Industry forum aims to eradicate sexual harassment

The mining, oil and gas, and allied service sectors are uniting to stamp out sexual harassment in workplaces.

The Resources and Energy National Industry Forum on Workplace Sexual Harassment, hosted by the industry’s national employer group, AMMA, will tackle all issues concerning workplace sexual harassment in the resources and energy industry.

Taking place in three sessions on 8, 15 and 22 November, the National Industry Forum is exclusive for people professionals, managers and executives from across the industry.

Industry leaders will explore contemporary best practice initiatives, collaborate on where the industry is making progress and where barriers remain, and develop future industry and government interventions.

The forum will culminate with the creation of a National Industry Taskforce to drive accountability, new initiatives and cultural improvement across the sector.

Tara Diamond, AMMA’s Director of Operations, said the forum was driven by employers’ relentless drive to stamp out abhorrent and inappropriate behaviours and cultures within their workplaces.

“There are countless proactive measures and initiatives in place amongst individual employers to stamp out workplace sexual harassment. Actions like inclusive safety audits, appropriate workplace behaviours training and ‘no tolerance’ policies for perpetrators are having a great impact,” Diamond said.

“There is no doubting, however, that the industry still has significant challenges in this area. To this end, there is always room for more collaboration amongst leaders and constant exchanging of notes on their experiences and challenges.

“Through the National Industry Forum, AMMA seeks to facilitate sharing of ideas and information from across the many different sub-sectors of our industry, and to investigate how we can further collaborate on future industry campaigns.

“AMMA is also pleased to align the National Industry Forum around the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s two-day national forum set to be held on 11 and 12 November 2021 on the prevention, management and regulation of workplace sexual harassment. Opportunities to incorporate broader societal lessons and findings into industry practices will be actively sought.

“The industry is not resting on our laurels in dealing with this issue. We are looking to send a clear message to women that we want them working in our industry and will provide the safe and respectful working environments they not only deserve but are lawfully entitled to.”

Read AMMA’s August 2021 submission to the Western Australian Parliament’s Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Karen Roach