City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) has launched a new campaign to combat the rising tide of aggression and violence toward workers and promote respect and care.
The Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) awareness campaign draws on the personal experiences of City employees who have faced abuse and aggression while on the job.
CoGG chief executive Ali Wastie said the campaign had been prompted by an alarming uptick in such incidents targeting council workers.
“Over the past 12 months alone, more than 250 reports of occupational violence and aggression have been lodged by City employees,” Ms Wastie said.
“These are people turning up to work every day to help our community, whether in customer service, local laws, waste collection, childcare, libraries, or home support. They deserve to feel safe.
“We’re here to help, not to be harmed. You wouldn’t speak to your mates this way, and our staff deserve the same respect.”
The rise of reports by CoGG workers mirrors the situation statewide. Early this year WorkSafe Victoria reported nearly 1000 incidents of OVA resulting in serious injuries to workers between April 2024 and April 2025, with 316 incidents leading to mental health injuries.
Workers across a range of industries were impacted by OVA, including retail, transport, health care and social assistance, education and training and emergency services.
The City’s new campaign highlights the effects aggressive behaviour can have on the individual, with employees’ accounts demonstrating the human impact. One council worker’s message reads, “I was spat on while helping someone’s mother. That’s not okay.”
The City’s Safety, Graffiti & Regulation chair Councillor Chris Burson said the campaign had particular significance to him.
“I’ve experienced occupational violence firsthand, so I understand how confronting and lasting its effects can be,” Cr Burson said.
“Our staff are out in the community every day doing their jobs, and they do it to help people. Aggression is never part of the job.
“They’re not just workers in uniform; they’re someone’s parent, friend, or neighbour. It’s time we treated them with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
