An independent review of workplace culture at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has found one-in-four female staff respondents had experienced workplace sexual harassment, with the majority in Antarctic stations.
It follows a damning study released last year which highlighted a widespread and predatory culture at the Antarctic stations, and a culture of bullying and a "boys club" at the head office in the Hobart suburb of Kingston.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has promised sweeping reforms in response, including psychological assessments and debriefings for returning Antarctic expeditioners, and the department's deputy secretary joining the AAD executive committee.
The review – completed by former Swimming Australia chief executive Leigh Russell and commissioned by the department – was released on Monday, based on 236 AAD staff survey responses, 48 in-person interviews and 24 written submissions.
Of those who responded, 43 per cent said they did not feel safe to raise problems, 34 per cent said they had experienced workplace bullying, and 25 per cent of bullying perpetrators were managers.
De-identified responses were included in the review, with the office environment described as "toxic", that AAD leadership were not protecting staff's psychological safety, and managers were "protective of their turf".
"It's like the cool group at high school. It is deemed appropriate to be hostile to those who are new or who don't work hard to fit in. Personal likes and relationships are seen as relevant to how one engages in work issues," one response reads.
Twenty-four per cent of women who responded reported experiencing sexual harassment, with 55 per cent occurring in Antarctica. Eighty per cent of incidents were not reported.
One response described a station leader distributing an award for a man who "tried the hardest to get into a woman's pants", along with giving demeaning nicknames for women, including 'lumpy jumpers', 'Antarctic Princesses' and 'Antarctic 10s'.
There were also positive responses, including those that focused on the dedication of staff to Antarctic research. One described the culture as "supportive and friendly", and not overly bureaucratic.
The review made a range of recommendations to improve workplace safety, which the department has committed to adopting. These included a new reporting system for complaints.
Department secretary David Fredericks said time frames had been established to implement all the required changes.
"The review found bullying, exclusion, sexual harassment, systemic sexual discrimination and workplace stress have occurred in AAD workplaces over many years, through to the present day," he said.
"These behaviours and experiences are unacceptable."
Culture outlined in reports 'unacceptable', government says
The AAD started to investigate its workplace culture in 2020, commissioning a study by Professor Meredith Nash, which raised significant workplace cultural issues. In 2021, restrictions were put in place on how much alcohol could be taken on expeditions.
The department then commissioned the Russell Review to set a path forward, highlighting further ongoing issues.
The review noted that harmful workplace behaviours could become more commonplace in remote and unique environments, making it more important for the AAD to have comprehensive safeguards in place for staff.
"A separated culture hinders development and creates a competitive, siloed environment that promotes 'us versus them' thinking," Ms Russell wrote in the report.
"Signs and symbols that the AAD is separate from the broader department and that Antarctic worksites are separate from 'head office' and therefore have their own distinct culture should be minimised.
"Against this background, the AAD should make building psychological safety an urgent priority – a clear and significant focus on inclusion and respect is required."
The AAD was described as not being in a "post-sexist, post-harassment" era yet.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she remained concerned about the culture in the AAD.
"Our government has a commitment to safe and respectful workplaces, everywhere," she said.
"The Australian Antarctic Division is no exception. Our remote stations in Antarctica are no exception.
"The culture outlined in both reports was, and is, unacceptable. It shows that there are systemic cultural issues at the Australian Antarctic Division."
Cultural issues long known
In the earlier study by Professor Nash, women described the Antarctic stations as having cultures of low-level sexual harassment, including uninvited physical contact, unwelcome requests for sex, and displays of pornographic material.
Female expeditioners had to go to great lengths to conceal menstruation, as this was not considered an "important operational concern" in Antarctic fieldwork.
It was recommended that menstrual products be widely available and accessible on station, on vessels and in the field, and that the AAD carry out an audit of grievance handling. Another recommendation was for sexual harassment policies to be highly visible on worksites.
Study participants described inappropriate behaviour at the AAD's Hobart head office, including that sexist jokes were incentivised, with a "sense of entitlement" by male colleagues. Women described experiencing "everyday sexism", and that an "old boys club" culture was evident.
