Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Systematic audit of Australian specialty colleges’ policies on bullying, discrimination, and harassment

Thomas Haskell https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7402-0624 A * and Nancy Merridew https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4166-7456 B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Emergency Department, Palmerston Regional Hospital, NT, Australia.

B Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT, Australia.

C School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tas., Australia.

* Correspondence to: correspondence@tomhaskell.au

Australian Health Review 47(6) 671-683 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH23156
Submitted: 14 August 2023  Accepted: 7 November 2023  Published: 28 November 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Objective

To support policy makers and healthcare workers to reduce high rates of bullying, discrimination, and harassment (BDH) that affect doctors in Australian specialty training sites.

Methods

This audit assessed the quality of policies regarding BDH and associated complaints of the Australian Medical Council-accredited Australasian specialty training Colleges (Colleges). Policies were systematically identified and scored against a national standard BDH policy checklist.

Results

Fourteen of the 16 Colleges have each written and curated their own BDH policies for their members, with wide variation between Colleges regarding content and processes. This impairs the efficacy of BDH handling in specialty training sites.

Conclusions

Key areas for improvement were identified. A checklist is proposed that is specific to College BDH policies and processes involving specialty training sites.

Keywords: bullying, complaints, discrimination, harassment, occupational health and safety, policy, psychosocial hazards, work health and safety.

References

Commonwealth of Australia Senate Community Affairs References Committee. The Medical Complaints Process in Australia. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2016.

Medical Training Survey. Medical Training Survey 2020. Ahpra; 2020. Available at https://medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/Download/2020/2020%20Medical%20Training%20Survey%20National%20Report.pdf [cited June 2022].

Medical Training Survey. Medical Training Survey 2021. Ahpra. 2022. Available at https://medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/Download/2021/2021%20Medical%20Training%20Survey%20National%20Report.pdf [cited June 2022].

Medical Training Survey. Medical Training Survey 2022: Ahpra; 2023. Available at https://www.medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/Download/2022/2022-Medical-Training-Survey-National-Report-No-Tables.pdf [accessed 2 April 2023].

Frost P. Bullying and Harassment in the Health Sector. 2016. Available at http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/20160323-Bullying_G5h4gqMC.pdf

Australian Government. WHS laws are changing. 2023. Available at https://www.comcare.gov.au/safe-healthy-work/prevent-harm/changes-to-whs-laws [accessed November 2023].

Safe Work Australia. Duties under WHS laws Canberra. Safe Work Australia; 2023. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/law-and-regulation/duties-under-whs-laws

Safe Work Australia. The meaning of ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’. 2023. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-01/What%20is%20a%20person%20conducting%20a%20business%20or%20undertaking.pdf [accessed November 2023].

Safe Work Australia. Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Code of Practice. 2022. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/model_code_of_practice_-_managing_psychosocial_hazards_at_work_25082022_0.pdf [accessed November 2023].

10  Australian Medical Council. Specialist Medical Colleges. AMC Limited; 2022. Available at https://www.amc.org.au/accredited-organisations/assessment-and-accreditation-of-specialist-medical-programs/specialist-medical-colleges/ [cited October 2022].

11  Australian Government Comcare. Bullying Policy Checklist For Employers. Australian Government; 2017. Available at https://www.comcare.gov.au/about/forms-pubs/docs/pubs/safety/framework-for-developing-bullying-policy-checklist.pdf [cited May 2022].

12  Australian Medical Association. Workplace Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment. 2021. 2022. Available at https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/FINAL%20AMA%20PS%20Workplace%20Bullying%20Discrimination%20%26%20Harassment%202021.pdf

13  O’Connor P, Freckelton I, Sallmann P, Potter B (editor). Council of Australasian Tribunals: Practice Manual for Tribunals. 2020. Available at http://coat.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020-Coat-Practice-Manual-5th-Edition_Indexed-1.pdf [accessed 14 June 2022].

14  Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. ACSEP Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy. 2019. Available at http://www.acsep.org.au/content/Document/P001%20Bullying%2C%20Discrimination%20policy%202019.pdf

15  Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy. 2021. Available at https://racds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/RACDS_EXT_GOV_109_4.1_Bullying-Harassment-and-Discrimination-Policy_Feb-2021.pdf

16  The Australasian College of Dermatologists. Anti-Bullying/Discrimination/Harassment Policy. 2014. Available at https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AntiBullDiscrimHarassPolicyV2140228.pdf

17  The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia. Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying. NSW; 2022. Available at https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachment/320e0996-2dc9-481b-8b0b-fe9a08e8898e/Anti-Discrimination,-Harassment-and-Bullying.aspx [cited June 2022].

18  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination Policy. 2020. Available at https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Bullying-Harassment-and-Discrimination-Policy.pdf

19  Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine. Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination Policy. 2021. Available at https://www.acrrm.org.au/docs/default-source/all-files/c7_acrrm_bhd_policy_-_apr_21-1.pdf?sfvrsn=ad1b04b_14

20  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Discrimination, Bullying and Sexual Harassment Policy. 2020. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/1b9a74a4-754c-4771-a19d-39229ef45a25/COR133_v3_Discrimination_Bullying_Sexual_Harasssment_Policy-(1).aspx [accessed January 2022].

