Disrespectful behaviour

Disrespect, including bullying, harassment and unlawful discrimination, has no place in service delivery; it harms psychologists, raises client risk and weakens teamwork, and psychologists are expected to help build a culture of respect and safety. Effective practice means the psychologist: (a) never engages in, overlooks or excuses disrespectful behaviour; (b) recognises its many forms, including racism, sexual harassment, verbal and physical abuse, aggression, violence, humiliation, exclusion, intimidation and pressure in decision-making aimed at colleagues, practitioners or others; (c) understands that social media and other electronic channels can be used to bully or harass and does not take part in, overlook or excuse that; (d) speaks up or acts about others' disrespectful behaviour when appropriate and reports it where needed; (e) acts on it when they hold a management or leadership position; (f) escalates when no adequate response follows; (g) takes concerns about bullying, sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination to Ahpra or the Board where the risk to students, trainees, clients, teams, colleagues or practitioners is serious or ongoing; and (h) supports those who report disrespectful behaviour.

• Workplace bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy with reporting channels
• Register of reported incidents with the action taken and escalation
• Records of referrals to Ahpra or the Board where risk was serious or ongoing
• Manager training on responding to disrespectful behaviour

• Reports of bullying not investigated
• People who report suffer adverse treatment
• Online harassment by staff treated as private and outside scope