MEDIA RELEASE: CALLS TO BETTER PROTECT NURSES ON INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY
Date: 12/05/2026
Nurses and care providers are among the most at risk workers in Australia and on International Nurses Day (12 May) there are calls to better protect healthcare workers from violence, abuse and preventable injury.
The healthcare sector is the nation’s largest employer with more than 2.2 million workers delivering essential care Australians depend on every day.
Latest Safe Work Australia data reveals healthcare workers are 6.5 times more likely to experience a serious workers’ compensation claim related to assault and more than twice as likely to experience musculoskeletal injuries compared to the national average.
The theme for this year’s International Nurses Day is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” and Australia’s peak body for workplace health and safety said it is a timely reminder we need to care for those who care for us.
The Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) CEO Julia Whitford said nurses and carers should not be expected to tolerate violence, abuse or psychosocial risks as part of their role.
“No one should have to accept violence, abuse or ongoing psychological strain as simply part of doing their job,” Ms Whitford said.
“Too often, these risks are being normalised in healthcare settings, when in reality they are preventable workplace safety issues that require proper systems, leadership and action,” she said.
Ms Whitford called on governments, employers, unions and industry to better work together to protect and care for nurses.
“Nursing is fundamentally about care, but that care is being delivered in environments where nurses are regularly exposed to physical demands, biological hazards, aggression and significant psychological pressure.”
Safe Work Australia data shows healthcare workers face higher rates of workplace aggression, including hostility, intimidation, shouting and verbal abuse, which can result in serious physical and psychological injury.
Nurses also face higher levels of fatigue and workplace stress driven by workload pressures, working an average of 42 hours per week compared to the national average of 38.
Ms Whitford said these conditions reinforce the importance of continued investment in safer systems of work across the healthcare sector.
In New South Wales, $127 million has been invested in establishing a Hospital Industry Action Group that has NSW Health, private hospitals, SafeWork NSW and unions working together to address workplace violence, aggression and psychosocial hazards in hospitals.
Ms Whitford said initiatives like the NSW Action Group were an important step in recognising the need for coordinated action.
“Nurses care for Australians every day and like everyone, deserve to go to work and come home safely. When our nurses are supported in safe and well-designed workplaces, it benefits the entire health system and the communities they serve,” she said.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
AIHS Contact: Rebecca Turnbull
Tel: (03) 8336 1995
Email: [email protected]
About the AIHS: With a 77-year history, the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) is the peak body representing workplace health and safety professionals, with a vision for safe and healthy people in productive workplaces and communities. The AIHS works with industry, government, regulators, unions, and experts to improve regulation, policy, safety standards and training.