2nd December 2020
Civica is proud to announce that it successfully completed the White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program. The accreditation recognises organisations taking an active role in preventing violence against women, and involves a whole of organisation commitment to address issues of gendered violence and sexual harassment against women.
Ben Cowling, Executive Director, says this is an important moment for Civica.
I’m so proud that we are taking violence against women seriously. We want to ensure that all employees understand what gendered violence is, how to identify it and what we can all do to prevent it. We all have a responsibility to stand up and speak out, to act against behaviours that contribute to domestic violence and support women affected by it.
To achieve accreditation, Civica had to meet criteria under three standards to create a safer and more respectful workplace: leadership and commitment, prevention of violence against women, and response to violence against women. Since March 2019 Civica has established White Ribbon Champions to support employees in each location. It has established an ongoing education and awareness programme that involves leader training to support victims address unacceptable behaviour, and support of local women’s shelters.
White Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott congratulates Civica for joining the more than 240 Australian workplaces to have achieved accreditation.
Violence against women impacts on the health and safety of employees, their wellbeing and their productivity,
Mr Chilcott says.
We urge all Australian workplaces to take the lead of Civica and demonstrate a culture of zero tolerance of violence against women,
he says.
Achieving accreditation is not the end of the journey. Civica will continue to work towards gender equality and zero tolerance of violence against women. This is achieved through a wide variety of employee D&I initiatives and support of community organisations that support women in domestic violence situations.
White Ribbon Australia is a part of a global social movement working to eliminate gendered violence, striving for an Australian society where all women and children are safe, including in our workplaces.