Respect in Mining toolkit unveiled

A toolkit to support the mining industry in addressing workplace sexual harassment has been released by the state government ahead of next year’s Respect in Mining program rollout.

The Respect in Mining toolkit provides employers with 19 resources which can be adapted to their working practice, including guidance on leadership and support, mechanisms to help identify risky workplace cultures and templates to develop new sexual harassment and sexual assault policy.

The toolkit is designed to support small and medium mining companies to increase awareness and knowledge of gendered issues and safety in the workplace.

Its rollout comes more than a year after the tabling of the scathing Enough is Enough parliamentary report, which called for urgent action to stamp out sexual harassment in the mining sector.

Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery said the toolkit was one among many initiatives developed to ensure the resource sector was safe for women.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe and supported at work,” she said.

“Workplace sexual harassment is not a women’s issue, it’s a societal issue which all organisations, employers and individuals have a responsibility to address.

“We need to encourage more women to join the resources sector by treating them with respect, ensuring their safety and providing support.”

The toolkit is in addition to the rollout of the Respect in Mining program, which will begin as a 12-month whole-of-organisation pilot program at Gold Fields Australia starting early next year.

The program was researched and developed by Curtin University’s Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health.

Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston said the government was aware of the need to do more to foster respectful workplaces in the resources sector.

“The Respect in Mining toolkit will be available sector-wide and will help create safer workplaces for women in Western Australia,” he said.

“While the mining and resources sector has begun its journey to change workplace culture, the Cook government acknowledges there is still much more to be done.”

In August WorkSafe WA launched a 24-7 hotline allowing mining sector workers to report unacceptable behaviour, alongside its Speak Up, Report It campaign.

The government accepted all Enough is Enough report recommendations pertaining to its responsibilities last year, with Mr Johnston committing to a series of initiatives including the WorkSafe hotline.

At the time he called on industry to step up and address cultural issues in tandem with the state.