Review finds harassment and bullying 'widespread' at Australian National University's College of Health and Medicine

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A damning review into ANU's College of Health and Medicine has revealed a dysfunctional culture of bullying, sexism, unfair workloads and nepotism. The independent review into gender and cultural issues, sparked by reports of harm from staff and students, found harassment and bullying were "widespread practices", with little or no consequences. ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell said the report was sobering, and the university was committed to addressing the concerns of staff and students.

Transcript

00:00Marco Casarotto spent 25 years at the ANU. What he witnessed at the John Curtin School

00:09of Medical Research rocked him.

00:11You've got this culture of fear, intimidation, really disrespectful behaviour, things that

00:16some academics put down to, you know, robust discussion, academic freedom, you know, things

00:22like that, but it just went beyond that.

00:25The associate professor was responsible for about 100 PhD students.

00:30There was one instance where a whole department, students got together and basically outlined

00:35that we have a toxic culture and basically it was swept under the carpet.

00:40He's one of 150 staff members and students who participated in a scathing independent

00:46review into culture at the medical college. It revealed bullying, harassment, sexism, racial

00:53discrimination and nepotism had gone unchecked.

00:57Alongside the review, the University has also received a confidential report detailing what

01:03the Vice-Chancellor has called wildly inappropriate allegations against specific staff. An external

01:09investigator will be appointed to interrogate those claims.

01:13I can't pre-judge what the allegations would be but the reality is when we have had serious

01:18misconduct we will manage it within the parameters that we have and if that involves firing people

01:23we will fire people.

01:24You basically can't sort of turn the ship around while having those same people, you know,

01:29as captains.

01:30The report revealed the issues have been festering for many years. Tough reading for the former

01:35Vice-Chancellor.

01:36And I did absolutely everything within my ability but I still acknowledge that people

01:43missed out and had bad things done to them and I have to take responsibility for that because

01:48it's under my watch. And so I do apologise to anyone who's affected.

01:53The report made 17 recommendations which the University says it will enact over time.

01:59We haven't lived up to the expectations anyone should have of the place they work or the place

02:03we study. But I'm also committed, Ross, that we will work on being different.

02:08Students and staff are counting on it.

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