Judicial Life/
Courts as workplaces: Preventing sexual harassment and bystander training.

Judicial Wellbeing event

Friday 13th September 2024

Full Day EVENT | 9:30 AM-3:30 PM

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This event for the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria provides an opportunity for judicial officers to discuss experiences and concerns about sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviours in courts, empowering them to transition from “bystanders” to “upstanders” in preventing such issues.

Courts as workplaces explores workplace issues from the judicial perspective. Based on the problems that Magistrates identify as jurisdictional risk factors and red flags, the program seeks to understand how judicial officers can use their positional and personal power to create and maintain a safe workplace for all.

The day opens with a panel discussion with senior Magistrates on everyday concerns arising in courts as workplaces before leading into large and small-group scenario-based conversations. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the issues presented by recent reports on sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviours in courts, and to consider what can be done to promote appropriate standards of behaviour and a safe work culture.

This conversation will lay the foundations for ‘bystander training’ which follows in the afternoon. This interactive session provides an opportunity to discuss strategies for responding to both perpetrators and complainants, and to consider how to maintain a culture in which sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviours are prevented. 

Note: This event is open to magistrates only. 

Speakers.

En Masse
Erica Edmands

A Partner at En Masse, Erica is an experienced senior HR and legal practitioner, workplace investigator, and facilitator in the private and public sector, with a particular focus on inclusion, diversity, and gender equity. With a deep understanding of the drivers of gender inequity, Erica has designed and delivered strategic, sustainable interventions on the prevention of workplace behavioural issues, gender equity, bias, sexual harassment, and domestic and family violence. Erica is particularly experienced in managing complex and sensitive investigations for Boards, CEO's and senior executives. A Graduate of the AICD, and current Board Chair and Non-Executive Director, she understands the broader commercial, strategic and people issues required to embed organisational change. More broadly, Erica has extensive experience in conducting cultural reviews, Public Sector misconduct and Whistleblower investigations (including IBAC and protected disclosure matters) and developing GEAPs. Erica holds a current legal practicing certificate and is a nationally accredited mediator.

Human Ethos
Sally Ryan

Sally Ryan is a psychologist, family therapist and Director of Human Ethos – a psychological consultancy directed to the wellbeing of judges and lawyers. Sally has been a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) since 2000 and has worked as a clinician/therapist, manager, and trainer in community health, education and with the Victorian judiciary and the legal profession. Sally specialises in building the capacity of people and organisations who work in trauma exposed environments and has a particular focus on working with leaders to reduce the risks of vicarious and cumulative trauma in teams. She has delivered interactive presentations nationally and internationally on topics such as vicarious trauma, judicial stress and systemic wellbeing responses.

Event resources.

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    JUDICIAL LIFE

    Sexual harassment resources page

    A collection of key written and video resources, reports, and policies on the topic of sexual harassment, bystander obligations, respondent pathways, legal and historical contexts, and cultural change.
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