Download the Active Respect brochure to get a better understanding of how encountas can work collaboratively with your organisation to build respectful cultures through a practical range of co-designed experiences and tools.
Hear from our panel guests who each have expertise on this topic as they unpack the new legislation, Positive Duty.
Nicole Hercus
Executive Coach in Leadership Development and Cultural Change
Encountas
Mark Oostergo
Principal Psychologist
BPsych, PGDip Psych, MAppPsych (Org)
Kate Thomson
Associate Director – Workplace and Employment Law
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors
Brigitte Fairbank
Chief People Officer
Life Without Barriers
In this session, we shed light on crucial aspects of creating respectful and safe workplaces, addressing harmful behaviours, and fostering positive change, with a focus on unpacking the new positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act.
With a focus on the opportunities and challenges inherent in this legislation transition, the panel guide on how to best prepare for the changes, where to initiate action, and where to start, exploring methods to mitigate risks and create safer, more respectful workplaces.
There is a growing acknowledgment of the moral, legal, and business necessity for creating a safe, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workplace culture. However, recent findings from the Australian Human Rights Commission's fifth national survey on workplace sexual harassment (2022) reveal that there is still significant progress to be made. The survey showed that within the last five years, 33% of respondents experienced workplace sexual harassment, affecting 41% of women and 26% of men.
In November 2022, Australia passed the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation (Respect at Work) Bill, amending federal anti-discrimination laws for workplaces.
A significant change is the introduction of a positive duty on organisations to proactively prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and hostile environments.
The Commission created Guidelines with seven standards to aid employers, including leadership, culture, risk management, and transparency. Starting December 2023, the Commission can enforce this duty using the Guidelines. This shift emphasises prevention over reaction and aims for safe, inclusive workplaces, benefiting businesses and employees alike. The change aligns with other workplace protections, reflecting a systemic shift toward prevention.
Organisational Implications of Positive Duty
The experts shed light on what positive duty means for organisations, executives, HR teams, managers and peers, discussing how it affects policies, procedures, and overall workplace culture.
Workplace Civility
Exploring the continuum of behaviours, understanding enabling actions, and addressing harmful behaviours.
Trauma-Informed Process Co-design
Incorporating a trauma-informed approach into processes and decisions to create a safe and supportive environment.
Relational Dynamics Spectrum
Understanding and navigating the nuanced spectrum of relational dynamics in the workplace.
Encountas is uniquely positioned to drive change on issues related to workplace respect and safety. Our mission is to collaborate with systems, organisations, and individuals that are committed to making a positive difference in this domain and interested in catalysing change in the Respect@Work space.
We hope you enjoy the conversation.
