Social workers are among the most vulnerable lone workers in Australia. They conduct home visits, meet clients in community settings, and work in environments that can turn dangerous without warning. A policy on paper does not protect a social worker when they are alone in a client’s home. A live, monitored connection does.

More than a quarter of social workers surveyed said they feel unsafe conducting home visits. The risks of violence or threats from family members, exposure to hazardous substances, and severe domestic squalor are all hazards that social workers regularly face.