How did it come to this? Threats and violent acts have been escalating, demonstrating an ugly side of our otherwise beautiful community, until – hesitantly and unhappily – reinforcements have been seconded in the name of safety.
Sunshine Coast Council has deployed security guards, body-worn cameras and de-escalation training, responding to an increase in behaviour that harms and harries.
Council workers reported 73 such incidents in the year to August: the total for the whole of last year and far more than the 63 incidents reported in 2023.
And it is worth remembering that these are just the incidents severe enough to be worthy of reporting.
Countless other ‘less serious’ exchanges have no doubt occurred. The council incidents include verbal abuse and physical assaults – the whole gamut.
This is National Safe Work Month and no one should be abused or hurt just for doing their job.
No one should fear conflict and acrimony when they get out of bed and get ready for work.
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How dreadful that council has had to boost counselling and debriefing for staff. How horrible that bumped-up security measures are needed in our otherwise civilised and secure region.
This is not Trump’s America (thank goodness). This is not troubled Melbourne. We should be concerned and committed to righting this listing ship.
Part of the problem is that ugly behaviour feeds on itself: monkey see and monkey do.
My local library has a sign up asking that patrons “not abuse the staff, please”. So does my newsagent, bank and bus stop. The surly and savage have left their claw marks in our community.
Happily, behavioralists have also found that acting for good can be infectious. Acts of kindness go a long way to offsetting the increasingly prevalent nastiness.
The recipient feels seen and connected and the behaviour benefits the doer, too. A win-win.
Kindness improves health and wellbeing by releasing oxytocin and serotonin – boosting mood, reducing stress and even increasing longevity.
Taking time to offer a respectful, kind word when merited would go a long way to helping our council workers feel more appreciated.
We need to better care for the people who work for our community. It is just what a civilised society should do.
Dr Jane Stephens is a UniSC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.
