Jeremy Coulson

I have always been passionate about serving and giving back to the communities in which I live. At age of 16, I commenced service with the Royal Australian Navy before joining the Western Australia Police Force, where I primarily served as a Detective.

During my policing career, I worked throughout the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne regions, serving in remote towns and communities, before moving into specialist roles, including the Homicide Squad. These experiences provided firsthand insight into the challenges faced by vulnerable people and strengthened my commitment to improving community safety and wellbeing.

Since 2016, I have led a dedicated team of security professionals responsible for protecting staff, patients and visitors across four major hospitals, including Royal Perth Hospital. Healthcare workers provide exceptional care every day, often in highly challenging circumstances. However, they are increasingly exposed to violence and aggression in the workplace. Hospital security officers are an essential part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, helping create a safe environment that enables clinicians to deliver the highest standard of care.

Violence against healthcare workers is a growing global issue. Through a Churchill Fellowship, I hope to investigate innovative and evidence-based approaches being used internationally to address this challenge. My areas of focus include hospital design, security technology, de-escalation and restraint practices, training methodologies, and equipment that enhances the safety of both staff and patients.

Having already visited major hospitals across Australia, I recognise the value of learning from health systems around the world that may be more advanced in preventing and managing workplace violence. What excites me most about this Fellowship is the opportunity to share those learnings with colleagues and industry peers across Australia. Our healthcare professionals deserve to feel safe at work, and I hope this journey contributes to meaningful and lasting improvements in their safety and wellbeing.