Violence Taskforce
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is committed to supporting and promoting safe work environments while improving policy and processes to eradicate occupational violence against nurses. The unacceptable experience of occupational violence against nurses is widespread. ACN does not accept this risk to nurses and will work tirelessly to support the introduction of legislation and initiatives that will ensure our workplaces are safe for the nursing profession.
In 2021, ACN established the Nurses and Violence Taskforce designed to develop policy and support advocacy.
Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN
Co-Chair of the Nurses and Violence Taskforce
Dr Leesa Hooker MACN
Co-Chair of the Nurses caring for people experiencing domestic violence committee
Dr Jacqui Pich MACN
Co-Chair of the Nurses experiencing domestic violence committee
Professor Georgina Willetts FACN CMGR FIML
Co-Chair of the Occupational violence committee
Rheannwynn (Rhee) Sneesby MACN
Co-Chair of the Nurses and child protection committee
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Social media suggested messaging
Generic message 1
No nurse should have to experience threats and violence.
[Organisation] is proud to join the Australian College of Nursing in the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to take action to #ProtectNurses. We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against our staff and against all women.
Learn more about the campaign: https://www.acn.edu.au/protect-nurses
Generic message 2
Despite changing attitudes towards women in society, rates of violence against nurses remain unacceptably high.
We join the call to ensure nurses have respectful and safe workplaces and for the elimination of violence against women. There is no tolerance for violence in our society and we proudly champion to #protectNurses and initiatives raised by the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Learn more about the campaign: https://www.acn.edu.au/protect-nurses
Twitter message 1
[Organisation] is proud to join the Australian College of Nursing in the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to act to #ProtectNurses. We take a zero tolerance approach to violence against our staff and against all women. Learn more: https://www.acn.edu.au/protect-nurses
Twitter message 2
Despite changing attitudes towards women in society, rates of violence against nurses remain unacceptably high. Join @acn_tweet’s call to #ProtectNurses this #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Learn more: https://www.acn.edu.au/protect-nurses