An alleged violent assault at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital has reignited alarm over escalating risks facing nurses, with the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) warning the incident reflects a national crisis.
The incident occurred in the emergency department last Saturday night at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. A 51‑year‑old man presenting with a mental health issue allegedly assaulted three nurses, police officers and a member of the public. While the full extent of injuries has not been confirmed, one nurse reportedly sustained a serious leg injury.
“This is not a NSW problem. This is an Australian crisis,” said CENA President Associate Professor Kelli Innes.
“Emergency nurses across the country are being punched, kicked, spat on and threatened as part of their working day. The incident in Randwick is not isolated – it reflects what many nurses experience far too often.”
National feedback from emergency nurses shows occupational violence is becoming more frequent, more severe and increasingly normalised in clinical settings.
Emergency departments remain among the most exposed environments in the health system, with 97% of emergency nurses reporting occupational violence, consistent with longstanding findings from the Australian VENT Study (Violence in Emergency Nursing and Triage).
The scale of the problem was reinforced in a recent NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) report, which found 88% of nurses and midwives experienced occupational violence in the past six months — up from 80% in 2019.
The report also revealed a sharp rise in repeated incidents, with many healthcare workers exposed to verbal abuse and physical assaults multiple times within short periods. Four in five emergency nurses reported experiencing verbal abuse five or more times in six months, while 64% endured physical violence at least five times over the same period.
Occupational violence was a systemic and widespread issue across all health sectors in NSW, said NSWNMA General Secretary Michael Whaites of the report findings.
“We know occupational violence has a significant impact on our members, with many reporting psychological harm and trauma. This contributes to burnout and rising workers’ compensation claims among nurses and midwives.
“To prevent violence, our members are calling for increased nursing and midwifery staffing, safer and more secure physical environments, and additional security staff.”
Violence in emergency departments is closely linked to broader health system pressures, including overcrowding, prolonged wait times and workforce shortages.
“These are not isolated incidents — they are symptoms of a system under strain,” said Associate Professor Innes. “When patients wait longer, staff are stretched, and environments are not designed for safety, the risk of violence increases.”
The ongoing toll on healthcare workers is substantial, with repeated exposure to violence contributing to burnout, psychological injury, moral injury and workforce attrition.
CENA is calling for urgent, coordinated national action to address occupational violence and protect emergency nurses across Australia.
“This must include a stronger, nationally consistent approach to prevention, reporting and response; improved safety measures in emergency departments; and a clear focus on addressing the system pressures that drive violence,” said Associate Professor Innes.
Read the full NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association report here
