WA Govt continues to tackle sexual harassment in mining

The WA Government’s strategy to eliminate sexual violence and drive cultural change in the state’s mining sector is continuing to progress, with the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program playing a key role. Introduced in 2021, the MARS Program has initiated a number of projects including the launch of a Landmark Study Worker Survey by the Centre for Transformative Work Design, as part of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University. The Worker Survey seeks to gain a better understanding of worker experiences in WA’s mining sector.

Other MARS Program initiatives include a Leadership Summit scheduled for 1 August 2023 that aims to educate and empower leaders to take meaningful action on safe and respectful workplaces. The summit will bring together senior executives, mine managers, supervisors, health and safety representatives and safety professionals. The Psychosocial Risk Management Program (PRMP) is another initiative being delivered by FIFO Focus in partnership with the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) that aims to enhance the mining industry’s ability to identify and assess psychosocial hazards and develop strategies to eliminate, minimise or reduce their impact. PRMP has so far seen four cohorts either start or complete the program.

The MARS Program recently launched Responding to, Managing and Investigating Sexual Harassment course, also delivered by FIFO Focus and their consortium partners, that equips participants to respond to and conduct trauma-informed sexual harassment investigations in the workplace; and a program run by the Mining and Energy Union to develop sexual harassment awareness training for mine workers which has completed three pilot sessions across the state.

Further MARS Program initiatives will be rolled out over the coming months in support of the state government’s response to the 2022 WA Parliamentary Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the fly-in, fly-out mining industry. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said the McGowan government will continue to work with industry and the community to eliminate harassment, discrimination and bullying in the workplace. “The MARS Program is delivering outstanding results and we will continue to support efforts that push back against inappropriate workplace behaviour,” Johnston said.

Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery said these initiatives demonstrate the state government’s commitment to ensuring the Western Australian resources sector offers a friendly, accommodating and empowering workplace for women. “We need to encourage more women to join the mining industry by treating them with respect, ensuring their safety and providing support,” Ellery said.

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