Ms Sonia Hennessy1
1Independent Consultant, Melbourne, Australia
Situation: In 2023 national legislative changes are being implemented that place requirements on employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment. These changes impact all Australian ambulance services.
Findings from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights (VEOHRC) review into Ambulance Victoria highlighted a prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace and problems for employees to “speak-up”, these findings are relevant for all ambulance services.
Task: A recommendation from the VEOHRC review was for Ambulance Victoria to implement independent and trauma-informed reporting mechanisms. While there is a paucity of research into “speak-up” culture and reporting of behaviour misconduct there is research and findings into the environment that encourages whistle-blower complainants to come forward.
Action: Ambulance services can benefit from understanding the research and practice across whistle-blower reporting and sexual harassment in the workplace. Understanding this knowledge will assist ambulance services in implementing effective speak up processes, that encourage reporting. Such encouragement enables ambulance services to have a realistic view of the prevalence of the conduct which can then better inform prevention strategies relevant to the organisation.
Result: Research into whistle-blower reporting and the occurrence of sexual harassment in the workplace shows that people speak up when they feel trusted, safe, listened to and believed. An increase in reporting of workplace misconduct matters is an indicator of an effective reporting service. A reporting function that is solely managed in-house, doesn’t make people feel safe, not actively promoted and operated with untrained staff provides an environment for an ineffective reporting system.
Biography:
Sonia is an experienced leader, workplace investigator and former police officer with over 27 years’ experience. Sonia specialises in helping organisations understand trauma informed investigations and delivering high quality investigation services. Sonia holds several qualifications and is completing a Master of Investigations and Graduate Diploma, Employment and Labour Relations Law.