Personal Safety Program

Some people go to work in other people's homes, behind a public counter or on their own. Most days are fine. Some are not, and the moment a conversation starts to turn is the moment that matters.

The Personal Safety Program is a hands-on workshop for those teams. It is built around the places your people actually work, and it covers four things: reading a space for risk, planning so someone always knows where you are, calming a situation that is starting to escalate, and getting to safety if it goes wrong anyway.

Text version of the video

• "End-of-year team sessions" and the line "A workshop, not a lecture."
• A photo of a team on its feet in a training room, with "Non-accredited professional development", the program name and "About half the session is hands-on."
• The four modules: 1, Reading the space; 2, What is in your control; 3, Calming things down; 4, When it has gone wrong.
• Two participants smiling as they practise a drill in pairs, with "Hands-on drills in pairs" and "Simple ways to break free, create space and protect yourself."
• A group photo of the whole team, with "Teams learn, and they have fun together."
• The Apex logo, "Personal Safety Program", "End-of-year team sessions, November and December 2026" and the page address, apexld.edu.au/personal-safety-program.
• For the last seven and a half seconds: "A non-accredited professional development program delivered by Apex Learning and Development, RTO 46324. Not nationally recognised training."

Who it is for

Anyone who deals with the public, works alone, or works in someone else's space.

• Property managers and real estate teams. Open homes, routine inspections, vacant properties, the car and the office. The program was first built for this work, with role-play scenarios from the job.
• Allied health, disability, aged care and community services. Home visits, community visits and the front desk.
• Councils and community organisations. Customer service counters, libraries, community centres and field work.
• Sports clubs, leisure centres and gyms. The front desk, the bar and canteen, and locking up at night. For adult staff and volunteers.
• Offices and professional firms. Reception, client meetings, difficult phone calls and working late.

What the session covers

Four modules. Each ends with a short reflection: what happened, why it matters, and what you will do differently at work.

How a session runs

It is a workshop, not a lecture. Short inputs from the facilitator, then small-group work, activities using the room you are in, real situations from your team, and role-play with feedback.

About half the session is hands-on: role-played conversations with coaching, and physical drills in pairs. That practice is what the program is for. Every module has practical activities, from scanning the room you are in to role-play; the physical drills come in the last module. They start with a safety brief, nobody is touched without agreeing to it, and every drill is adjusted to the person, including a hands-off version where contact is not right for someone, so just tell us beforehand about any injury, condition or limit.

The session opens with a content warning, because it discusses real incidents of aggression and includes physical practice. If anyone has a physical or psychological concern, they can tell the facilitator before the day. When you book, we ask whether anyone in your team has had a recent incident, so we can plan for it.

Sessions are facilitated by Apex's co-founders, Allan Malachowski and Adrian Blood. All we need from you is a room with an open floor area we can clear for the practical, tables and chairs that can move into small groups, a screen with sound and a whiteboard. Ask your team to wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes.

What your team takes back to work

• A quick way to read any space for exits, positioning and hazards.
• A simple plan for every visit, so someone always knows where you are.
• The early signs that a situation is turning, and what tends to set it off.
• Words, tone and positioning to calm things down, practised in role-play.
• When and how to leave, how to call for help, and simple ways to break free, create space and protect yourself as a last resort.
• Practical self-care habits for a demanding job.

Everyone who takes part receives a hazard assessment checklist, a personal safety checklist and an Apex Certificate of Attendance.

Built around your workplace

Before the session we ask about your team's work: where they go, who they deal with, what has happened before. The facilitator builds the examples and the role-play scenarios around that. Your people are welcome to bring their own situations to work through.

End-of-year team sessions, November and December 2026

Finish the year with a practical session for your team

Book the Personal Safety Program at your workplace in November or December. It gets people out of their chairs and working together on something that matters at work, and it leaves the team with a shared language and a shared plan.

Requests for delivery before Christmas close Friday 27 November.

Enquire about an end-of-year session

A non-accredited professional development program delivered by Apex Learning and Development, RTO 46324. Not nationally recognised training.

FAQ

Common questions

Is it accredited?

No. The Personal Safety Program is a non-accredited professional development program. It is not nationally recognised training and does not lead to a qualification or statement of attainment. Everyone who takes part receives an Apex Certificate of Attendance.

Is there a physical component?

Yes. Hands-on practice is the heart of the program: about half the session is role-played conversations with coaching and physical drills in pairs on simple ways to break free, create space and protect yourself. The physical skills are taught strictly as a last resort, for when you cannot get away. The drills start with a safety brief, nobody is touched without agreeing to it, and the facilitator adjusts every drill to the person, including a hands-off version where contact is not right for someone. Please tell us beforehand about any injury, condition or limit.

Does anyone have to share their own experiences?

No. People are welcome to bring situations from their work, but nobody is asked to share anything they would rather not.

How long does it take?

The standard workshop is a half day, about four hours with two short breaks. A full day covers the same four modules with more scenario practice and more time on the practical.

How many people can take part?

A session can take up to 40 people in the room, and 12 to 20 is a good size. Tell us roughly how many people you have in mind when you enquire, and if your team is larger, we can run more than one session.

Where is it held?

At your workplace, in a room with some open floor space, a screen and a whiteboard. We bring everything else.

Can it be tailored to our work?

Yes. Before every session we ask about your team's work, and the facilitator builds the examples and role-play scenarios around your settings and situations. The program was first built for property managers, and it is tailored the same way for health and community services, councils, clubs and offices.

Is this legal advice on self-defence?

No. Physical skills are taught only as a last resort, within the law on self-defence: force that is a reasonable response to the threat as you perceive it. The program does not give legal advice.

What does it cost?

Every session is scoped and quoted for your team. Tell us your team size, your setting and a couple of preferred dates, and we will send a quote.