We are proud to be collaborating with HACSU as research partners on ‘Breaking the Silence: Prevention of Gendered Violence in Healthcare Settings’, a project launched in response to growing concerns about the safety of Victorian healthcare workers.
The project is funded by WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Respect Fund, which aims to see the integration of policies, training, and education resources to reduce harm from work-related gendered violence. Through this fund, Health and Community Services Union will engage with employers, workers and industry bodies in mental health and disability services to create a best practice employer and worker prevention framework.
About the project
Work-related gendered violence is pervasive in the Victorian healthcare sector and harms employees’ physical and mental wellbeing, financial and work outcomes, the quality of care provided, and the healthcare sector as a whole. The Victorian healthcare sector is the state’s largest workforce, employing 1 in 10 working Victorians and needs to expand to meet growing healthcare demands for mental health and disability services. High employee turnover rates present a significant challenge for meeting this projected demand. As such, addressing gendered violence in the Victorian healthcare sector is both a pressing workplace safety issue for workers who deserve to be safe and respected, and a significant economic and social concern.
In 2023 the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) launched their project ‘Breaking the Silence: Prevention of Gendered Violence in Healthcare Settings’, in response to growing concerns about the safety of Victorian healthcare workers. We are proud to be collaborating with HACSU as research partners on the project, which is funded by WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Respect Fund. The fund aims to see the integration of policies, training, and education resources to reduce harm from work-related gendered violence. Through this fund, Health and Community Services Union will engage with employers, workers and industry bodies in mental health and disability services to create a best practice employer and worker prevention framework.
As the project research partner, GIWL is working to:
- Contribute to the research and evidence base on effective practice to inform the delivery of services by HACSU under this grant opportunity.
- Undertake monitoring and evaluation of the services delivered by HACSU under this grant opportunity.
- Provide thought-leadership and using the information gathered through delivery of the project to contribute new knowledge on effective approaches to supporting Frontline Healthcare for Frontline Healthcare Workers.
Health and Community Services Union (HACSU)
The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) is a growing union with over 11,000 members working in mental health, disability, and drug and alcohol services across Victoria. HACSU members are employed in a range of occupational classifications including nurses, allied health professionals, lived and living experience workers, disability support workers, admin workers, program and support workers, trades and administration.
The WorkWell Respect Fund
In 2022, the Victorian Government responded to the Ministerial Taskforce on Workplace Sexual Harassment. As part of this response, WorkSafe Victoria is leading the delivery of 13 recommendations including the creation of the WorkWell Respect Fund.
The Respect Fund provides funding for workplace and industry leaders to collaborate and develop evidence-based strategies to prevent work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment.
The Respect Fund and Respect Network are funded by the Victorian State Government and delivered by WorkSafe Victoria.
Project outputs
Summary: Addressing work-related gendered violence against Victorian healthcare workers
Violence is widespread in the Australian healthcare system, with up to one in four Victorian healthcare workers experiencing work-related gendered violence, according to a new review from The Australian National University (ANU).
Full report: Addressing work-related gendered violence against Victorian healthcare workers
Work-related gendered violence is pervasive in the Victorian healthcare sector and harms employees’ physical and mental wellbeing, financial and work outcomes, the quality of care provided, and the healthcare sector as a whole. We are working with The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) as research partners on their project, to understand the current state of work-related gendered violence in the sector, bring together the available evidence and offer evidence-based solutions to this systemic issue.
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