Survey gaffe at University of Melbourne exposes bullying allegations to staff

A culture survey blunder at the University of Melbourne Veterinary School has allowed staff to view allegations of bullying and threats to staff from leaders.

An independent inquiry has been ordered into the University of Melbourne Veterinary School culture survey after a blunder. Picture: David Geraghty

The prestigious University of Melbourne Veterinary School sent out a poorly designed culture survey which allowed staff to see each other’s allegations of bullying and mistreatment.

University’s Provost Nicola Phillips has called in the lawyers, ordered an independent inquiry and sent a blistering email to staff condemning the survey’s design and content.

One staff member said the survey – which was accessible by external people — was designed by “morons” and contained blacked-out sections that could be easily read.

Revelations include claims of bullying, an unhealthy workplace, negative comments and threats to staff from senior leaders.

Widely circulated extracts from the survey include comments about a head nurse who “does not participate or support my everyday activities” and “rivalry and backstabbing comments that cause anxiety and mistrust among the nurses”.

“This makes for an unhealthy workplace for the staff and students,” the comment read.

Another senior staff member was accused of having “repeatedly bullied staff” and enlisting others to deliver bullying on their behalf.

The comment says staff are not prepared to make formal complaints because of threats made by senior leaders.

University’s Provost Nicola Phillips has called in the lawyers.

The email from Professor Phillips sent on September 28 said she was “deeply concerned last week to learn of the publication of an internal survey of Melbourne Veterinary School (MVS) employees, where serious allegations and pejorative assertions were made anonymously against senior Faculty staff, in circumstances devoid of formal process to ensure fairness and natural justice”.

Professor Phillips said the survey and the way it was published “falls well short of the University’s professional and ethical standards”.

“MVS employees who used the survey to make disclosures of alleged inappropriate behaviour are strongly encouraged to formally raise a complaint or make a disclosure through the University’s proper channels,” she wrote.

She said she was “aware of varied reports made recently and over time alleging workplace conflict and dysfunction in MVS … that, if proven, appear not to accord with the expected professional and collegiate standards of the University”.

A spokesman for the university said it had been “made aware of concerns by staff within the Melbourne Veterinary School and Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.

“We take matters of this nature within our university community very seriously.

“A formal inquiry is under way, and we are not able to comment further at this stage,” he said.

“The University has well-established mechanisms available to any member of staff who may wish to report inappropriate behaviour. Staff members are strongly encouraged to utilise these channels to ensure any complaints or disclosures can be investigated properly,” he said.