Safer Workplaces Forum

The Forum Videos

This is a seven-part video resource created from an industry wide, half day forum held in December 2017, providing key information about rights and responsibilities in creating safe and inclusive work places across the screen industry. 

Part 1: Welcome

Megan Riakos, President, WIFT NSW

Fiona Cameron, COO, Screen Australia

11.59 min

Megan Riakos. President,Women in Film & Television NSW  (MC), opens the forum and outlines the urgency of the event as well as the format which includes a quiet room and counsellor on hand for anyone needing space and support should any trauma be triggered by the subject matter.

Fiona Cameron. COO, Screen Australia further contextualises the forum, calls for more women in senior management roles and outlines Screen Australia's ground-breaking intention to create a code of practice that will obligate those receiving funding to take a proactive stance. She announces that the government will withdraw funding to those who breach the code. 

"However, I think at this moment in time there are reasons for hope. While it's confronting to come to terms with these ugly realities about our society, it has been a long time coming and it does feel like something of a turning point." 

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins (via video link) delivers a strong keynote speech in which she systematically outlines the powerful underlying forces that create a culture in which sexual harassment can flourish and then outlines ways that workplaces can address this issue. 

Moderator - Margaret Pomeranz 

1 hr 17 min 43 sec

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This panel looks at the rights and pathways of those working in the screen industry. It takes a view that encompasses the legal, police and union perspective.

Topics discussed include leading from the top and supporting change from the bottom, risks to producers in hiring people with known harassment background, the NSW Crimes Act, the myth of malicious reports and protection for freelancers.

Karen Willis from R&DV Services delivers a toolkit session dedicated to empowering bystanders. She reports that gender inequity is the underlying cause of sexual harassment and assault.She outlines a series of actions that bystanders can immediately take to combat harassment and bullying in their workplaces. Examples are used to breakdown potential bystander responses.

Menaka Cooke, Iyengar Counselling & Coaching Services

Karen Willis, OAM, Executive Officer, R&DV Services Australia

Camilla Gebicki, Senior Project Manager, Workplace Sexual Harassment Survey, Australian Human Rights Commission 

Moderator - Nicole Chettle, Journalist, ABC

1 hr 6 min 4 sec

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This panel explores the specific responsibilities and processes that are required for long term cultural change. Moderator Nicole Chettle, invites the panelists to share their expert knowledge from their various organisations. Taken together, these perspectives align to give clear examples of where we are and what positive next steps might look like. 

Karen Willis lays down a multi-pronged pathway to long term cultural change. She includes references to organisations that present a range of trainings including ethical bystanding, consent training and other resources. 

Megan Riakos sums up the main points of the forum and describes the current state of play. She calls for the industry to work together to create long term cultural change. She lists the range of initiatives that various key screen industry player have announced at the forum. She finishes with a reminder that these are first steps at the beginning of a long road, but that together we can do better.