With A-list celebrities from Hollywood, such as Keira Knightley, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Carey Mulligan, and director Emerald Fennell, having signed an open letter urging the UK’s creative industries to end bullying and bad behaviour in the entertainment sector, where is Australia at with watchdogs and the like?
In January 2023, Australian federal arts minister Tony Burke launched the Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces (CAEW): a government body established to crack down on reports of sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of abusive behaviour in the entertainment industry.
Since then, Australia has introduced its watchdog, a new federally funded campaign ‘Our Watch — Lead the Change’ – and continues to work alongside the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and Safe Work Australia.
In what is seen as a blueprint for ending workplace bullying and harassment in the sector, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority’s (CIISA) mission is to “uphold and improve standards of behaviour across the creative industries and to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment, including bullying and harassment of a discriminatory nature”.
“It’s no secret that sexual harassment remains a scourge on the creative industries, [and that] the mental toll and wide-reaching impacts of workplace sexual harassment can be absolutely devastating,” Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu says.
Childs wants to see a “a radical step-change”, calling on broadcasters, production companies, studios, and streamers to financially support CIISA.
But What About the Creative Sector?
Advertising, marketing, and PR companies in Australia had been in the gun over the years until Advertising Council Australia acknowledged the “considerable media coverage on the significant impact that sexual harassment, bullying and assault have on individuals, their friends, families and communities”, and launched its landmark DE&I program, Create Space, in November 2021.
The first industry census received responses from over 2,600 people, offering the most comprehensive and detailed data on demographics and work experiences the industry has ever had. A strategic programme to accelerate greater inclusion and diversity throughout our entire membership base and the industry at large has been informed by the data.
Ready to Create Space?
On July 14, ACA releases the Create Space Report & Action Plan that will reveal the findings of the census as well as three immediate actions the industry can take to address key issues of inequality, exclusion and underrepresentation, including creating safer workplaces.
Create Space aims to address issues of inclusion, belonging, and representation. In addition to putting harassment and bullying at the top of the list of concerns, it also draws attention to issues with intersectionality, age, mental health, disability, social mobility, gender pay disparity, and sexual orientation.
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