The bystander approach to prevention
Bukkie Orugun A * , Dean Cooper B and Hannah Clifford CA
B
C
Bukkie Orugun is the Country Sales Manager responsible for TechnipFMC Australasia Surface Technologies business unit. Her role encompasses business leadership, strategy, business development and sales among other disciplines. Bukkie has formal training in Mechanical Engineering (BEng) and Petroleum Engineering (MSc) combined with multiple soft skills training. This is in addition to almost two decades of Energy industry experience. Bukkie has held multiple roles across three continents. The international experience gives her a thorough and wide skill set which enables quick understanding of the complexity of business issues and associated cultural nuances that arise. Bukkie is currently the Chair of TechnipFMC Perth STRIVE ENRG and an office bearer for the Society of Underwater Technology Perth. Her hobbies are mentoring, family quiz time and travelling. |
Dean Cooper is an experienced program facilitator with years of experience delivering gender-based violence and respectful workplaces training across Australia. Dean specialises in workplace programs aimed at encouraging active bystander interventions and organisational culture change. In addition to providing training to communities and workplaces, Dean is a sought-after keynote speaker and panel member providing insightful commentary on issues such as domestic and family violence, masculinity, men’s mental health, and how bystanders can create respectful communities. Prior to his current work in this space, Dean facilitated men’s behavioural change programs and had a lengthy career within Queensland Corrective Services case managing high-risk offenders across the state. Email: deanphillipcooper@outlook.com.au |
Hannah Clifford is a dedicated expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Holding an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Hannah has dedicated over a decade of her career to the field of domestic and family violence and violence prevention. Her extensive experience spans service delivery, management, and roles on numerous Boards. As the Director of HMC Consulting Hannah works with an array of businesses and organisations on diversity and inclusion, gender equity, domestic and family violence, and violence prevention strategies and initiatives. She is widely recognised as a passionate and sought-after leader and speaker, driven by her unwavering commitment to creating safe and inclusive communities. Email: hannahmclifford@outlook.com |
Abstract
In 2018, the Australian Human Rights Commission identified that in 40% of sexual harassment cases at least one other person witnessed the incident, and that in most of those incidents (69%), bystanders did not intervene. The oil and gas sector has normalised stop work and intervene as a workplace health and safety practice. What if, as an industry, our workforce was as confident and capable in intervening in harassment as they are when witnessing risks to physical safety? At MATE (Motivating Action Through Empowerment, Griffith University), we believe that change starts with the individual. Our training is based on the idea that not only do we have an opportunity to do the important work around raising the bar on acceptable behaviour, we have a responsibility. It is the work we do at an individual level with our peers that has a ripple effect on the people within our sphere of influence and ultimately makes the difference. This is the philosophy that underpins our approach to creating respectful workplaces. We help to develop effective leaders who have the tools to action change within our workplaces and our greater community. Since 2022, TechnipFMC Australia’s STRIVE (Supporting TechnipFMC to Reach Its Vision of Equity) team has been working closely with MATE to roll out a training package to its workforce, building an understanding of the role of the bystander in creating a safe and respectful workplace. The content will explore the benefits of active bystander behaviour, why TechnipFMC sees value in investing in the program and the impact of the program post-session.
Keywords: behaviour, bystanders, ENRG, intervention, people, psychological safety, respectful, safe, STRIVE, training, workplace.
Bukkie Orugun is the Country Sales Manager responsible for TechnipFMC Australasia Surface Technologies business unit. Her role encompasses business leadership, strategy, business development and sales among other disciplines. Bukkie has formal training in Mechanical Engineering (BEng) and Petroleum Engineering (MSc) combined with multiple soft skills training. This is in addition to almost two decades of Energy industry experience. Bukkie has held multiple roles across three continents. The international experience gives her a thorough and wide skill set which enables quick understanding of the complexity of business issues and associated cultural nuances that arise. Bukkie is currently the Chair of TechnipFMC Perth STRIVE ENRG and an office bearer for the Society of Underwater Technology Perth. Her hobbies are mentoring, family quiz time and travelling. |
Dean Cooper is an experienced program facilitator with years of experience delivering gender-based violence and respectful workplaces training across Australia. Dean specialises in workplace programs aimed at encouraging active bystander interventions and organisational culture change. In addition to providing training to communities and workplaces, Dean is a sought-after keynote speaker and panel member providing insightful commentary on issues such as domestic and family violence, masculinity, men’s mental health, and how bystanders can create respectful communities. Prior to his current work in this space, Dean facilitated men’s behavioural change programs and had a lengthy career within Queensland Corrective Services case managing high-risk offenders across the state. Email: deanphillipcooper@outlook.com.au |
Hannah Clifford is a dedicated expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Holding an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Hannah has dedicated over a decade of her career to the field of domestic and family violence and violence prevention. Her extensive experience spans service delivery, management, and roles on numerous Boards. As the Director of HMC Consulting Hannah works with an array of businesses and organisations on diversity and inclusion, gender equity, domestic and family violence, and violence prevention strategies and initiatives. She is widely recognised as a passionate and sought-after leader and speaker, driven by her unwavering commitment to creating safe and inclusive communities. Email: hannahmclifford@outlook.com |
References
Australian Human Rights Commission (2023) Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth). Available at Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (humanrights.gov.au)
Griffith (2022) DV prevention program receives high praise from ACER. Available at https://news.griffith.edu.au/2022/03/14/dv-prevention-program-receives-high-praise-from-acer/
MATE (2022) About the MATE Program: Fostering effective leadership. Available at https://matebystander.edu.au/about/#:~:text=Fostering%20effective%20leadership
Respect@work (2022) Defining Workplace sexual harassment. Available at https://www.respectatwork.gov.au/individual/understanding-workplace-sexual-harassment/defining-workplace-sexual-harassment
