Australian Catholic University abandons inquiry into bullying, sexual harassment

The ACU has abandoned investigations into sexual harassment and bullying at the university.

Professor Simon Stewart resigned less than a month after The Australian revealed a series of allegations of bullying, inappropriate research conduct and harassment.

An internal investigation into sexual harassment and bullying at the Australian Catholic University’s flagship health research centre has been abandoned more than a year after the first complaint was made because key staff are “no longer employed by the university”.

The university has settled a bullying case brought by a professor at the same centre — the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research — by paying the man, who was a director within the institute, and closing the file.

An update on the harassment matter provided by the university to the complainant on Wednesday came almost 13-months after the complaint was first made and just four days after institute chief Simon Stewart resigned, effective immediately.

Professor Stewart resigned less than a month after The Australian revealed a series of allegations of bullying, inappropriate research conduct and harassment which had been flagged with the Archbishop of Melbourne.

“The director HR has been unable to complete her inquiries and progress the remaining aspects of the discloser’s complaint ... because numerous persons relevant to the inquiries are unwilling to participate in the inquiries,” the update says.

“Despite efforts made to ­obtain their assistance, they are no longer employed by the university and cannot be compelled to participate against their will.

“Professor Stewart is no longer employed by the university, which means the misconduct and serious misconduct policy can no longer have any work to do (i.e. any disciplinary process that could potentially have ensued at the conclusion of any inquiries cannot be taken).

“In view of the above circumstances, it’s determined that the university cannot progress the complaint any further.”

In the initial complaint on September 12 last year, made through the university’s internal system FairCall which is run by accounting firm KPMG, the “discloser” said the matters involved frequent “bullying and belittling of staff”, inappropriate sexual comments and the broadcast of staff members’ confidential health information.

The university asked for more information the next day, which was provided by the complainant in the afternoon. The university again asked for more information on November 22, which was provided on December 6.

Nothing happened until March 10 when the university ­advised that it had identified matters relating to “research misconduct” that ought to be investigated as a priority.

“The director HR has advised that her inquiries have revealed some conduct that may be characterised as research misconduct and which has now been referred to the deputy vice-chancellor research to manage in ­accordance with the university’s procedures for dealing with ­alleged research misconduct,” the update says. “Further, the director, HR has advised that her ­inquiries into the other matters raised by the discloser in his/her complaint will be postponed until the completion of the research misconduct process.”

Professor Stewart resigned ­almost a month after The Australian revealed the multiple investigations and history of “toxic” culture at the institute.