Respectful Workplaces | Full Stop Australia

Respectful Workplaces

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Prevention and response to workplace sexual harassment

1 in 3 people have experienced sexual harassment at work in the last 5 years. Every worker plays a crucial role in prevention and response of sexual harassment in workplaces.

Full Stop Australia has developed Respectful Workplaces: prevention & response to workplace sexual harassment to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of all team members, while creating a positive, productive work culture where every employee feels safe and respected. We also work closely with organisations to ensure that policies are trauma-informed and person centered.

Our work in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention is supported by 50 years’ clinical experience working directly with people impacted by sexual violence coupled with international best practice.

We understand that every organisation has its own unique context and needs, and work collaboratively to ensure that all policies, processes, education and communication are aligned to your values and principles.

Our team of policy advisers are experienced and skilled practitioners from a range of backgrounds including legal, social work, psychology and education. Our 50 years’ experience in providing services and support to people who have experienced violence coupled with our national systemic advocacy work informs our consultancy services.

Our policy, processes and communication advice work has extended to the banking, government, mining, sporting, music and government sectors. We always review policy within a human-centric and trauma-informed framework.
Our bespoke consultancy service involves:

  • Initial briefing and scoping
  • Mapping key relevant policies, frameworks, and practices
  • Identifying key internal marketing and communication vehicles
  • Reviewing agreed key document(s) and collateral through a trauma informed and human-centric lens

Sexual harassment prevention and response training is critical for all staff. Full Stop Australia trainers are all qualified and experienced psychologists, social workers, counsellors or educators. Our programs are based on evidence and best practice and underpinned by adult learning principles.

The following programs have been developed to ensure that workplaces are ready to ensure all staff impacted by sexual harassment are supported. Programming is further tailored for an organisation using internal policy, procedure and complex case studies.

Full Stop Australia recommends a holistic educational approach, comprising of:

Trauma informed responses

  1. Information session: all staff (1-hour)*
  2. Focused workshop: People & Culture, Safety Officers, and other staff responsible for responding and supporting those impacted by sexual harassment. (3-hours)

Ethical bystander intervention

  1. Information session: all staff (1-hour)*
  2. Focused workshop: Team Leaders and Manager. (2.5-hours)

Vicarious trauma management

  1. Online-self paced program: all staff (1-hour)
  2. Focused workshop: People & Culture, Safety Officers, and other staff responsible for responding and supporting those impacted by sexual harassment (3-hours)

Leadership training

  1. Focused workshop: Senior and Executive staff responsible for developing policies, processes and cultural changes (4-hours)

*Response and prevention informational sessions can be combined into 1 x 90 minute session.

When someone discloses an experience of sexual harassment in the workplace, your response is critical to their recovery and decisions about what to do next. This program is designed to assist anyone who may receive disclosures of sexual harassment. Individuals are supported to form a framework to provide a compassionate and supportive response to those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

1-hour informational presentation – all staff

  • Gain a deeper understanding of sexual harassment in Australia (through statistics and key definitions);
  • Understand impacts of sexual harassment, for individuals and workplaces;
  • Learn how to support someone who has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace;
  • Understand internal and external support pathways.

3-hour interactive workshop – People & Culture, Safety Officers

This program is for staff who are responsible for responding to disclosures.

  • Gain a deeper understanding of sexual harassment in Australia (through statistics and key definitions);
  • Discuss the myths and realities and understand how these act as barriers for reporting;
  • Identify how perpetrators use power and control in the workplace;
  • Understand the societal and individual impacts of sexual harassment;
  • Learn how to appropriately support someone who has experienced sexual harassment;
  • Examine key workplace responses for responding to sexual harassment.

This workshop includes complex case studies that focus participants on developing solutions based on the needs of the impacted person.

An ethical bystander is an individual whose behaviour intervenes in ways that positively impact the event and its outcome. We all have a role when it comes to preventing workplace sexual harassment.

1-hour informational presentation – all staff

Gain a deeper understanding of sexual harassment in Australia (through statistics and key definitions);Understand impacts of sexual harassment, for individuals and workplaces; Identify jokes, derogatory language and harassing behaviours which normalise sexual harassment;Gain skills in safe and practical intervention methods;

2.5-hour interactive workshop – Team leaders and managers

Gain a deeper understanding of sexual harassment in Australia (through statistics and key definitions);Understand impacts of sexual harassment, for individuals and workplaces; Identify jokes, derogatory language and harassing behaviours which normalise sexual harassment;Recognise when someone needs help.Gain skills in safe and practical intervention methods;Understand boundaries and reporting pathways.

This workshop includes complex case studies that focus participants on developing solutions based on the needs of the impacted person.

All staff who are exposed to trauma as part of their work, are at risk of experiencing vicarious trauma. While vicarious trauma is a considerable work, health & safety risk, it can be managed effectively to limit the human, financial and workplace costs.

1-hour online-self paced – all staff

  • Understand the concept of vicarious trauma;
  • Gain skills in recognising the general impacts of vicarious trauma;
  • Harness evidence-based strategies to manage (or offset) the impacts of vicarious trauma.

3-hour interactive workshop – People & Culture, Safety Officers

This program is for staff who are responsible for responding to disclosures.

  • Understand the construct of vicarious trauma;
  • Differentiate vicarious trauma from burnout;
  • Understand what contributes to vicarious trauma;
  • Recognise the symptoms of vicarious trauma experienced by self and others;
  • Identify key individual and organisational vicarious trauma management strategies;
  • Understand the role of psychologically safe workplaces in the management of vicarious trauma.

This tailored workshop has been developed for those who have responsibility to implement and develop prevention policies and programming. The program supports participants to:

  • Increase their understanding of gendered violence and gender inequality;
  • Understand how power can be misused in the workplace and how perpetrators of violence use power and control;
  • Identify responses to trauma;
  • Discuss actions that prevent violence against women;
  • Create action plans to drive and foster cultural change in the workplace.

This workshop includes complex case studies that focus participants on developing solutions based on the needs of the person experiencing sexual harassment.