Led by the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
In October 2023, the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre – part of Victoria Univsirty - was successfully appointed as the lead organization to develop, lead and evaluate the WorkWell Respect Network ('WWRN'). The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre is part of Victoria University, and specializes in law and cultural diversity.
The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre is establishing a state-wide learning network, led by a consortium of industry partners, and content matter and design experts, to build and share knowledge among workplace leaders, senior management and employee and employer representatives to better prevent and respond to work-related gendered violence, including sexual harassment. The WWRN will focus on preventing gendered violence for those with intersectional experiences (i.e. women and non-binary people at the intersection of race, religion, and cultural diversity) from within high-risk industries.
The WWRN will deliver a series of industry-specific and cross-industry forums which support workplace leaders in reflecting on gender inequality, and other forms of discrimination and marginalisation such as racism, within the workplace. These forums will provide access to practical tools and resources to enable leaders to create change within their individual workplaces, as well as networking opportunities to motivate them.
The WWRN is an 18month project that will conclude in June 2025, with key events being delivered between May 2024 and February 2025.
About the WorkWell Respect Network
The WorkWell Respect Network aims to:
- improve awareness and understanding of what work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment is, who it affects and why it is an occupational health and safety issue
- ensure workplaces have improved knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment is prevented and responded to
- influence workplace leaders on how to address the cultural and systemic drivers of work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment within their workplace or industry
- generate industry wide conversation to encourage innovative, best-practice strategies to better prevent and respond to work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment
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