ABC Same Sex Plebiscite Trauma Counselling Is in breach Of Commonwealth Budget Allocation Rules
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by Ganesh Sahathevan
Even the loss of jobs and job security which would follow from deep cuts to funding did not traumatize ABC employees Public sector entities, such as the ABC, are bound by the terms and conditions of their budget allocations. While the ABC has claimed to have devoted resources to address a workplace health and safety issue, the argument fails when the threat or harm is compared to other issues the ABC and its staff would have had to confront. Examples include war, murder , death of colleagues in the field and a whole range of other dangers that ordinary journalists and their colleagues confront everyday.
There does not appear to have a similar campaign and related allocation of resources to deal with those issues.Subsequently this does look like grandstanding on an issue that the ABC champions ,for which a budget allocation could not possibly be available.
The matter needs to be investigated by the Commonwealth Auditor General.
END
ABC helpline for staff affected by same-sex marriage debate
ABC management has offered staff a counselling hotline and “trauma toolkit” to help manage employees who feel negatively impacted by the same-sex marriage debate.
Employees at the public broadcaster were yesterday provided with material to support them in the lead-up to the Turnbull government’s same-sex marriage postal survey.
Managers have been provided with strict guidelines on how to spot a staff member who is suffering from trauma. An LGBTQI hotline has been launched, with specialist counsellors assisting gay staff members during the survey process.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan said the move gave the impression the ABC was “not fair and balanced” in the same-sex marriage debate.
Team leaders at the broadcaster were warned to be careful with labels, humour and airing political views that could offend staff members while the three-month-long campaign was under way. “Understand that labels and descriptors are particularly concerning during this debate,” a leaked email said.
“Ensure your team doesn’t use casual terms which may offend their colleagues, or engage in humour which could be harassing.”
The move is part of a “trauma toolkit” being rolled out by the ABC to ensure its staff are not distressed while the debate ensues about the merits of changing the Marriage Act.
The ABC’s strategy was lauded by the Australian Marriage Equality campaign yesterday but slammed by Coalition MPs who are part of the No campaign.
“I want to know where the Christian helpline is, particularly after the ABC themselves broadcast outrageous slurs against those who go to church, incorrectly claiming they were more likely to engage in domestic violence,” Senator Canavan told The Australian yesterday.
“They have no authority in these debates to be taking the moral high ground when they have been some of the worst perpetrators of prejudice and bigotry in the last few months.
“It is at the best inconsistent, given that the ABC doesn’t seem to have the same approach to others, and at worst it is grandstanding in favour of a particular side of the debate, which they have already been told they shouldn't participate in.”
The ABC had not provided a comment by deadline last night.
In the email to staff, ABC people and culture general manager Rebekah Donaldson said the “same-sex marriage/marriage equality debate” may have a negative impact on employees.
“This can be a challenging time for people who are part of and/or have family who are part of the LGBTQI community,” she wrote.
A brochure attached with the email said LGBTQI counsellors would be specialists.
“Speak with a specialist counsellor and access support across issues specific to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Intersex, Queer or Questioning people,” the brochure said. “You can also discuss referral to specialised services and access to general information and resources.”
There are 65 peer support leaders at the public broadcaster who are available to help staff dealing with trauma.
A document sent to managers defined trauma as “exposure to a life threat, extreme or sexual violence or a significant threat to one’s physical or psychological wellbeing”. The document said staff could also be affected by “secondary trauma” if someone was connected to the marriage debate.
“The potential for vicarious trauma (also known as secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout) is high when we feel connected to events occurring,” the document said.
“Vicarious traumatisation means that we connect with the vulnerability of the situation and may be emotionally engaged with the story or event because of this.
“In the same-sex marriage debate, this could arise through personal experience, families or community empathy.”
The document said the ABC remained impartial in the debate but had a duty to protect staff.
Liberal senator Eric Abetz said it showed the “gross and deliberate bias” of the taxpayer-funded broadcaster, “highlighted by the clear assumption that only one side of the debate might be dealt with inappropriately”.
“There is no offer of counselling and assistance for those that might be vilified and attacked for holding a view opposed to the ABC’s groupthink in favour of changing the definition of marriage,” Senator Abetz said.
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