AMA recommends whole of profession approach to tackle bullying and harassment

The AMA has made an extensive submission to the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment, which was established in April this year by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) to deal with concerns of unacceptable behaviour in the health sector. The AMA believes that addressing these issues comprehensively requires a whole of profession approach, including strong collaboration between employers, unions, and professional bodies and that we need to set a high benchmark for others to follow.

The AMA’s submission recommends targeting areas such as the working environment, training and education, mentoring and role models, the elevation of more to women leadership roles, policies, complaints processes, and reporting to address the issues associated with discrimination, bullying and harassment. It also emphasises the need to create an environment where people should not be afraid to come forward with complaints.