New Zealand Care Workers Report Nearly 80% Face Workplace Violence

A new report on workplace violence in community‑based care and support services in New Zealand found that almost 80 percent of support workers have experienced violence at work. Psychological abuse was the most common, with more than half reporting insults, threats, bullying or intimidation, while physical violence, sexual harassment and sexual violence were also widespread.

The research highlighted severe impacts on staff wellbeing: about three‑quarters felt anxious or depressed during incidents and nearly half continued to feel that way long‑term, and one in five reported lasting physical‑health effects. Training was described as "patchy", with half of workers saying they received no initial training on responding to violence and more than half lacking refresher courses. Union representative Melissa Woolley called for funded, mandatory training and stronger employer reporting, while attendees at the launch, including Debbie Hughes, Jan Tinetti and Lawrence Xu‑Nan, underscored the urgent need for better support.

The report, titled "Workplace Violence in Community Based Care and Support Services," was produced by AUT’s Social Transformation Research Institute and the New Zealand Policy Research Institute, led by Professor Katherine R.