School safety is evolving.
Incidents are happening faster, behavioural challenges are increasing, and communication during emergencies has never been more critical.
In a recent Vivi webinar, former Victoria Police Special Operations Group tactical leader Craig Harwood shared insights into how the safety landscape is changing — and what schools can do to strengthen preparedness.
The session brought together school leaders and IT teams to explore a key question:
How can schools improve their ability to respond to safety incidents when they occur?
Key Insight From the Webinar
One theme appeared repeatedly throughout the discussion:
“You can have the best plan in the world, but in a crisis communication speed and clarity determine outcomes.”
During high-pressure situations, confusion spreads quickly.
The schools that respond most effectively are those where:
- communication is simple
- roles are clear
- staff know exactly what to do
The Reality of School Safety Today
Recent data shows that while extreme incidents remain rare, everyday safety challenges are increasing.
Across Australia:
- weapon incidents in schools are being reported more frequently
- teachers are experiencing higher levels of aggression
- behavioural escalation is becoming more common
This means schools need to be prepared not only for rare emergencies — but also for more common safety incidents.
What Schools Can Do Next
One of the most valuable parts of the webinar was Craig Harwood’s practical roadmap for strengthening safety preparedness.
Rather than large-scale changes, he recommended a staged approach:
- Review emergency communication systems
- clarify leadership response roles
- practise realistic safety scenarios
- build stronger relationships with local police
These steps help schools build confidence and coordination during incidents.
See How Vivi Supports School Emergency Communication
During critical incidents, communication speed and clarity matters. Vivi helps schools deliver alerts instantly to classroom screens and staff devices, helping leaders coordinate responses faster.
