Investigation into Jessica Wilby’s death reveals ‘toxic’ culture at Victoria’s Coroners Court
Jessica Wilby’s dream job turned into an “unimaginable nightmare” which led to her sudden death. Now, an investigation has exposed how deeply flawed the Coroners Court’s culture was.
Victoria
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WARNING: This story discusses suicide
The “toxic” and “disturbing” culture at Victoria’s Coroners Court has been exposed following an investigation into the sudden death of one of its star employees.
Solicitor Jessica Wilby had dreamt of becoming a Coroner but took her own life at her Port Melbourne home after an extended period of leave from the court in September 2018.
Releasing the findings into her death on Friday, Coroner Ian James Guy said the court’s lack of support for Ms Wilby who was under stress trying to cover two in-house legal roles was “stark”.
Even following a breakdown at work, and when on sick leave for three months, court management did not reach out to her.
“Ms Wilby was entitled to and deserved far better,” Coroner Guy said.
“What was a dream job for Ms Wilby turned within a matter of weeks to an unimaginable nightmare.
“The workplace and its culture at the time, was deeply flawed.”
The coroner revealed how her death had come following at least four internal reports and reviews into the workplace as a result of staff concerns about mistrust, the toxic culture, vicarious trauma, a lack of clear roles and responsibilities and high staff turnover during 2017 and 2018.
“A sense of the turmoil that existed at the court can be gleaned from the fact that those on long term sick leave, excluding Ms Wilby, included the former Chief Executive Officer, the former Principal Registrar, the former Senior Legal Counsel and an Acting Principal Registrar,” he said.
“There appear to have been four acting CEO’s within months from late 2017 to February 2018. Numerous legal staff had also left the court in the preceding two years.”
In August 2017, when the court’s principal risk officer, Colin Galston held a workshop with executives, they complained of “review fatigue” and that his work would not change anything as previous reviews were ignored.
Mr Galston told the court it became clear “there were considerable problems, unhappiness and frustration” among the staff, and that the court was not running well or effectively.
Ms Wilby’s medical reports revealed her telling her doctors and psychologists “it’s a toxic environment at work and has been for a while” and how she dreaded returning from leave.
Coroner Guy traced problems at the court back to 2015 — before Ms Wilby worked there — when an external review found what he described as “alarming” results “with statements of dissatisfaction of the workplace culture, unaddressed inappropriate behaviour by some and very low morale”.
But he said there had since been considerable changes made at the court, including to the executive structure to strengthen line management and the implementation of programs focusing on the health and wellbeing of staff.
So much so, Coroner Guy said there would be no “meaningful” recommendations he could make.
He said it was reassuring to hear that under the leadership of new State Coroner Judge John Cain’s there is “a growing culture of trust, confidence and optimism at the court”.
In a statement, Judge Cain said the court would closely review the findings “to learn how we may further strengthen health and wellbeing in our workplace”.
“Jess Wilby’s death in 2018 was deeply saddening for her family, friends and colleagues,” Judge Cain said.
“This is an important moment for us to reflect on the value of our staff, their wellbeing and how we can continue to build a culture of support at the Coroners Court.”
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