Department of Health

Eliminating bullying and harassment in healthcare - learning and development

Key messages

  • Training is essential to raising awareness, promoting positive behaviours in the workplace, and building the skills and knowledge to prevent and manage inappropriate behaviour.

Training principles

The Department of Health and Human Services' Workplace culture and bullying, harassment and discrimination training: guiding principles for Victorian health services establish a minimum standard for training across the health sector.

The guiding principles support health services to build awareness, promote positive behaviours in the workplace, and increase the knowledge and skills of staff to prevent and manage inappropriate behaviour. Compliance with the guiding principles will ensure that training is delivered consistently and is based on best practice.

Preventing and managing inappropriate behaviours in healthcare 2018

The department hosted a forum titled 'Preventing and managing inappropriate behaviours in healthcare: Board chairperson, director, and CEO roles in positive culture and complaints management' on 23 August 2018 at Etihad Stadium.

The forum was well attended, with over 200 people attending in person and via live webcast on the day.

The forum was designed to strengthen the understanding of how to manage inappropriate conduct in the workplace, for board chairpersons, directors and CEOs.

Forum videos

For further information, email board.appointments@dhhs.vic.gov.au.

Leading a Safe and Ethical Workplace Culture in Health 2016

On 12 July 2016, as part of the Victorian Government's commitment to build a positive workplace culture in healthcare services, the former Minister for Health the Hon. Jill Hennessy MP opened the Leading a Safe and Ethical Workplace Culture in Health forum. The forum was well received, with around 200 people attending in person, plus many watching the live webcast on the day.

All board members of public hospitals (including multi-purpose services), public healthcare services and other health boards (such as Forensicare and Ambulance Victoria) attended the one-day event, where experts explored how boards can lead the way on improving the culture in their organisations.

This forum built on the department's anti-bullying strategy, which outlines actions necessary to prevent, manage and respond to inappropriate behaviour in our public healthcare system.

The forum presentations are available below. For more information contact the department's Health Service Governance Unit.

Reviewed 30 April 2025

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Contact details

Worker Wellbeing Department of Health

50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
whwb@health.vic.gov.au
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