21  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Opthalmologists. Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying Policy. 2021. Available at https://ranzco.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Discrimination-Harassment-and-Bullying-Policy_Jan-2021.pdf

22  Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying & Victimisation. 2019. Available at https://racma.edu.au/about-us/governance/college-policies/discrimination-harassment-bullying-victimisation/

23  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. RANZCR Grievance Policy. 2020. Available at https://www.ranzcr.com/documents/1674-grievance-policy/file

24  Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Policy on bullying, discrimination and harassment for fellows, trainees and specialist international medical graduates acting on behalf of the college. CP01(G). 2020. Available at https://www.anzca.edu.au/resources/corporate-documents/anzca-policy-on-bullying-discrimination-and-harass.pdf

25  College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand. Prevention of Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace. IC-20 2016. 2022. Available at https://cicm.org.au/CICM_Media/CICMSite/Files/Professional/IC-20-Prevention-of-Bullying,-Discrimination-and-Harassment-in-the-Workplace.pdf

26  The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment. The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists; 2021.

27  The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Complaint Resolution. The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists; 2021.

29  Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. ACSEP Grievance Policy and Procedure. 2018. Available at http://www.acsep.org.au/content/Document/P002%20Grievance%20Policy%20and%20Procedure(1).pdf

30  The Australasian College of Dermatologists. Anti-Bullying/Discrimination/Harassment Procedure. 2014. Available at https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AntiBullDiscrimHarassProcedureV2140228.pdf

31  Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine. Bullying, Harrassment and Discrimination Complaints Procedures. 2021. Available at https://www.acrrm.org.au/docs/default-source/all-files/c7p_acrrm_bhd_procedure_-_apr21-1.pdf?sfvrsn=8c8207ec_21

33  The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia. Complaints Handling. 2021. Available at https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachment/541dd10e-6596-4854-bbbf-de9a78474352/Complaints-Handling.aspx

34  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Complaints Policy. 2020. Available at https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Complaints-Policy.pdf

35  Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Notification and Management of Complaints and Concerns Policy. 2018. Available at https://www.anzca.edu.au/getattachment/9d3e1721-cfbc-4fa3-bd2c-a9ad4e6e543b/ANZCA-Notification-and-management-of-Complaints-and-Concerns-Policy

36  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Opthalmologists. RANZCO Complaints Resolution Policy. 2022. Available at https://ranzco.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RANZCO-Complaints-Resolution-Policy_2022.pdf

37  Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Complaints Policy. 2023. Available at http://racds.org/complaints

38  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Procedures for Submission and Resolution of Complaints. 2022. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/141cd73b-0ab0-4ae3-93c4-54387afadab8/COR656_v1_Complaint_Submission_Resolution_Procedures

39  The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Respectful Behaviour in College Training Programs. 2022. Available at https://www.racp.edu.au/trainees/education-policies-and-governance/professional-behaviour/respectful-behaviour-in-college-training-programs [accessed June 2022].

40  Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. RACGP Employee Handbook. 2017. Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/download/Documents/Positions/RACGP-Staff-Handbook.PDF

41  Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021; 372: n71.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

42  Australian Human Rights Commission. Workplace discrimination and harassment policy template. 2023. Available at https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/GPGB_workplace_discrimination_harassment_policy_template_0.docx

43  Medical Board of Australia. Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia. 2020. Available at https://www.ahpra.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD20%2f30051&dbid=AP&chksum=9BSTs75R4%2fcPJY7vrmzHPg%3d%3d

44  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Complaints Policy. COR166. 2020. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/5b4a79a6-2ba4-49fc-9279-5289c3555d97/COR166_v3_Complaints_Policy.aspx

45  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Independent External Reviewer Policy. 2022. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/9592e4bf-3440-4d63-8cb0-92ebcd766402/COR642_v1_Independent_External_Reviewer_Policy

46  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Policy on Procedural Fairness. 2019. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/f79703ae-9a27-4774-bf31-e01b39aaa270/COR140_v2_Procedural_Fairness_Policy.aspx

47  Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Conflict of Interest Policy. 2023. Available at https://acem.org.au/getmedia/7d22c27d-ab47-4c2d-8605-3786bc987008/COR139_v2_Conflict_Interest_Policy.aspx

48  Brinson L, Cooper C, Daly E, et al. Unconscious Bias: Increasing Awareness, Providing Training and Mitigating the Impact of Bias in Workplace Investigations. 2020. Available at https://www.ethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-10-13-ECI-Working-Group-Paper-Unconscious-Bias-in-Workplace.pdf [accessed 12 June 2022].

49  Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Building Respect, Improving Patient Safety: From Awareness to Action. 2022. Available at https://www.surgeons.org/-/media/Project/RACS/surgeons-org/files/BRIPS/EAG-Report_Recs-and-Actions_for-upload.pdf?rev=c9c0dfbb0826432b8d61bb52c00ff27f&hash=76E8CF727CF767A407D9A92670C08FC8 [accessed 29 June 2022].

50  Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. RACS Action Plan on Discrimination, Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Practice of Surgery. 2015. Available at https://www.surgeons.org/-/media/Project/RACS/surgeons-org/files/reports-guidelines-publications/action-plans/racs-action-plan_bullying-harassment_f-low-res_final.pdf?rev=364e80a0b46a4db9837f117f548b1513&hash=92FF3C64E63038B4FAE77FE09D7DE020 [accessed 29 June 2022].

52  The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. RACGP Membership. 2023. Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/racgp-membership

53  Australian Medical Council. Accreditation Report: The Education and Training Programs of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 2015. Available at https://www.amc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/accreditation_recognition/specialist_edu_and_training/report/2014_physicians_report.pdf

54  House of Representatives Committees. Chapter 2, Legislative and regulatory frameworks. In: Workplace Bullying: We just want it to stop. In: Commonwealth of Australia, editor. House of Representatives Education and Employment; 2012. Available at https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=ee/bullying/report.htm

56  Medical Training Survey. Medical Training Survey 2019. Ahpra; 2020. Available at https://medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au/Download/2019/2019%20Medical%20Training%20Survey%20National%20Report.pdf [cited June 2022].

57  Australian Government - Federal Register of Legislation. Privacy Act 1988. 1988. Available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2022C00199