What is OVA training?
Aggression is a workplace hazard. Train for it like one.
Occupational violence and aggression is one of the most common psychosocial hazards for public-facing workers — and one of the most under-trained. Employers have a duty to manage it. Workers need to know what to do when it happens in front of them.
OVA is a practical, one-day course covering how aggression develops, how to reduce and de-escalate it, how to read the stages of conflict and match the response, and how to protect yourself and get out safely if it can't be talked down. It finishes with factual reporting and post-incident welfare, so incidents are captured properly and people are supported afterwards.
Course Content
What the course covers.
This course covers
- Recognising and reducing difficult, aggressive and violent behaviour early
- The psychology of anger and aggression
- Managing personal fear and the stress response
- Communication and de-escalation techniques
- The stages of conflict and the matched response
- Protective, protect-and-escape physical skills
- Safe disengagement and escape
- Factual incident reporting
- Post-incident welfare and support pathways
Learning outcomes
- 1Recognise the early indicators of aggression and act to reduce it
- 2Explain how anger and aggression develop and escalate
- 3Manage personal fear and stress in a confrontation
- 4Apply communication and de-escalation techniques effectively
- 5Identify the stage of conflict and select the matched response
- 6Perform protective, protect-and-escape skills safely
- 7Report an incident factually and access post-incident support
Delivery
One day. Face-to-face. Practical.
OVA is delivered on-site at your workplace, with scenarios contextualised to your operating environment. The course combines theory, facilitated discussion and practical scenario work, and is capped at a group size that keeps the practical component safe and effective — typically 8–12 participants, with larger groups accommodated where the facilities allow and agreed in advance.
Competency is assessed through verbal question-and-answer and direct observation of the practical component. Participants who meet the criteria receive an EYESTAR Certificate of Completion. Electronic feedback is collected and a post-course report is provided for internal filing.
Practical note
The course includes physical practical activity. Participants complete a health declaration and waiver before taking part.
Optional module
A Body Worn Camera (BWC) module can be added, covering the camera as a de-escalation tool and its correct use in line with your site procedures.
Why OVA?
Practical. Documented. Delivered by practitioners.
Directly targets a known hazard
Violence and aggression is a recognised psychosocial hazard under WA WHS law. This course is a documented control.
Practical, not theoretical
Scenario-based, with protective skills participants can actually perform under stress.
Delivered by practitioners
Instructors with military, law-enforcement and frontline security backgrounds.
Evidence for your records
Competency records, attendance, participant feedback and a post-course report.
Public Group Training
Upcoming OVA Courses
Public group training open to individuals and small teams. One full day, face-to-face, Fremantle WA.
Bookings are confirmed on receipt of payment. You will receive a booking confirmation by email. Maximum 12 participants per course. Corporate day and group rates available — enquire now.
Organisations & Private Groups
Training Your Team?
For organisations wanting a dedicated OVA course for their own workforce, EYESTAR can arrange private group and corporate day delivery. We'll discuss location, cohort size, scheduling and any sector-specific requirements.
Corporate day and group rates are available — contact us to discuss your requirements.
Enquire NowDedicated cohort
Your team only — no shared public course.
Your location or ours
On-site at your premises or at an EYESTAR training venue.
Flexible scheduling
Dates and times arranged around your operational requirements.
Contextualised delivery
Scenarios and content tailored to your sector and specific risk environment.
Frameworks are referenced for consistency of structure and terminology. Training supports, but does not by itself discharge, an employer's work health and safety duties.
Work Health and Safety
Supports your work health and safety duties.
Employers in WA must manage risks to workers' physical and psychological health, and violence, aggression and distress are recognised psychosocial hazards under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA). Providing training is a named control in the WorkSafe WA codes of practice — and this course gives you the documented evidence that you did it.
What the course documents
- Attendance record for every participant
- Competency assessed against defined criteria
- Certificate of Completion for each participant who meets them
- Participant feedback collected electronically
- Post-course report for your WHS records
Training is one control, not the whole answer. It supports your duties — it doesn't discharge them.
Ready to train your team?
Contact EYESTAR to arrange in-house OVA training, or to discuss a program across multiple sites and shifts.
Get in Touch