The safety of playgrounds, campuses and early childhood settings is increasingly challenged by complex hostile threat risks. Nemesis Consultancy Group provides specialist expertise to help education leaders identify vulnerabilities and implement practical, effective measures to protect their communities.

School & University Hostile Threat Safety Reviews

With growing challenges, educators are required to take on responsibilities beyond just teaching.

Nemesis Consultancy Group conducts comprehensive on-site reviews across school and university grounds, facilities and campuses. Our specialists analyse physical layout, access points, supervision patterns and emergency readiness, then deliver a detailed report with practical, prioritised recommendations tailored to your setting.

Each review is conducted through an in-person site visit, a desktop document review, and stakeholder interviews, underpinned by a structured risk assessment methodology aligned with relevant legislation, policies and national safety standards.

Book in your review today

A hostile threat is broadly defined as ‘a person (or persons) demonstrating an intent to or committing physical or serious psychological harm to a person (or persons) at a school/education setting or at a school sanctioned activity (excursion, sports carnival, etc.)’.

In practice, this spans a wide spectrum - from verbal aggression or threatening behaviour through to serious physical violence. Each scenario carries its own complexity, and responding effectively requires a structured, considered approach that prioritises the safety of students, staff and the wider school community.

What is
a Hostile Threat?

Our Comprehensive Approach to Supporting Education Settings

We bring decades of real life experience to every review, with specialist backgrounds in law enforcement, counter terrorism and hostile threat assessment. This expertise has been applied across diverse educational settings, giving our clients the confidence that their safety is being assessed by specialists who understand both the threat landscape and the unique environment of schools, early childhood centres and universities.

Nemesis specialists have reviewed more than 50 mass casualty incidents worldwide, extracting critical insights that directly inform how we assess risk and build safety frameworks for Australian educational settings.

This experience is applied across all four stages of emergency management: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

By integrating these findings into every review, Nemesis provides educational facilities with evidence based strategies to manage and mitigate hostile threats, supporting leadership in building safer, more resilient environments for their entire education community.

Understanding of specific cultural and religious needs

Nemesis respects and protects the needs of communities with specific cultural and religious requirements. Where relevant, we work alongside community leaders to support inclusivity across all stages of emergency management.

Focused on both individual and collective needs

Reviews are conducted with careful consideration of all individuals involved, balancing the needs of staff, students and the broader community at every stage of the process.

Focused on creating a supportive environment

Reviews are tailored to meet the needs of all staff and students across diverse education settings. This includes students with special needs, Schools for Special Purposes and metro, regional, rural and remote settings. Our focus is on creating a secure and inclusive environment for all.

Aligned with official policies & standards

Our reviews are conducted in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and Australian standards.

Tailored to each organisation

Our hostile threat safety reviews are specific to the unique needs and context of each individual setting.

Our Unique Service Delivery

These principles are embedded in all Hostile Threat Safety Reviews conducted by Nemesis:

We have successfully supported

K-12 Schools

Alternative

Education Facilities

Independent Schools

Catholic Schools

Metro Schools

Regional

Schools

Government Schools

Systemic Schools

Early Childhood

Centres

Universities

Rural Schools

Remote

Schools

Outcome focused
What a Hostile Threat Safety Review Delivers

Hostile Threat Safety Reviews are structured around the four stages of emergency management: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, providing education leaders with a clear, evidence based understanding of their setting's readiness for hostile threats.

Reviews are designed to generate meaningful, actionable insights for those responsible for safety decisions, including boards, school executives, teaching and administrative staff and where appropriate, the broader school community.

Recognising that schools, universities and early childhood settings operate with significant competing demands, Nemesis offers both in-person and online review processes to suit the needs of each setting.

Book your review today

OPTION 1
In-person Review

Stage 1 | Hostile Threat Safety Review

The first step is to thoroughly review each setting's hostile threat readiness. Prior to the onsite visit, Nemesis recommends an introductory online meeting to present the project, identify key staff, outline the required documents and explain the review approach and process.

Following this introduction, a Nemesis representative will visit the setting at a mutually convenient time. A delegated staff member should be available to assist with the review and participate in an interactive discussion regarding the setting's emergency and crisis management plans. Ideally, a member of the setting's Emergency Control Organisation, or other nominated safety or leadership representative, would be available to participate in this process.

The review will focus on documentation related to hostile threat management, including relevant policies, procedures and supporting materials.

Stage 2 | Findings & Recommendations Report

Following the site visit, documentation review and stakeholder interviews, Nemesis compiles a comprehensive report assessing the setting's readiness across the four stages of emergency management — prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The report provides clear, prioritised findings and actionable recommendations, and can be presented to relevant stakeholders, including:

Governance boards
Emergency Planning Committees
Parents and Friends Associations and Committees
Local law enforcement

The report is also structured to support external validation, compliance requirements and registration and accreditation processes where applicable.

Where training needs are identified through the review, Nemesis offers tailored programs, including STEP (School Threat Emergency Preparedness) and Simulation Training, to equip staff and executives with the skills to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a hostile threat.

“By the creation of a school environment that enhances the opportunity for staff to observe student behaviour and by training faculty and staff to be attuned to changes in student behaviour, information about a student’s ideas and plans for violence may potentially be observed or discovered before harm can occur”.

Final report of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission

OPTION 2
Online Review

As an alternative to the in-person process Nemesis offers a comprehensive, secure online option for completing Hostile Threat Safety Reviews.

Stage 1 | Access Our Secure Online Portal

Schools, universities and early childhood centres can access the secure online portal using their individual login credentials. This platform protects sensitive information while allowing for efficient document management and communication.

Stage 2 | Upload Required Documents

Once logged in, key staff can upload all necessary documents related to the setting's current policies, procedures and Emergency Management Plans. The portal supports a wide range of file formats, allowing all relevant materials to be securely shared for review.

Stage 3 | Online Facilitated Discussion

Following document upload, Nemesis will schedule an online facilitated discussion with key stakeholders. This interactive session allows Nemesis specialists to explore current readiness in depth, address specific concerns and gather additional insights to inform the desktop review.

Stage 4 | Receive a Comprehensive Report

Following the discussion and document review, Nemesis specialists will prepare a detailed report evaluating the setting's hostile threat readiness and provide clear, actionable and tailored recommendations to support improved security measures.

Stage 5 | Optional

In-Person Specialist Visit

If additional support is needed, or if the setting prefers an in-person approach, a Nemesis specialist can attend the school, university or early childhood centre directly. This visit allows for a detailed on-site evaluation, further discussions with staff and a deeper assessment of current hostile threat readiness.

Stage 6 | Debrief Session

Following the review, Nemesis will conduct a debrief session with the setting's executive, principal or board. This session provides a clear walkthrough of the review's findings and recommendations, giving leadership the information needed to make informed decisions about next steps.

What Our Review Does Not Cover

Nemesis Hostile Threat Safety Reviews focus explicitly on a setting's readiness across all stages of emergency management — prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. They do not assess Work Health and Safety requirements such as fire evacuation procedures.

For a complete emergency management solution, Nemesis offers full Emergency Management and Crisis Management packages, including:

Emergency and Crisis Management Plan development
Training programs including STEP (School Threat Emergency Preparedness) and Simulation Training
Staff updates and professional learning sessions
Resources for staff and learning areas

To discuss a complete emergency management solution or to arrange a Hostile Threat Safety Review, contact Nemesis for a free, confidential conversation.