Physical Violence

Physical violence includes an act that causes physical injury or pain.

Examples of physical violence can include:

• Hitting/kicking/punching
• Pushing/shoving/grabbing/throwing/shaking
• Using an object to hit or strike
• Using inappropriate restraint/excessive force

Physical violence does not include lawful behaviour. For example:

• reasonable steps taken to protect a child from immediate harm, such as taking a child’s arm to stop them from going into oncoming traffic
• medical treatment given in good faith by an appropriately qualified person, such as a senior first aid officer administering first aid.

Threats of physical violence that do not cause physical injury or pain may be covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme as behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm (see below).