Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus

Emergency Plan

Aggressive Behaviour

Incidents Involving Students and Aggressive Behaviour

• If a student is exhibiting aggressive or violent behaviours, contact Security. Security will investigate complaints regarding students, and determine what steps are appropriate under established University student disciplinary procedures, or if the situation is warranted, an urgent meeting of the University Threat Assessment Team will be called.

Aggressive Behaviour: Example of Crossing the Line

• Any act of violence where an individual expresses anger by hitting, pushing, or otherwise physically assaulting any member or guest of the University community.
• Any verbal threat of harm that is intended to intimidate or threaten the safety of an individual, whether the threat is made in person, through another employee or student, over the phone, in the mail, or through e-mail.
• Unusual, bizarre or menacing behaviour, intensely focused on a grudge, grievance or romantic interest in another employee, suggesting that the employee is losing control.
• Acts, words, and gestures adversely affecting the safety and security of another individual (includes stalking behaviours and hate speech).
• Bringing a gun, a dangerous weapon, or exploding device to campus.

What to do When Faced with Someone Who has Crossed the Line

Anytime someone has crossed the line using the above examples, the University Security Office should be contacted on Extension 2222. Do not attempt to handle a situation on your own. Sometimes, however, you may come upon a situation that is potentially violent and you have the opportunity to calm the person down. Here are some steps that will aid in that process.

• Remain calm. Allowing yourself to become more anxious will only make the other person more anxious. Let them know who you are and acknowledge that they are having a tough time.
• Be polite, show them respect, and be ready to listen. Letting them vent may relieve some pressure, and it will buy you the time to consider your next move.
• While remaining calm and in a not-threatening tone, set some limits. For example, "I will call Security if you don't sit down and stop yelling. I can't help you if you don't calm down." Say that foul language or name calling cannot be used if you are going to continue working with him or her. If necessary, try to get the individual out of a public area in order to get the person to calm down, but try no to be alone with them.
• Use empathetic listening. Try to listen to the tone as well as the content. Let them know you are interested in understanding what the person is really saying. Are they angry, frustrated, hurt, disappointed? Ask them if this is what they are feeling. Don't assume. You can acknowledge their feelings without necessarily agreeing with them. Avoid being judgemental or defensive. Avoid entering their "personal space" - keep a safe distance of three to six feet.
• Apologise, if appropriate. Provide helpful verbal responses or short term options, if possible. Do not make promises that you can't fulfil.

On the Spot: Managing Violence

What to do when faced with someone who becomes violent.

• Remain calm. To the extent that you can, try to continue to communicate with the individual calmly and confidently.
• Call University Security on Extension 2222. If you cannot call, instruct another employee to call. Report your name and location and information on "who, what, where and when."
• Direct the adversaries to leave the scene of the confrontation. If possible ask another supervisor to stay with them.
• Do not physically attempt to get the person to leave. Do not touch the person.
• If violent behaviour is occurring, escape, hide if not already seen, or cover up if injury is likely.
• Make every possible effort to get others out of the immediate area.
• Never attempt to disarm or accept a weapon from the person in question.
• If a weapon is involved, calmly ask the person to put it in a neutral location while you continue to talk with him/her. Don't argue, threaten, or block their exit.

Personal Coping and Prevention: Where to go for help

From time to time, every campus community member experiences stress and personal disappointment, whether due to financial pressures, family matters, health problems, or other factors. If you find you are having difficulty meeting the University's standards of courteous and respectful treatment to others, you have the responsibility to seek assistance. The University has a variety of campus resources to help you with both an immediate crisis and a longer term problem.

Some helpful resources in such situations include:

• University Security Ext 2222
• Your immediate supervisor
• University Chaplains Ext 2979
• University Counselling Centre Ext 2956, 2957 or 2968
• Equity and Access Unit Ext 2900
• Occupational Health and Safety Ext 2186
• Personnel Services Ext 1097

Note: if calling from outside the university, please dial 9479 before the extension number listed.

Reporting

Any employee who becomes aware of, or believes that he/she has witnessed an incident of violent or threatening behaviour, or who is the recipient of threatening and/or violent behaviour, should report such incident(s) immediately.

If the employee believes that someone may be in imminent danger, or if the incident in question resulted in anyone being physically harmed, the employee must immediately contact Security on Ext 2222, who will respond and address the immediate situation. The Convenor of the UTAT (University Threat Assessment Team) determines if the situation warrants action by the team.

University Threat Assessment Team (UTAT)

The University Threat Assessment Team (UTAT) is composed of selected individuals whose responsibility is to review, investigate, and evaluate incidents of threats, threatening behaviour and/or acts of violence in the workplace. The UTAT also may serve as a resource to University supervisors and managers in dealing with such situations.

The Team may also make recommendations to department heads and to the Director of Human Resources as to what preventative or follow-up actions, if any, are warranted by a particular situation. Such actions may include workplace monitoring to reduce the threat of violence, or creating effective strategies for the future.

Members of the UTAT are as follows:

• Manager (Facilities and Services Division) Convenor
• University Solicitor
• Manager, Occupations Health and Safety
• Manager, Security and Traffic
• Manager, Counselling
• University Secretary or designate (usually Director (Human and Financial) Resources
• Others as deemed necessary
• Manager, Human Resources if a staff member is involved
• IPD if an international student is involved
• Head of College... etc