Culture of ‘everyday sexism’ uncovered at Australian Antarctic Division’s Kingston headquarters
Women employed at the Australian Antarctic Division’s headquarters at Kingston have spoken out about the disrespectful treatment they have received at work. Inside the unsettling claims.
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A culture of “everyday sexism” has been uncovered at the Australian Antarctic Division’s head office south of Hobart, with inappropriate jokes and disrespectful treatment of women being identified as serious issues inside the agency.
The AAD commissioned the University of Tasmania’s Professor Meredith Nash to prepare an independent report to help guide its approach to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Prof Nash found that gender inequality was prevalent at the AAD’s Kingston headquarters, as well as a broader lack of diversity.
“Participants described various types of inappropriate behaviour (e.g., sexist jokes) that are incentivised and rewarded and an accompanying sense of entitlement by male colleagues who wield power in their branches,” a summary of the report reads.
Interviews were conducted with 22 AAD employees in Tasmania and Antarctica between March and May last year. These included people employed in all branches of the division, including current and recently returned expeditioners.
The report outlines the prevalence of “sexist jokes and remarks” at the head office, and notes that the “everyday sexism” plaguing the agency is even evident in the artefacts adorning the walls inside the Kingston complex and in the buildings themselves, which are all named after men.
“Women in both junior and senior roles noted the challenge of having their voices heard in meetings – they discussed being talked over, ignored, or treated with disrespect,” the report reads.
The majority of participants in the study said gender equity was treated as a “box-ticking exercise” and expressed doubt that managers and supervisors had the requisite knowledge to effect cultural change.
AAD director Kim Ellis said the division had accepted all 42 of the report’s recommendations.
“The study involved past and present participants from head office and Kingston and I am deeply concerned by the experiences described at our workplaces where people have been sexually harassed, discriminated against and excluded,” he said.
“[The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water] is now engaging a specialist to help us achieve best practice in diversity, equity and inclusion.
“The work will centre on reviewing AAD’s progress and actions to date and provide advice on best practice systems and policies for supporting staff across the Department to make a complaint if they experience inappropriate behaviour.”
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was “shocked” and “disappointed” by the report’s findings.
“The work the division does is critical: for our national interest, for science and the environment, for the future of this planet,” she said.
“It’s far too important to be tainted and diminished by prejudice and harassment.”
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Originally published as Culture of ‘everyday sexism’ uncovered at Australian Antarctic Division’s Kingston headquarters
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