‘Toxic culture, bullying’: PCYC staff lawyer up amid shock allegations

Police Minister Mark Ryan has revealed an investigation has been launched into the Police Citizens Youth Club Queensland after shocking claims were made.

Police Minister Mark Ryan says an investigation has been launched into claims of a toxic workplace culture at the PCYC.

Serious claims of a toxic workplace culture at the Police Citizens Youth Club Queensland are being investigated, Police Minister Mark Ryan has confirmed.

The Courier-Mail on Monday revealed an independent investigator had been appointed to probe allegations of bullying and harassment and the actions of a PCYC staff member.

Staff at the 73-year-old organisation – of which Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mr Ryan are patrons and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll the president – have also hired lawyers to lodge unfair dismissal and bullying claims.

They claim morale is at its “lowest ebb”, staff have left en masse, and that the PCYC had “lost direction” and seemed more focused on making money and cutting costs than helping troubled youth.

PCYC Queensland has strongly rejected “any allegations that it is focused on anything other than helping troubled youth”, while Mr Ryan says “the allegations raised are being investigated.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Ryan said the workplace safety of police “is of the utmost importance” and he understood the allegations against the PCYC – where dozens of officers work – were being investigated.

“PCYC is a private independently run entity and therefore any questions about its operations should be directed to PCYC,” he said.

“Speaking generally, all employer organisations have a responsibility to ensure they provide an appropriate workplace.

“And the workplace safety of police, wherever they may be working, is of the utmost importance.

“I understand the allegations raised are being investigated.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are patrons of the organisation but are not the subject of any of the claims about bullying or workplace culture. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Asked about insiders’ claims that the PCYC had lost focus on helping troubled teenagers amid the youth crime crisis, Mr Ryan said the PCYC had been helping young people for many years.

“Government partners with many organisations, including PCYC, in relation to community safety matters,” he said.

“For example, Project Booyah has delivered extremely good results in terms of mentoring at-risk young people, and has won numerous awards, including a Gold National Community Safety Award from the former federal government.”

The Courier-Mail has been told about 40 current and former staff members have united to voice concerns regarding alleged unfair dismissal, bullying and targeting within their organisation.

Sources say staff, including three regional managers, have taken stress leave due to the “distressing” work environment they claim to have endured.

Disgruntled past and present staff members have called for charities watchdog, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, to investigate their claims.

“It’s the lowest ebb we’ve ever been in and I think we’ve lost our direction as an organisation that was primarily developed by the police service back in 1948 to support businesses and youth in trying to improve our community,” a PCYC insider said.

“For 70-odd years it was very successful but we have lost our direction and our purpose and as a result.

“There’s no respect and no teamwork and it’s (a) very dictatorial (workplace).

“The atmosphere is toxic and the turnover of staff has been massive.”

Sources said several unfair dismissal claims had been launched against PCYC with some staff members reinstated or given large payouts.

Insiders said vital youth workers based at many PCYC clubs had not been rehired after their positions were terminated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll is president of the organisation but is not the subject of any of the claims about bullying or workplace culture. Picture: David Clark

“The youth workers fulfil probably the most important role at the PCYC clubs,” one person said.

“There are no youth groups any more and police in many clubs are only running programs at a skeleton level.

“Instead of loitering at shopping centres, kids used to be able to drop into a PCYC to be mentored and hang out and play games, pool, table tennis or some three-on-three basketball.

“Now, you can only use many PCYCs if you want to pay for gym, trampolining or martial arts.

“It seems we’ve just completely flipped the whole basis of why PCYC was set up, which is to help the community.

“Police in the clubs have certainly felt their hands are tied and their mouths have been sealed shut because they can’t talk about it.

“They feel they’re just going nowhere – the focus is to make more money and cut costs.

“The PCYC mantra now is that everything we do has to have a return on investment.

“When you deliver social programs, there’s no financial gain but there’s a massive social gain.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

PCYC Queensland’s latest published annual report shows the organisation recorded a $4m deficit in 2021-22 after an $8.3m surplus the previous year.

Total expenses increased from $103.6m in 2020-21 to $107.5m last financial year, with administration costs including wages rising.

The PCYC operates more than 50 clubs from the Gold Coast to Aurukun and gets its revenue from activities including gyms, sport and recreation programs and outside school hours care.

In a statement, a Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association spokeswoman said the organisation was “aware of a complaint made by one employee that is the subject of an ongoing process and in which no findings have yet been made”.

“We cannot comment on matters that are the subject of any investigation,” she said.

“QPCYWA categorically denies – and takes very seriously – any allegations that it is focused on anything other than helping troubled youth.

“QPCYWA is a charitable organisation and is solely focused on building safer, healthier communities through youth development offering vital services to the communities we serve.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, asked about the allegations at a media conference on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, said they were “incredibly concerning”.

“Like everyone reading those reports, I think it’s incredibly concerning,” she said.

“But I understand the Police Minister (Mark Ryan) is working through them, and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure that all staff are free from bullying and harassment.

“I’m a very strong advocate of ensuring that our workplaces are free from bullying and harassment and sexual harassment.

“It’s disturbing to hear those reports, but the police minister will be getting briefed on that.”

The Courier-Mail has also approached Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll for comment.