AHHA launches health sector’s first zero-tolerance cultural change program

Thursday, August 12, 2021

‘Bullying and bad behaviour is widely experienced in the health sector and more needs to be done to tackle the root causes of this problem,’ says John Gregg, Chief Executive, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA).

‘That’s why AHHA is proud to partner with Bully Zero to launch the health sector’s first zero-tolerance cultural change program.’

In 2020, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHRPA) found that 34% of healthcare workers experienced or witnessed bullying in the previous 12 months. These findings point to a dangerous cultural problem in the health sector.

New Safe Work Australia guidelines require organisational leaders to take action to prevent, eliminate and minimise bullying, harassment and workplace violence. The legislation is about more than posters, policies and swift handling of complaints. It requires organisations to take a deliberate focus on preventing workplace harassment and aggression.

The Bully Zero Culture of Excellence program provides organisations with expert support to recognise their best-practice zero-tolerance ambitions—and 36 months of support to make measurable ground.

‘Employers have a responsibility to keep their staff safe and this includes safe from bullying too. We know there is a critical bullying problem in the health sector and this program is a solid step towards addressing it,’ says Mr Gregg.

The program draws on the neuroscience of communication behaviour and engages all staff in interactive, online modules designed to shrink negative and harmful workplace behaviours and increase safe, respectful behaviours.

The program will be launched with a webinar on 26th August 2021 featuring Martyn Campbell, Chair of Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities, who will discuss Safe Work Australia’s national guidelines.

‘It’s time to talk solution, not problem. That’s why I am putting my full weight behind the AHHA’s Bully Zero Culture of Excellence—Australia’s first comprehensive bullying prevention and culture-change program,’ says Mr Campbell.

For more information about the Culture of Excellence program visit: Register for the launch event here. More information on AHHA is available at ahha.asn.au.

 

Media enquiries:  John Gregg, Chief Executive, AHHA

02 6180 2826